QUEENSLAND

Coolangatta DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Coolangatta Magistrates Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Coolangatta Magistrates Court at 136 Musgrave Street is a Southport circuit court. It hears traffic charges and Notices to Appear on Mondays at 9am, and s 87 work licence applications on Fridays. If you were charged on the Queensland side of the border, Queensland law applies, wherever you live or hold your licence. We assist clients at Coolangatta Magistrates Court by appearing at court mentions, guilty pleas and sentencing hearings, preparing comprehensive sentencing submissions and character reference material, advising on compulsory licence disqualification periods and mandatory alcohol interlock rules under Queensland law, and preparing section 87 restricted work licence and special hardship order applications.

  • Court: Coolangatta Magistrates Court, 136 Musgrave Street. Phone (07) 5513 9700.
  • Days: traffic and Notices to Appear on Mondays at 9am; s 87 and special hardship applications on Fridays at 9am (2026 calendar).
  • Border: a charge laid by Queensland Police is dealt with under Queensland's Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.

Queensland law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Coolangatta Magistrates Court courthouse – Boorman Lawyers
What's on this page

Which side of the border were you on?

Coolangatta and Tweed Heads share a main street, but they are in different states. Where you were stopped decides which state's law applies. If Queensland Police charged you on the Queensland side and gave you a Notice to Appear for Coolangatta Magistrates Court, the charge is dealt with under Queensland's Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (TORUM). That is the law explained on this page. It does not matter where you live or which state issued your licence.

If police charged you on the New South Wales side, your matter goes to a New South Wales court under different law, and this page does not apply. Check the court named on your paperwork.

What does the Coolangatta court list look like?

Coolangatta Magistrates Court is a Southport circuit court. Its 2026 calendar shows:

List Day and time
Arrests, remands, Notices to Appear, undertakings and traffic (driving) complaints Mondays, 9am
S87 work licence and special hardship order applications Fridays, 9am
Trials and hearings Fridays, 10am (as scheduled)

According to the calendar, the duty lawyer service is available on Mondays and Fridays. There is no court on the Gold Coast Show Holiday (Friday 28 August in 2026) or during the Magistrates Conference week, 1 to 5 June. The remaining 2026 Monday dates are 26 October; 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 November; and 7 and 14 December. Your notice gives your actual date.

Which court will my matter be in?

Coolangatta is part of the Southport circuit. Your Notice to Appear names the court. These are the nearest Queensland courts:

Court About Notes
Coolangatta – 136 Musgrave Street. Mondays for traffic, Fridays for s 87 applications
Southport 26 km The court that runs the Coolangatta circuit
Gold Coast 26 km Gold Coast matters (see that page for listing details)
Beaudesert 57 km Scenic Rim and hinterland charges

Tweed Heads Local Court, about 1 km away, is a New South Wales court. It deals only with charges laid in New South Wales. For statewide information, see Queensland traffic law.

What happens to your licence under Queensland law?

Think of it in 3 stages.

Stage What Queensland law does
Roadside to court Under 0.10: you cannot drive for 24 hours. At 0.10 or more, after a failure to give a specimen for analysis, or on a second pending charge: no driving at all until the charge is finalised (Transport and Main Roads). A s 79E order is a narrow exception. See our special hardship licence guide
The sentence Licence loss is compulsory, even if no conviction is recorded. For a first offence it ranges from 2 to 9 months (0.05 to under 0.10 on an open licence) and 3 to 9 months (over zero on L, P, probationary or no licence), up to 3 to 12 months (0.10 to under 0.15). At 0.15 or more, under the influence, or refusing a specimen, it is a minimum of 6 months. Maximum fines are 20, 20, 28 and 40 penalty units ($172.70 each from 1 July 2026), with jail possible
Getting back on the road You start on a probationary licence lasting at least a year. A 12-month interlock applies for 0.10 or more, under the influence, refusing a specimen, or a second offence in 5 years (TORUM ss 91I and 91N). See our QLD alcohol interlock guide

Each charge is explained in our Queensland drink driving offences guide, and the penalty tables are in our QLD drink driving penalties guide.

Can you get a work licence at Coolangatta?

Applications under s 87 are listed on Fridays. To be eligible, you must have held an open Queensland licence at the time (TMR – restricted licence). You must also have been under 0.15, and not driving for work or in a truck, tractor, bus or other particular vehicle. You need a clean 5-year licence and drink/drug driving history. Finally, you must show you are fit and proper, and that refusal would cause extreme hardship to you or your family by depriving you of your means of earning a living. Airport and hospitality workers on early starts should put their rosters in their affidavits. Our DUI restricted work licence guide explains the process.

Preparing for a Monday at Musgrave Street

  • Bring your Notice to Appear and any police documents.
  • Complete the Traffic Offenders Program and bring the certificate.
  • Bring dated, signed references that acknowledge the charge.
  • If you are eligible and want a work licence, ask whether it will be heard on the Monday or listed for a Friday.

Our Queensland DUI court process guide explains how a plea is run. For drug detections, see our Queensland drug driving guide.

Practical Video Case Review

Short, no-nonsense insights on what changes outcomes—preparation, timing, materials and realistic expectations. More on BoormanLawyers.tv .

Boorman Lawyers – DUI Case Review (2016) This outcome was reported in 2016. Queensland drink driving penalties changed for offences committed from 31 August 2026, so the penalties discussed here may not reflect current law.

Queensland penalty changes in 2026: check your offence date (law checked 20 Oct 2026).

Offences on or after 31 August 2026: higher maximum fines apply. They are 20 penalty units ($3,454) for the general alcohol limit and no alcohol limit offences, 28 ($4,835.60) for the middle alcohol limit and 40 ($6,908) for driving under the influence of liquor or a drug. A first general alcohol limit conviction (0.05 to under 0.10) on an open licence now carries 2 to 9 months' disqualification. For offences before 31 August 2026 it was 1 to 9 months. Police can now give an eligible first low-range driver on an open Queensland licence an infringement notice of $1,295 instead of a court charge. Unless the driver elects to go to court, a 2-month disqualification follows. It counts as a conviction, and there is no work licence for that period. Drug driving (a relevant drug present) has not changed yet. The maximum is 14 penalty units ($2,417.80) or 3 months, with 1 to 9 months' disqualification on an open licence and 3 to 9 months for learner, P-plate and unlicensed drivers.

Offences on or after 1 December 2026: minimum fines start for drink and drug driving. For example, the minimum is 7.5 penalty units for low range and for drug driving. The drug driving maximum rises to 28 penalty units, and a first offence on an open licence carries 2 to 9 months' disqualification. A new offence of driving with a relevant drug present while over an alcohol limit adds 1 month to the disqualification range.

An offence committed before a change is generally dealt with under the penalties in force when it happened. Sources: TORUM ss 78E, 79, 79B, 79H–79J and 86, as amended by the Queensland Community Safety Act 2024 and the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026. Penalty unit $172.70 from 1 July 2026.

Coolangatta drink driving FAQs

I have a New South Wales licence. Does Queensland law still apply?

Yes, if you were charged in Queensland. The Queensland court deals with the charge under Queensland law. Ask your licensing authority how the result affects your licence.

What number do I call for the Coolangatta court?

(07) 5513 9700, according to the Queensland Courts directory and the 2026 calendar.

Is there a duty lawyer on Mondays?

The 2026 calendar says the duty lawyer service is available on Mondays and Fridays.

Will the court take my cross-border commute into account?

It can be part of your sentencing material. In Queensland, though, a guilty plea still brings a disqualification.

What time does the court start?

The Monday traffic list is at 9am. Arrive early to check in.

Coolangatta Magistrates Court — court details

Coolangatta Magistrates Court

Street
136 Musgrave Street, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Postal
PO Box 375, Coolangatta Qld 4225
Phone
(07) 5513 9700
Email
courthouse.coolangatta@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours
8.30am – 4.30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday · 8.30am – 4.00pm Tuesday
Days open
Arrests, remands, Notices to Appear and traffic (driving) complaints – Mondays 9am · S87 and special hardship order applications – Fridays 9am · Duty lawyer Monday and Friday (2026 calendar)
➜ Get directions

Queensland Courts, Magistrates Courts directory (saved 19 Oct 2026) and Coolangatta Magistrates Court (Southport Circuit Court) 2026 calendar (courts.qld.gov.au, checked 20 Oct 2026). These are the court registry's details, not Boorman Lawyers office details. Check your court papers for your listing time and courtroom.

Enquire about legal representation

Enquire about legal representation

Call 1300 941 900 or make an enquiry about legal representation.

What to have ready

  • Court & next listing date: Which court is on your paperwork and when your matter is listed.
  • Charge or reading (if known): Tell us the charge or reading if you have it — you do not need your full police facts yet.
  • Work & driving needs: Let us know if you rely on your licence for work or family responsibilities.
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