QUEENSLAND

Gatton DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Gatton Magistrates Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Gatton Magistrates Court at 7 William Street is an Ipswich circuit court. Under its 2026 calendar it sits on Tuesdays, with police matters at 9am and licence applications at 2pm. For Lockyer Valley farm, harvest and freight workers, Queensland's work licence rules are strict, and driving a truck or tractor at the time rules you out. We assist clients at Gatton 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: Gatton Magistrates Court, 7 William Street, Gatton. Phone (07) 4617 7470. It is an Ipswich circuit court.
Tuesdays: police matters are at 9am, and special hardship and licence applications at 2pm. The court is closed from 21 to 31 December 2026.
Farm drivers: under TORUM s 87 you cannot get a work licence if you were driving a truck, tractor or other particular vehicle, or driving for work.

Queensland law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

What's on this page

Can a Lockyer Valley farm or freight worker get a work licence?

Short answer: often not. Under s 87 you are excluded if you were driving for work, or driving a truck, tractor, bus or other particular vehicle. You are also excluded at 0.15 or more, without an open Queensland licence, or with a licence sanction or drink/drug driving conviction in the past 5 years.

Agriculture, packing sheds and Warrego Highway freight mean a lot of Lockyer Valley work involves driving, and much of it is in vehicles that the work licence rules exclude.

The work licence exclusions that matter in the valley

Under TORUM s 87 (TMR – restricted licence), you cannot apply if, at the time of the offence, any of these was true:

You were driving in the course of your work. A farm ute on a delivery run, or a freight run, can count.
You were driving a truck, tractor, bus or other particular vehicle.
You were at 0.15 or more.
You did not hold an open Queensland licence. This includes harvest workers on learner, P-plate or overseas licences.
You had a suspension, cancellation or disqualification, or a drink or drug driving conviction, in the past 5 years.

If none of these applies, you must still show that you are fit and proper, and that losing your licence would cause extreme hardship by depriving you or your family of a living. Without a licence, harvest work at odd hours and long distances between farms can be hard to reach. Set those facts out with rosters and an employer letter. Our DUI restricted work licence guide explains the affidavits.

Heavy vehicle and professional drivers

Drivers of heavy trucks, buses and some other professional drivers have a zero alcohol limit. Over 0.00 is then a no alcohol limit offence, with a maximum of 20 penalty units or 3 months and a 3 to 9 month disqualification (1 to 9 months for particular vehicles). Our Queensland drink driving offences guide explains who is on a zero limit.

What penalties apply if you were on an open licence?

Short answer: every band carries a compulsory disqualification on a guilty plea, from 2 to 9 months at the general alcohol limit up to at least 6 months at 0.15 or more. Fines run up to 40 penalty units.

For an open-licence driver on a first offence, with penalty units at $172.70 from 1 July 2026:

0.05 to under 0.10: up to $3,454 or 3 months, and 2 to 9 months off the road;
0.10 to under 0.15: up to $4,835 or 6 months, and 3 to 12 months off the road;
0.15 or more, under the influence, or not providing a specimen: up to $6,908 or 9 months, and at least 6 months off the road.

Licence loss is compulsory on a guilty plea, whether or not a conviction is recorded. Repeat offences within 5 years carry more. See our QLD drink driving penalties guide.

Can you keep driving until the Tuesday list?

Short answer: below 0.10, yes, once the 24-hour suspension ends. At 0.10 or more, after failing to provide a specimen, or on a second pending charge, you cannot drive until the court deals with the charge.

Transport and Main Roads explains that under 0.10, you have a 24-hour suspension. If you were at 0.10 or more, did not provide a specimen for analysis, or were charged while another drink driving charge was pending, you are suspended until the court finalises the charge. A s 79E order is a limited exception. Our special hardship licence guide explains it.

What happens after the disqualification?

Short answer: you go back on a probationary licence for at least a year. You also need a 12-month interlock if you were at 0.10 or more, or convicted of under the influence, failing to provide a specimen, or a repeat offence.

You return on a probationary licence for at least a year. At 0.10 or more, or after a conviction for under the influence, not providing a specimen, or a repeat offence within 5 years, you also need an interlock for 12 months (TORUM ss 91I and 91N). Interlock servicing is another trip to plan for. See our QLD alcohol interlock guide.

First mention at Gatton: what's on the list, where to go, what to bring

Gatton Magistrates Court is an Ipswich circuit court. Its 2026 calendar shows sittings on Tuesdays:

Tuesday list	Time
Arrests and remands (police and probation matters)	9am
Special hardship orders, licence applications and Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) prosecutions	2pm

The remaining 2026 Tuesdays are 27 October; 3, 10, 17 and 24 November; and 1, 8 and 15 December. The court is closed from 21 to 31 December. According to the practice notes, committals and lengthy hearings go to Ipswich Magistrates Court. Sentences expected to take more than 20 minutes are given their own time and date. Your Notice to Appear tells you which list and time apply to you.

Where to go: 7 William Street, Gatton. On Wednesdays the registry opens at 9.30am, or at 8.30am on court days.

What should you bring?

Complete the Traffic Offenders Program, collect references that mention the charge, and organise a lift home. The Queensland DUI court process guide explains the hearing. For saliva-test detections, see our Queensland drug driving guide.

Nearby courts

Charges may also be listed at Toowoomba (about 32 km), Ipswich (about 48 km, where Gatton's circuit is run from) or Richlands (about 67 km). For statewide information, see Queensland traffic 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.

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Gatton drink driving FAQs

Which days does Gatton court sit?

Tuesdays, under the 2026 calendar. Police matters are at 9am, and special hardship and licence applications at 2pm.

I was driving the farm truck. Can I get a work licence?

No. Driving a truck, tractor or other particular vehicle at the time excludes you under s 87.

Is the registry open on Wednesdays?

Yes, from 9.30am to 4.30pm, or from 8.30am on court days, according to the directory.

Will my matter be moved to Ipswich?

According to the calendar's practice notes, committals and lengthy hearings go to Ipswich, and long sentences are given their own date. Check your listing with the registry.

I'm a seasonal worker on an overseas licence. Can I get a work licence?

No. A s 87 licence requires an open Queensland licence at the time of the offence.

Sources and date checked

Sources and references for this page, checked 20 Oct 2026.

Queensland Courts – Magistrates Courts directory (Gatton entry) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Queensland Courts – Gatton Magistrates Court 2026 calendar (PDF) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld) – reprint current from 21 September 2026 (ss 79, 79E, 80, 86, 87, 91I, 91N) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Queensland Government (TMR) – Being charged with drink driving — checked 20 Oct 2026
Queensland Government (TMR) – Restricted licence — checked 20 Oct 2026
Queensland Community Safety Act 2024 (Act No. 45), ss 93–104 – TORUM amendments commenced 31 August 2026 — checked 20 Oct 2026
Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 (Act No. 23) – assent 21 September 2026; pt 10 div 3 commences 1 December 2026 — checked 20 Oct 2026
TORUM legislative history (commencement of amending Acts) — checked 20 Oct 2026

This page is general information about Queensland law only. It is not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts.

Gatton Magistrates Court — court details

Gatton Magistrates Court

Street: 7 William Street, Gatton QLD 4343
Postal: PO Box 413, Gatton Qld 4343
Phone: (07) 4617 7470
Email: courthouse.gatton@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday · Wednesday 9.30am (8.30am on court days) – 4.30pm
Days open: Tuesdays (Ipswich circuit): arrests/remands (police and probation matters) 9am · special hardship orders, licence applications and DTMR prosecutions 2pm (2026 calendar)

➜ Get directions

Queensland Courts, Magistrates Courts directory (saved 19 Oct 2026) and Gatton Magistrates Court (Ipswich 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.

QLD Traffic Law

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Guides for Queensland traffic law matters.

QLDDrink Driving OffencesRead guide →QLDDrink Driving PenaltiesRead guide →QLDDrink Driving DefencesRead guide →QLDDrug Driving Offences & PenaltiesRead guide →QLDNo Conviction Drink DrivingRead guide →QLDDUI Restricted Work LicenceRead guide →QLDSpecial Hardship LicenceRead guide →QLDAlcohol Interlock LawsRead guide →QLDTraffic Offenders ProgramRead guide →QLDAppeal Immediate DUI Police SuspensionRead guide →QLDDangerous DrivingRead guide →QLDDUI Court Process GuideRead guide →

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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