QUEENSLAND

Mareeba DUI Lawyers

In shortMareeba sits at the gateway to the Tablelands and the Gulf, and its court starts earlier than most: the 2026 calendar sets 8.30am for every criminal remand so solicitors have time to take instructions before the Magistrate comes on.

Queensland law · law checked 30 Oct 2026

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General image – not this courthouse.

What's on this page

What happens to a drink or drug driving charge at Mareeba?

In short: A Mareeba drink or drug driving charge is normally first listed on a Monday general callover at 8.30am at 14 Hort Street. Special hardship order applications have their own Wednesday 9.00am list. Hearing dates are allocated by the Magistrate on a callover day.

What happens on the day at Mareeba?

In short: Arrive by 8.30am. The early start is there so the prosecutor and lawyers can take instructions before the bench sits.

Mareeba's Monday list combines arrests, remands and the general callover, which covers traffic and transport department matters. The 2026 calendar's practice note explains the 8.30am time: it gives lawyers time to speak to clients and the prosecution before court formally starts. Adult video court, for people in custody, starts at 10.00am, so the morning can run in two parts.

For a drink or drug driving charge, the first appearance is usually where a plea is entered or an adjournment is sought to get the police brief or prepare material. If a plea of guilty proceeds, the prosecutor tenders the facts and the reading or analysis certificate, and the Magistrate sentences, including any disqualification. A not guilty plea does not get its hearing that morning: the Magistrate allocates a hearing date at the callover.

Because the Mareeba court is the base for a very wide district, some people arrive having driven a long way. If you are disqualified that morning, you cannot drive home.

What is different about the Mareeba listings?

In short: An 8.30am criminal start, a separate Wednesday list for special hardship, and hearing dates set only at callover.

8.30am start for all criminal matters on callover days, as the calendar's practice note explains; adult video court runs from 10.00am.
The Magistrate circuits to Georgetown by video link from Mareeba, so Mareeba is the base for a very large inland area.
Hearing dates are set by the Magistrate at a callover, not booked through the registry.

Calendars change, so check your Notice to Appear and the current Queensland Courts calendar before relying on a date.

How do you get to Mareeba court?

In short: Hort Street is central, but many people travel in from the outer Tablelands or the Gulf side, so build in time.

The range roads can be slow in wet weather or after a crash. If something goes wrong on the way, call the courthouse on (07) 4092 8800 before 8.30am rather than simply not appearing. A matter for Georgetown is still filed at Mareeba, even though the Magistrate deals with it by video link.

What local driving factors matter around Mareeba?

In short: Distance, farm and mine work, and limited public transport can make a disqualification hit harder here.

For many residents there is simply no other way to get to work. That does not change the law: disqualification periods for Queensland drink driving are set by TORUM, and the Magistrate works inside those limits. It can, however, matter to the length of a disqualification within the range, and to whether a work licence is worth considering. No official regional drink driving statistic for the Mareeba Shire was located on 30 Oct 2026, so none is quoted here.

Queensland drink and drug driving law: the essentials

This section covers Queensland law only, under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld) (TORUM), as checked against the current in-force version on legislation.qld.gov.au on 30 Oct 2026.

Charge (TORUM s79)	Maximum penalty, first offence	Licence disqualification, first offence (s86)
Over the no alcohol limit: learner, provisional, probationary or unlicensed drivers and some vehicle classes (s79(2A), (2B))	20 penalty units or 3 months	3 to 9 months
Over the general alcohol limit, 0.05 to under 0.10 (s79(2))	20 penalty units or 3 months	2 to 9 months
Over the middle alcohol limit, 0.10 to under 0.15 (s79(1F))	28 penalty units or 6 months	3 to 12 months
Under the influence of liquor or a drug (s79(1))	40 penalty units or 9 months	6 months, automatic on conviction

A repeat offence within 5 years raises both the maximum penalty and the disqualification period. For example, the disqualification range rises to 3 to 18 months for a repeat offence under s79(1F), (2) or (2AA) (s86(2B)). The relevant alcohol limits are defined in s79A. From 1 July 2026 one penalty unit is $172.70 (Penalties and Sentences Regulation 2025, s 4, as amended by the Penalties and Sentences (Penalty Unit Value) Amendment Regulation 2026), so 20 penalty units is a maximum fine of $3,454. The offence date matters. The table reflects the law for offences before 1 December 2026. From 1 December 2026, Part 10, Division 3 of the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 (Qld) commences: it introduces minimum fines that a court must impose when it chooses a fine-only penalty for a s79 offence (new s78E), a combined drink and drug driving offence, and higher penalties for driving with a relevant drug present.

Work licence (s87). A court may order a restricted licence that limits driving to circumstances directly connected with earning your livelihood. The court cannot grant one unless you: - satisfy it that you are a fit and proper person, and that refusing would cause extreme hardship to you or your family by depriving you of your means of earning a living (s87(5)(a)); - held a provisional or open licence (s87(5)(e), (f)); - have had no licence suspension, cancellation or disqualification in the past 5 years, and no conviction under s79 in the 5 years before this conviction (s87(5)(b), (c)); - were not engaged in an activity directly connected with earning your livelihood when the offence happened (s87(5)(d)); - were not convicted under s79(1), which rules out a work licence for under the influence, including readings at the high alcohol limit (s87(5)(da)).

You must apply before the court disqualifies you (s87(2)). If you are not self-employed, your employer's affidavit is required (s87(5A)). A work licence granted after a middle-limit (s79(1F)) conviction carries the interlock condition (s87 note, s91K).

Special hardship order. This is a separate application to keep driving during a licence suspension, not a court disqualification. TORUM authorises it (s150(1A)), and the eligibility rules are in the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021 (ss 310–311). The licence must be a suspended Queensland open or provisional licence, and TMR describes the qualifying suspensions as those for demerit points during a good driving behaviour period or a speeding offence of more than 40 km/h over the limit. A person is not eligible if, in the 5 years before the suspension, they had a Queensland licence suspended, cancelled or disqualified (some suspensions are disregarded, including an immediate suspension for an alleged drink or drug driving offence) or were convicted of dangerous operation of a vehicle (reg 311).

Interlock. Drink driving offences listed in s91I trigger the interlock program after disqualification. These include a middle-limit (s79(1F)) offence and driving under the influence of liquor (s79(1)). The prescribed period is 12 months (s91N). People who live a long way from an approved interlock installer can apply to the chief executive for an exemption (s91Q).

Which licence options might apply to a Mareeba matter?

In short: A work licence must be sought before sentence; a special hardship order goes on Mareeba's Wednesday list.

The s87 work licence is available only to people who held a provisional or open licence, who were not driving for work when the offence happened, and who meet the rest of s87(5). It is not available for an under the influence (s79(1)) conviction. The application, with an employer affidavit unless self-employed, has to be ready before the court disqualifies. In practice at Mareeba that means it should be prepared before the Monday callover where the plea is to be entered.

A special hardship order is listed on Wednesdays at 9.00am under the 2026 calendar, alongside civil, DV, peace and good behaviour and QCAT matters. It applies to certain suspensions, not court disqualifications, and its eligibility rules sit in the regulation; it is limited to certain demerit point and high-speed suspensions of an open or provisional licence, and is not available for a drink driving disqualification (Driver Licensing Regulation 2021, ss 310–311).

Interlock: a person who lives a long way from an approved installer can ask the chief executive for a s91Q exemption.

How can Boorman Lawyers help with a Mareeba matter?

In short: Joshua Boorman has been admitted since 2008 and acts in Queensland drink and drug driving matters. We do not have an office in Mareeba. Our appearance at Mareeba can be in person or by AVL where the court grants leave; AVL is well established in regional and remote listings. We confirm the arrangement before your court date. We can review the police facts and certificates, prepare sentencing material, and prepare a s87 work licence or special hardship application where one may be available.

What should you prepare and bring for Mareeba?

In short: Have ready: your Notice to Appear or bench charge sheet, the reading or charge, your licence type and history, and how you use your licence for work and family. If a work licence may be relevant, evidence of your employment and hardship needs to be gathered before the first date.

Bring your Notice to Appear or bail undertaking, photo ID, your driver licence, and anything police gave you at the roadside or the station. For a plea, signed references and evidence of employment are often relevant. Anyone relying on travel distances in a hardship argument should bring something that shows where they live and work, such as a lease, rates notice or employment letter.

Which courts are near Mareeba?

In short: Atherton covers the southern Tablelands and Cairns is the coastal hub.

Atherton Magistrates Court (currently sitting at a temporary venue at 49–57 Loder Street) covers the southern Tablelands, and Cairns is the regional centre. See Atherton DUI lawyers and Cairns DUI lawyers. For every court, see QLD courts we attend.

DUI court videos

We do not yet have a video from Mareeba itself. The video below is from our nearest court with a video: Atherton Magistrates Court, about 30 km away (straight-line distance).

Atherton DUI Lawyers appears on drink driving charge in Far North Qld – video from Atherton Magistrates Court, our nearest court with a video (about 30 km from Mareeba)

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Mareeba drink driving FAQs

What time should I be at Mareeba court?

The 2026 calendar sets 8.30am as the remand time for all criminal matters. Check the time on your own Notice to Appear or bail undertaking.

When are special hardship applications heard in Mareeba?

They are listed with child protection, civil, DV, peace and good behaviour and QCAT matters, on Wednesdays at 9.00am under the 2026 calendar.

Does Mareeba handle Georgetown matters?

Yes. Mareeba is the filing registry for Georgetown, and the calendar notes that the Magistrate circuits to Georgetown by video link from Mareeba.

How is a hearing date set in Mareeba?

The Magistrate allocates hearing dates on a callover day.

Can a Mareeba work licence application be heard on the Monday list?

The application must be decided before disqualification.

What happens if I am late for the 8.30am start at Mareeba?

Call the courthouse on (07) 4092 8800. If you are not there when your matter is called, the Magistrate can deal with it in your absence or issue a warrant.

Is video court at Mareeba for people on bail?

The 10.00am adult video court is for people in custody. People on bail or a Notice to Appear attend in person unless the court allows otherwise.

Is the Atherton court the same as Mareeba?

No. Atherton is a separate Magistrates Court, currently sitting at a temporary venue at 49–57 Loder Street. Your paperwork names the court you must attend.

This page is general information about Queensland law, not legal advice about your matter.

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

Sources and date checked (30 Oct 2026)

Queensland Courts, Courthouse locations: https://courts.qld.gov.au/contacts/courthouses/
Queensland Courts, Magistrates Court calendars 2026: https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/going-to-court/find-a-court-date/magistrates-court-calendars-2026 — https://www.courts.qld.gov.au (2026 calendar PDF: mc-mareeba-2026.pdf)
TORUM 1995 (Qld) ss 79, 79A, 86, 87, 91I, 91N, 91Q, 150: https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1995-009 (current in-force version, checked 30 Oct 2026)

Mareeba Magistrates Court — court details

Mareeba Magistrates Court

Street: 14 Hort Street, Mareeba QLD 4880
Postal: PO Box 182, Mareeba Qld 4880
Phone: (07) 4092 8800
Email: courthouse.mareeba@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry: Own registry at 14 Hort Street. Mareeba is also the registry for the Georgetown court, which the Magistrate covers by video link from Mareeba.
Hours: 8.30am–4.30pm Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri; 8.30am–4.00pm Thu
Sittings (2026): Arrests, remands and the general callover (traffic, transport and other departments) on Mondays at 8.30am. Special hardship applications are listed with civil and DV matters on Wednesdays at 9.00am.

➜ Get directions

In short: 14 Hort Street, with its own registry that also serves Georgetown, which the Magistrate covers by video link.

These are the court registry's details, not Boorman Lawyers office details. Check your court papers for your listing time and courtroom.

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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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