QUEENSLAND

Maryborough DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Maryborough Magistrates Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Maryborough Magistrates Court, at 170 Richmond Street, lists adult arrests and remands at 9am every Monday and Tuesday and is also the base for the Gayndah circuit. We assist clients at Maryborough 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: Maryborough Magistrates Court, 170 Richmond Street, Maryborough Qld 4650. Phone (07) 4190 2400.
  • Lists (2026 calendar): adult arrests/remands 9am Mondays and Tuesdays; general callover 2pm on listed dates; several no-court days in November and December.
  • Licence: disqualification on every conviction (TORUM s 86); interlock from 0.10 (s 91I).

Queensland law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Maryborough Magistrates Court building, Queensland, with the Boorman Lawyers logo and phone number 1300 941 900
What's on this page

What will a Maryborough drink driving charge do to your licence?

If you are convicted, you will lose your licence for a period. That is not a matter of the magistrate's discretion: under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (TORUM), s 86, a conviction for any drink or drug driving offence carries a compulsory disqualification. What can change is how long it lasts, whether you can drive for work in the meantime, and whether an interlock follows. Maryborough Magistrates Court, at 170 Richmond Street, lists adult arrests and remands at 9am every Monday and Tuesday under its 2026 calendar. Work through the lettered path below. Each step tells you which step to read next.

What does the whole path look like at a glance?

Step The question Decided by Law
A Driving before court Your reading, licence and pending charges TORUM s 79B
B Length of the disqualification The magistrate, within a fixed band s 86
C Eligibility for a work licence Four facts about the day of the offence s 87
D Grant of a work licence Your affidavit evidence s 87
E Interlock after relicensing The offence and reading ss 91I, 91N
F Recording a conviction The magistrate's discretion PSA s 12

Only steps B, D and F involve a choice by the court. Steps A, C and E are fixed by the facts, which is why getting the facts right early matters.

A. Can you drive tonight and until court?

Start with the night you were charged. TORUM s 79B gives three outcomes:

  • Open licence, reading below 0.10, no other drink driving charge pending. Your licence is suspended for 24 hours. After that you may drive until the charge is decided. Go to B.
  • Reading of 0.10 or above, a refusal to give a specimen, or another drink driving charge already pending. You are suspended from the moment of the charge until the court finishes it. Do not drive. Go to B.
  • Learner, P plate or probationary licence with any alcohol. Read the notice police gave you; novice drivers face stricter rules. Go to B.

If you are not sure which applies, treat yourself as suspended until you get advice. Driving while suspended is a separate offence and can affect the rest of this path.

B. How long can the disqualification be?

Next, find your band. These are the first-offence periods in s 86:

If on the night you were… The court must disqualify for at least And can go up to
On an open licence, 0.05 to under 0.10 2 months 9 months
On an open licence, 0.10 to under 0.15 3 months 12 months
A learner, P plate, probationary or unlicensed driver over zero 3 months 9 months
A truck, bus, taxi or other zero-limit driver on an open licence over zero 1 month 9 months
At 0.15 or more, under the influence, or refusing a specimen 6 months Longer, as the court decides

A second offence within five years moves you into longer periods. The court also fines you. Section 86(2A) directs the magistrate to the reading and to the actual or potential danger to the public when choosing where in the range you land. Fines and repeat periods are on the drink driving penalties page.

If your reading was 0.15 or more, or the charge is under the influence or a refusal, skip C and go to E. Everyone else, go to C.

C. Are you even allowed to ask for a work licence?

Here the path narrows sharply. A restricted licence under s 87 lets some people drive for work during the disqualification, but the law first asks four yes-or-no questions about the day of the offence. Answer each one:

  1. Did you hold a Queensland open licence? If no (for example a learner, P, probationary or overseas licence), stop: a work licence is not available. Go to E.
  2. Were you driving as part of your job, or driving a truck, bus or other vehicle the section excludes? If yes, stop. Go to E. (This is often misunderstood: driving for work at the time rules you out; needing to drive to or for work afterwards is what the application is about.)
  3. In the five years before, did you have a drink driving conviction, or was your licence suspended, cancelled or disqualified for any reason, including demerit points? If yes, stop. Go to E.
  4. Was your reading under 0.15, and is the charge something other than under the influence or a refusal? If yes, go to D.

D. Can you prove the hardship?

Passing C means you may apply, not that you will succeed. You must show by affidavit that, without the licence, you or your family would suffer extreme hardship because you would be deprived of your means of earning a living, and that you are a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

Evidence that speaks to the Fraser Coast is the kind that counts. A carer who travels between clients' homes in Maryborough, Tinana and Granville in her own car, outside any bus timetable, can describe each visit. A worker at an engineering shop who starts at 6am and lives at Tiaro, 30-odd kilometres away, can show there is no transport that gets him there. A short statement from the employer confirming the job depends on driving helps. The application must be filed, served and decided before the disqualification is ordered, so start early. If your reading was 0.10 or more, any work licence granted comes with an interlock condition (s 91K).

Our restricted work licence guide and TMR's restricted licence page set out the paperwork. The Maryborough calendar lists special hardship orders in the general callover. A special hardship licence is for other suspensions, such as for demerit points; it does not apply to a court-ordered drink driving disqualification. Go to E.

E. Will there be an interlock when you drive again?

Answer yes if any of these applies to your conviction:

  • the reading was 0.10 or higher, even for a first offence;
  • you were convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or a drug;
  • you failed to provide a breath or blood specimen; or
  • it is your second or later drink driving offence within five years.

If yes, s 91I requires an interlock period after the disqualification. The order of events is: disqualification ends, you apply to TMR for a new licence, an approved device is fitted, and you then drive only that vehicle for 12 months with no failed or missed tests (s 91N). Missing a service or failing a test can extend the period. If no, your next licence will still be probationary with a zero alcohol limit for at least a year. TMR's interlock page and our alcohol interlock page explain exemptions, providers and costs. Go to F.

F. Will a conviction be recorded?

This is separate from the licence. Under s 12 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, the court may decide not to record a conviction after considering the nature of the offence, your character and age, and the impact a conviction would have on your economic or social wellbeing and your chances of finding work. It matters for some jobs, visas and professional registrations. A no-conviction order does not shorten or remove the disqualification. See the no conviction drink driving page.

When does Maryborough hear these matters?

The 2026 calendar for Maryborough (which is also the base for the Gayndah circuit court on Fridays) sets out:

  • Adult arrests and remands: 9am every Monday and Tuesday, except listed dates. The remaining exception is Monday 16 November.
  • General callover: 2pm on listed dates, covering government, council, special hardship orders and general complaint matters. The remaining dates appear to be 26 October and 7 December.
  • Domestic violence applications: 9am Wednesdays.
  • Long pleas and hearings: matters transferred to Maryborough for a long plea or hearing go first to a callover date for mention.
  • No-court days: the calendar marks dates when no matters are to be listed, including the Christmas period from 21 December.

Which list a traffic Notice to Appear goes into is not spelt out on the calendar. Your notice gives the date and time, and the registry on (07) 4190 2400 can confirm.

Is there a defence?

Before entering any plea, look at whether police can prove each element: that you were driving or in charge of the vehicle, that the specimen was required and analysed as TORUM ss 79 and 80 require, and that the certificate is in order. Our drink driving defences page and drink driving offences guide explain these. A not guilty plea will be adjourned for a hearing, which takes longer.

If you are pleading guilty, read the police facts (the QP9) carefully. Anything inaccurate should be corrected before the plea.

What should you have ready for sentence?

The magistrate decides the length of the disqualification within the band, the fine, any work licence, and whether to record a conviction. Material that helps:

  • your TMR traffic history;
  • two or three signed references from people who know about the charge;
  • an employer letter about your work and travel;
  • a certificate from any course you choose to do, such as those on our Traffic Offenders Program page;
  • evidence of how a recorded conviction would affect you, if relevant;
  • your plan for getting around the Fraser Coast during the disqualification.

Keep originals and bring copies for the prosecutor and the bench. References should say the writer knows about the charge, describe how they know you, and be signed and dated; unsigned or generic letters carry little weight. If you have done a course, bring the certificate itself rather than a receipt.

What happens at Richmond Street on the day?

Give yourself time for the security screening at the entrance, then check the court list for your courtroom. People without a lawyer can ask staff to point them to the duty lawyer. In the courtroom, matters are called in the order the court chooses, not the order of arrival. When yours comes up, the prosecutor summarises the police version and tenders your traffic record; then you, or your lawyer, explain your circumstances and hand up your references and letters. If you have applied for a work licence (step D), it is dealt with before the penalty. The magistrate then fixes the fine, the disqualification period and whether a conviction is recorded. Expect the disqualification to begin the moment it is ordered, so someone else should drive you home. Our court process guide has more detail.

After court, the disqualification dates appear on your TMR record. Fines may go to SPER for payment. When the period ends, return to step E.

How do you get to court from around the Fraser Coast?

If step A left you suspended, plan the trip before court day. Maryborough has a railway station on the North Coast line and local bus services link it with Hervey Bay. From Tiaro, Howard, Brooweena or the Mary Valley, a lift from family or a workmate is usually the practical option. People living in Hervey Bay should check whether their notice says Maryborough or Hervey Bay, because the two courts are separate.

What if the charge is drug driving or involves a crash?

The licence path is identical for drug charges, with one timing twist: police send the second saliva sample to a laboratory, so the Notice to Appear can turn up some weeks after the roadside stop. Two charges are possible. "Relevant drug present" covers THC, methylamphetamine and MDMA, and police do not need to show you were impaired. "Under the influence of a drug" requires proof that you were affected, and sits with the most serious alcohol offences at a six-month minimum (step B). Your licence position while a drug charge is pending depends on the facts. Our drug driving offences and penalties page explains both.

A crash, injury or dangerous manoeuvre can lead to further charges such as dangerous operation of a vehicle; see the dangerous driving page. These cases often need more than one court date.

What if your notice says Gayndah?

Gayndah Magistrates Court, at 20 Capper Street, is a circuit court run from Maryborough, and the Maryborough calendar includes its Friday sittings. The remaining 2026 Gayndah dates appear to be Friday 6 November and Friday 11 December. Gayndah's own phone number on the calendar is (07) 4190 2415. If your matter is listed there, the licence path above applies in exactly the same way, but there are fewer sitting days, so a work licence application (step D) needs to be filed in good time before the Friday. Matters needing a long plea or hearing may be moved to Maryborough and listed first for mention.

What if you were visiting the Fraser Coast?

Holidaymakers heading to or from K'gari, or travelling the Bruce Highway, are sometimes charged near Maryborough and then return home. You must still deal with the Notice to Appear. Possible arrangements include a lawyer appearing for you where the court permits, an adjournment, or a request to transfer the matter closer to home. None happens automatically. If nobody appears, the magistrate can decide the charge without you, including the disqualification, or issue a warrant. An interstate licence holder disqualified in Queensland should also expect the disqualification to affect their home-state licence. Ring the registry on (07) 4190 2400 before the date.

Which courts are near Maryborough?

Approximate straight-line distances: Hervey Bay about 30 km north-east, Childers about 50 km north-west, and Bundaberg about 95 km north. The Gayndah circuit is run from Maryborough. More guides are on the QLD traffic law hub and in the QLD traffic law FAQs.

Maryborough Magistrates Court details

Street address 170 Richmond Street, Maryborough Qld 4650
Postal address PO Box 111, Maryborough Qld 4650
Phone (07) 4190 2400
Email courthouse.maryborough@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8.30am to 4pm Thursday

Source: Queensland Courts Magistrates Courts directory, checked 19 October 2026, and the Maryborough 2026 calendar, checked 20 October 2026.

To talk about your Maryborough matter, call 1300 941 900 or make an enquiry about legal representation.

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.

Maryborough drink driving FAQs

Is disqualification automatic if I plead guilty?

Yes. Once you are convicted, the magistrate must disqualify you. The court decides the length within the range for your offence.

Can I get a work licence if I was driving my work car?

No. Section 87 rules out anyone who was driving in the course of their employment at the time of the offence.

What days does Maryborough list adult matters?

The 2026 calendar lists adult arrests and remands at 9am on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check your Notice to Appear for your date and time.

My reading was 0.09. Can I drive until court?

Yes, on an open licence with no other charge pending, once the 24-hour suspension ends.

How long is the interlock period?

Twelve months of driving with an approved device, after the disqualification ends and you are relicensed.

Is the court open on Thursday afternoons?

The registry is open from 8.30am to 4pm on Thursdays, and until 4.30pm on other weekdays.

Maryborough Magistrates Court — court details

Maryborough Magistrates Court

Street
170 Richmond Street, Maryborough QLD 4650
Postal
PO Box 111, Maryborough Qld 4650
Phone
(07) 4190 2400
Email
courthouse.maryborough@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours
8.30am – 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8.30am – 4.00pm Thursday
Days open
Adult arrests/remands 9am every Monday and Tuesday (except listed dates); general callover 2pm on listed dates (remaining 26 Oct; Dec 7 per calendar row)
➜ Get directions

Queensland Courts, Magistrates Courts directory (saved 19 Oct 2026) and Maryborough Magistrates Court 2026 calendar (downloaded 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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