QUEENSLAND

Traffic Offenders Programs QLD

In shortIn Queensland, a traffic offenders program is usually voluntary. Completing a recognised course before sentence can show the magistrate remorse, insight and steps to avoid reoffending, which the court can take into account under the Penalties and Sentences Act. It cannot remove mandatory disqualification periods, and how much weight it carries depends on the program and the case.

Voluntary: most people do a program by choice before sentence; it is mitigation, not a requirement.
What it can affect: where the fine and disqualification fall within the range the law sets, and the overall impression of insight and risk.
What it cannot do: reduce a mandatory minimum disqualification, avoid an interlock, or decide the outcome.

Queensland law · law checked 21 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

What's on this page

What is a traffic offenders program?

A traffic offenders program is a structured education course about the causes and consequences of high-risk driving: alcohol and drugs, speed, fatigue, distraction, and the impact of crashes on victims, families and emergency workers. In Queensland, these programs are run by private and not-for-profit providers. Most people complete one voluntarily, before sentence, after being charged with drink driving, drug driving, dangerous or careless driving, or unlicensed or disqualified driving.

The course itself is not a penalty. Its value is as evidence at sentence: it shows the magistrate that you have taken the offence seriously and done something concrete about it before your court date.

Why magistrates take programs into account

Under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, a Queensland court sentencing an offender must consider a range of matters, including the offender's character, the presence of any mitigating factors, and prospects of rehabilitation (s 9). A completed program can be relevant to several of those factors:

Remorse and insight. You can explain what you learned and what you will do differently, in your own words.
Rehabilitation. It shows you have taken steps to reduce the risk of reoffending.
Timing. Completing it before court, without being ordered to, shows initiative.

Magistrates hear many people say "it will never happen again". A program certificate, along with a personal reflection and a realistic plan, is evidence that goes further than a promise.

What you can point to at sentence

You completed structured education delivered or designed by people such as police, paramedics, firefighters, counsellors and lawyers.
You understand the real consequences of impaired or dangerous driving and have written about them.
You have a plan, such as not driving after drinking, using rideshare, or getting counselling.
You did this before court, not on the morning of sentence.

Practical tip: enrol soon after you are charged and finish before your plea date. Bring the certificate or report to court and give a copy to your lawyer in advance.

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.

What a program can and cannot do

A program can	A program cannot
Support submissions about where the fine should sit within the maximum	Reduce a mandatory minimum disqualification, such as the automatic 6 months for a first under the influence offence
Support submissions about where a disqualification should fall within a range, such as 2 to 9 months for a first low range offence	Remove the interlock condition after a listed drink driving offence
Be part of the material for a no-conviction request under s 12 of the Penalties and Sentences Act	Make you eligible for a work licence if you are not eligible
Help show the court that you are a lower risk	Decide the outcome for you

Main traffic offender programs used in Queensland

There is no single government-run program for Queensland Magistrates Courts. Courts generally receive certificates from a small number of established private and not-for-profit providers. The three main types are described below. We do not recommend any particular provider. Check fees, formats and current details directly with the provider before you enrol, as these change.

1. Facilitated multi-session programs

What it is. A structured traffic offenders education program covering drink and drug driving, speeding, unlicensed and disqualified driving, and dangerous driving. Its content is presented by people such as police, ambulance officers, fire and rescue officers, counsellors and lawyers.

Format. Some are run as several core sessions completed over a number of days, delivered online with identity verification so the court can be confident you did the work yourself.

Evidence for court. On completion, the provider issues a certificate or report confirming attendance and summarising the content. This is commonly tendered at sentence in drink driving, drug driving and dangerous driving matters.

Suited to. Drink driving and drug driving at any range, unlicensed or disqualified driving, careless driving and dangerous driving without serious injury, and people who want a Queensland-specific program.

2. Self-paced online programs

What it is. A self-paced online program about attitudes to speeding, alcohol, mobile phone use, fatigue and high-risk driving.

Format. You work through modules and self-reflection tasks on a phone or computer, then request a written assessment or court report. Providers usually need processing time, so do not leave the request until the day before court.

How courts may view it. Because it is self-paced, it can be completed quickly. Some magistrates give more weight to longer or facilitated programs with identity checks. Others will accept a self-paced completion report as evidence of insight, particularly for lower-level matters, if it is genuine and not rushed.

Suited to. Situations where the court date is close, regional or remote Queensland drivers, and lower-level matters such as low range drink driving, speeding during a good behaviour period or mobile phone offences.

3. Facilitator-led intervention programs

Who runs it. Some not-for-profit road safety organisations run traffic offender intervention programs in several states, including Queensland.

Focus. Attitude and behaviour change rather than a summary of the road rules: the "fatal five", crash trauma, policing, sentencing consequences and the impact on employment and licensing. Participants complete structured modules and written reflections.

Format. Offered in person in some locations and virtually for regional drivers, generally across several facilitator-led modules with group discussion.

Evidence for court. The provider issues confirmation of completion, which can be presented at sentence.

Suited to. More serious or repeat offending, where the court will look closely at the risk of reoffending, and matters involving speed, mobile phones, fatigue or aggressive driving as well as alcohol and drugs.

Online national courses

There are also Australia-wide online "traffic offender" courses. Their value depends on whether the magistrate is satisfied that the provider is reputable, that the course has real content, and that it verifies the identity of the participant. Ask your lawyer before relying on one.

How to use a program in your Queensland case

Enrol early. Do not wait until the night before court. Magistrates notice timing and effort.
Do the work properly. Complete every module and reflection task in your own words.
Get the certificate or report and give it to your lawyer well before court.
Link it to your story. In submissions, connect the program to your circumstances: your need to drive for work, the steps you have taken, and why it will not happen again.
For a work licence application. If you are applying for a restricted licence under s 87 of TORUM, program completion can support the evidence that you are a fit and proper person. It does not replace the requirement to show extreme hardship. See DUI restricted work licence.

Programs and other outcomes

No conviction recorded. A program can be part of the material supporting a request not to record a conviction. See no conviction for drink driving.
Penalties. Program completion is one factor among many. See drink driving penalties in Queensland.
Interlocks. A program does not remove the interlock requirement. TMR may separately require a drink driving education program as part of getting your licence back.

Talk to a lawyer before court

Practice varies between courts and magistrates. A lawyer can advise which program is likely to be given weight in your court, how to present it, and what else to put before the court.

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

drink and drug driving at any range;
relevant drug present offences;
dangerous and careless driving;
unlicensed and disqualified driving; and
s 87 work licence applications.

What clients say

Google reviews (opens in a new tab)Facebook reviews (opens in a new tab)

FAQs: traffic offenders programs in Queensland

Do I legally have to do a traffic offenders program in Queensland?

Usually not. Programs are not normally ordered before sentence; you choose to do them. They are used to show remorse, insight and rehabilitation.

Can a program reduce my licence disqualification?

It can support submissions about where your disqualification falls within the range the law sets. The outcome is for the court, and it cannot go below a mandatory minimum.

How much does a program cost?

Fees vary by provider and format. Check the current fee directly with the provider before you enrol.

Is an interstate provider's program accepted in Queensland courts?

Courts can consider completion of any genuine program. The weight given depends on the magistrate and the program. Ask your lawyer about your court.

What if my court date is in a few days?

Self-paced programs can be started quickly, but you need to allow time for the report. Some magistrates give more weight to longer or facilitated programs, so get advice.

Will doing a program stop me being disqualified?

No. Queensland drink and drug driving laws set minimum disqualification periods that a program cannot change.

Is this the same as a defensive driving course?

No. A defensive driving course teaches car control. A traffic offenders program is about why you offended, the harm impaired or dangerous driving causes, and how to avoid repeating it.

Sources and date checked

The law on this page was checked against these primary and official sources on 21 Oct 2026. Penalty unit dollar amounts are as at 21 Oct 2026.

Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) – s 9 (sentencing guidelines) — checked 21 Oct 2026
Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld) – ss 86, 87 (reprint current from 21 September 2026) — checked 21 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.

QLD Traffic Law

Choose your QLD traffic law topicQLD

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.

No obligationConfidential

Boorman Lawyers TV