There have been recent changes to Queensland legislation regarding the suspension of motor vehicle licences for certain drink driving offences.  As of 15th December 2006, persons who are charged with certain drink driving offences will have their licence/s immediately suspended from the time that they are charged with the offence, until such time as the charge is withdrawn, discontinued, or is brought before the court.

Such offences that will evoke this immediate suspension will be:
Operating a motor vehicle whilst being over the blood alcohol limit of 0.150;
Failure to provide either a blood or breath specimen to police for analysis when ordered to do so;
Operating a motor vehicle dangerously whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit (0.05);
Being charged with a drink driving offence whilst an earlier drink driving charge is yet to be heard; and
Having an alcohol reading above the ‘no alcohol limit’ (0.000) imposed by this order.
Also, if a person is found to be driving after being suspended for driving for one or more of the above reasons, then the court must, if the person is found guilty of unlicensed driving, disqualify the driver from holding or obtaining a drivers licence for a period of 2-5 years, and may also impose a one year imprisonment, or a fine of $3,000.

If you have any further queries in relation to these changes please contact Hatzis Lawyers.