Driving with a High-Range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol

Driving with a High-Range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol is also known as High-Range Drink Driving and is an offence under Section 110 of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW).

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:

1. You drove a motor vehicle, and
2. You had a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.150 when you drove

If it is your first major traffic offence in the past 5 years the maximum penalty is:

1. 18 months in prison
2. A 9 month licence disqualification which can be reduced to 6 months, followed by
3. A 24 month period during which you must have an interlock device installed to your vehicle, and
4. A fine of $3,300

Alternatively, the court can ‘exempt’ you from the interlock requirement and impose:

1. 18 months in prison
2. A 3 year licence disqualification which can be reduced to 12 months, and
3. A fine of $3,300

If it is your second or more major traffic offence in the past 5 years the maximum penalty is:

1. 2 years in prison
2. A 12 month licence disqualification which can be reduced to 9 months, Followed by
3. A 48 month period during which you must have an interlock device installed to your vehicle, and
4. A fine of $5,500

Alternatively, the court can ‘exempt’ you from the interlock requirement and impose:

1. 2 years in prison
2. A 5 year licence disqualification which can be reduced to 2 years, and
3. A fine of $5,500

However, there will be no criminal record, licence disqualification or fine where the court deals with you by way of:

1. A Section 10(1)(a) dismissal, or
2. A Conditional release order without a conviction

A defence to the charge is that you made an ‘honest and reasonable mistake of fact’ which means you honestly believed on reasonable grounds that you did not have a prescribed concentration of alcohol in your system.