Q: How do I get a work licence?
A: In order to get a work licence, you have to be eligible. Your reading needs to be less
than .15 and you must not have lost your licence in the last 5 years. You must be over 25 if
you are not on a “P” licence. It is always best to let us confirm your eligibility. This is part
of our service if you engage us to represent you in court. You will need to produce proof to
the court of these matters. How the proof is presented is critical to whether you will
succeed or not.
Q: If I am apprehended for drink driving, can I continue to drive?
A: The answer here depends entirely on your reading. There are now 3 “classes” of readings
in Queensland – 1 the low range, which is less than .10 (subject to the no alcohol limit for
professional drivers); 2 the medium range which is .10 up to .149, and finally the high
range, which is .15 and above. For low range, you are suspended for 24 hours from
apprehension by police. For medium, you are suspended until further dealt with by the
court, likewise for high range.
Q: What is “SHO”?
A: SHO stands for Special Hardship Order. To be eligible, you must have not lost your licence,
or appealed, in the last 5 years. You will have to convince a court that you need your
licence to earn a living, or for some other extreme reason, and that your Traffic History is
not so bad as to preclude you from being successful. Again, you need to prove these
things to the court and again how this proof is presented is critical to your chances of
success.
Q: What do I do if I want to challenge a Traffic Fine?
A: Usually, the fine will be the result of an on-the-spot ticket issued by the Police. There is
part of that ticket that you complete and send off to Qld Transport. You should shortly
after that receive in the mail a Summons to Court. That is a good time to obtain legal
advice about further procedure, and your prospects of succeeding. This is especially so if
you are at risk of losing your licence as a result.
Q: If I receive a “Notice to Choose” from Qld Transport, what should I do?
A: You will receive such notice if you have accumulated 12 or more points on your licence
in 3 years or less. If you do nothing, you will be suspended shortly after. It is a
serious offence to drive in this period. If you elect to keep driving, you will be on a “good
behaviour licence” for 12 months, and if you accumulate a further 1 point, you will
then need to apply for SHO (if eligible). If you hear nothing from Qld Transport for some
time, you should check with them, as you may lose your right of appeal, or worse, if
notices are not received by you. The onus is on you to maintain your licence, not
Queensland Transport.