Alcohol and Driving
Each year in Victoria approximately 20,000 drivers or more lose their licence for drink driving offences
Alcohol is a contributing factor in around one-third of all road deaths. There are laws to limit the amount a person can drink before driving. In Australia, the legal limit for drinking and driving for most people is .05 BAC. It is difficult to work out how many drinks will put a person over the legal drink-driving limits. Some people will reach higher BAC more quickly, including:
- Women
- People who are not healthy
- People with an empty stomach
- People with smaller bodies
- Overweight People
A good guide to stay under .05:
Males: 2 standard drinks in the first hour and then 1 per hour after that.
Females: 1 standard drink each hour only.
If you drink more than this and drive you could lose your licence, get a fine or go to prison. Any drink-driver who injures or kills someone can be sent to prison.
Licence Restoration
If you have recently lost your licence as a result of a drink driving
or drug related offence this is what you must do now.
All cancelled or suspended licences or permits MUST be sent to:
Driver Licences
VIC ROADS
GPO Box 777
Carlton South, VIC, 3053
It is an offence, with a maximum penalty of $500.00 to keep your licence or permit if it is cancelled or suspended.
If your licence or permit is cancelled or suspended by a court, you are not allowed to drive from the date set by the court.
If you were issued with an infringement notice (penalty notice) involving a suspension or cancellation, your disqualification period starts 28 days after the issue of the notice unless you decide to go to court or are suspended immediately for a drug related offence, a BAC of at least 0.15%, or a second offence.
Driving While Disqualified
Do not drive again until you have a valid licence.
If you drive while disqualified the penalties are:
a fine of up to $38000 or imprisonment for up to 4 months for a first offence, as well as
possible cancellation of vehicle registration
If this is your second offence, imprisonment is up to the magistrates discretion. After a second offence.
If you do not regain your licence at the end of the disqualification period and you then drive unlicensed you could be fined up to $2500 or imprisoned for up to 3 months.
Severe penalties apply to unlicensed and disqualified drivers who have any alcohol or drugs in their blood.
License Restoration
From April 2018 every one is required to have an interlock installed, complete a Drink Driver Behavioral Change Program.
Then go to Vic roads with a letter from the interlock company stating the interlock has been installed.
Take your certificate of completing a behavioural change program, and 2 types of identification. A major form can be birth certificate/passport and a minor form can be gas bill or bank statement etc.
Then pay for your driver’s license current cost is $83. After you have attained a drivers license from Vic Roads then you can drive
Note you must have a some one with a valid license drive your vehicle to have the interlock device installed.
Z restriction
A Z restriction (restricted to Zero BAC when driving), is imposed on all full licence holders for three years where a court order is required.
Learner Drivers
All learner drivers must complete a Drink Driver Behavioral change program. They will be required to have an interlock device installed and re-sit their L condition
Obtaining a record of your convictions
Education program providers and courts may require you to provide a record of your convictions.
You will need to attend a VicRoads office and prove your identity to obtain this information, or request this information by contacting VicRoads on 13 11 71. A fee will be charged for providing this information.
Alcohol interlocks
Alcohol interlock legislation will apply to certain drink drivers who commit an offence on or after 13th of May 2002.
Why Interlocks?
About 24% of all drivers and riders killed in Victoria have a BAC of 0.05 or more. Repeat drink drivers are responsible for approximately 22 fatalities and 560 injuries each yearfive per cent of the annual Victorian road toll.
What is an Alcohol Interlock?
An alcohol interlock is an electronic breath-testing device, wired to the ignition system of a vehicle. Interlocks can be fitted to motorcycles, cars and trucks. A vehicle fitted with an interlock will not start unless the driver passes a breath test.
Who will have an interlock?
Alcohol interlocks will apply to repeat drink drivers and some serious first time offenders. Offenders must:
- Complete the period of disqualification
- Obtain a licence restoration order from the court
- Visit VicRoads to obtain a licence with an interlock condition on it
- Only drive a vehicle fitted with an interlock.
Disclaimer: Fines and penalties listed above are subject to change