One of the biggest contributors to road accidents in Western Australia is driving under the influence of alcohol. Intoxicants affect your ability to make safer decisions when on the road. If you have been charged with drink-driving criminal conviction, seeking an experienced lawyer’s assistance is strongly advised. In this blog, we will discuss the penalties you can face and the steps you can take to get a likely outcome of the traffic offence.
The legal blood alcohol concentration limit in Australia for fully licenced drivers is 0.05%. However, for learner and probationary drivers, the limit is different. For them as well as people driving for commercial purposes.
The number of drinks that you can have and drive legally on the roads of Australia depends on various grounds. It includes your gender, weight, metabolism, age, and the time frame in which you had the drinks.
It is self-explanatory that you will not be able to tell accurately the number of drinks you have had while you were drunk. Therefore, to avoid drinking and driving offences you mustn’t drive when you are drunk.
If you have been caught driving with a blood alcohol content that exceeds 0.08%, then the traffic police can disqualify your driving licence. This is especially applicable if it involves a subsequent or second offence.
For example, if you had a previous DUI or other offence like refusing a breath test, then the penalties can become severe. If such a situation arises, it is advisable to contact a drink-driving lawyer in Perth who will assist you through this ordeal.
However, if you are a novice driver, hold an extraordinary licence, drive a taxi, or carry dangerous goods over 22.5 t, you may be charged guilty if you are found driving over the limit of BAC.
In such circumstances, the penalties are generally tough. They can manifest as cancellation or suspension of your driving licence, heavy fines, demerit points, or even imprisonment. If you have been caught up in such situations and your reputation is at risk, then knowing the intricacies of the laws might help you get through the crisis.
The police in Australia are authorized to require anybody driving on the road or is believed to have driven on the road to take a blood alcohol test. Thus, it is an offence that can lead to a minimum of 3 months’ disqualification of your driving licence.
If you refuse to provide a sample of your breath or the roadside test returns positive, the officers might ask you to accompany them to the police station to conduct other tests. If you face such situations, it is advisable to contact criminal damage lawyers.
If your BAC reveals the presence of alcohol in your system, then feeling sober will not help you evade the charges. Intoxicants affect everyone differently, and you might be over 0.05% even if you may not feel impaired. Thus, in Western Australia, you might receive a ticket even if you do not feel drunk. As the law aims to ensure the safety of people, crossing the legal limits of 0.05% will land you in trouble. If you have been caught up in such cases, then you must contact legal aid.
So, here we have discussed the dangers of alcohol consumption while driving and the penalties that you can face. Consulting criminal defense lawyers is your first step if you find yourself in these twisted situations. These experts will represent you in court for traffic or criminal-related charges. In these overwhelming situations, they provide direct and open communication with practical advice so that you are presented with a comprehensive defence in court.