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Will I lose my licence for mid-range drink driving in NSW?

Here is what Court Pilot shows for a middle-range PCA charge (0.08 to under 0.15) — the figures the court works from, and the outcome that avoids disqualification altogether.

A person drives a motor vehicle (or occupies the driving seat and attempts to put it in motion), or supervises a learner driver, with the middle range concentration of alcohol present in their breath or blood.

First offenceSecond or later
Automatic disqualification12 months3 years
Minimum disqualification a court can order6 months12 months
Maximum fine$2,200$3,300
Maximum prison9 months12 months
Alcohol interlockYes — a mandatory alcohol interlock orderYes — a mandatory alcohol interlock order

Police can suspend your licence immediately — you have 28 days to appeal to the Local Court.

The outcome to aim for: a section 10 / Conditional Release Order, with no conviction

No disqualification · No interlock · No fine · No criminal conviction. It is not automatic — the court weighs how serious it was and your circumstances — and it is not available if you have had one for drink or drug driving in the last 5 years.

Want to know what this means for you?

The free guide walks your own charge through to court, step by step. For advice about your matter, speak to Hanna Legal.

The charge in full

General information, not legal advice — it does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Reflects NSW law as at July 2026 · reviewed by Hanna Legal. In an emergency call 000.

Court Pilot assistant

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