Maximum Penalties for Repeat Drink Driving: Report

6.2 Category B Offences

Table 10 sets out the statutory maximum penalties available across Australia for offences involving failing to stop or remain stopped at a preliminary breath testing station. Most jurisdictions do not distinguish between first and subsequent offenders for this offence and do not provide a term of imprisonment for this offence. Of the three jurisdictions that do impose a term of imprisonment for this offence, Victoria has the lowest statutory maximum term of imprisonment for a repeat offence. and Table 9 set out the statutory maximum penalties for offences involving failing to provide a breath or blood test for each jurisdiction. These demonstrate that the Victorian statutory maximum penalty for repeat offenders is low compared to those other jurisdictions that provide for imprisonment. The longest statutory maximum penalty of imprisonment available for offenders committing a second offence of failing to provide a breath or blood test is 24 months (New South Wales and Tasmania). Queensland provides mandatory imprisonment for a third or subsequent offence in some circumstances. South Australia does not provide for imprisonment for repeat offenders in this category.

Table 10 sets out the statutory maximum penalties available across Australia for offences involving failing to stop or remain stopped at a preliminary breath testing station. Most jurisdictions do not distinguish between first and subsequent offenders for this offence and do not provide a term of imprisonment for this offence. Of the three jurisdictions that do impose a term of imprisonment for this offence, Victoria has the lowest statutory maximum term of imprisonment for a repeat offence.

Table 8: Maximum penalty and minimum disqualification period for refusal to provide a breath sample

State	Maximum Penalty First Offence	Minimum Disqualification First Offence	Maximum Penalty Second Offence	Minimum Disqualification Second Offence	Maximum Penalty Third Offence	Minimum Disqualification Third Offence
VIC	12 penalty units [PU] ($1,257.72)	2 years’ disqualification	25 PU ($2,620.25) or 3 months’ imprisonment	4 years’ disqualification	–	–
ACT	30 PU ($3,000) and/or 6 months’ imprisonment	6 months’ disqualification	30 PU ($3,000) and/or 12 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	–	–
NSW 1^112	10 PU ($1,100)	–	–	–	–	–
NSW 2^113	30 PU ($3,300) and/or 18 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	50 PU ($5,500) and/or 24 months’ imprisonment	2 years’ disqualification	–	–
NT	10 PU ($1,100) or 12 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	20 PU ($2,000) or imprisonment for 12 months	18 months’ disqualification	–	–
QLD 1^114	40 PU ($3,000) or 6 months’ imprisonment	–	–	–	–	–
QLD 2^115	28 PU ($2,100) or 9 months’ imprisonment	DEFAULT disqualification of 6 months	60 PU ($4,500) or 18 months’ imprisonment	DEFAULT disqualification of 9 or 12 months^116	60 PU ($4,500) or 18 months’ imprisonment^117	DEFAULT disqualification of 12 or 24 months^118
SA	$1,200	12 months’ disqualification (1 month if offence ‘trifling’)	$2,500	3 years’ disqualification	–	–
TAS	30 PU ($3,000) and/or 12 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	60 PU ($6,000) and/or 24 months’ imprisonment	24 months’ disqualification	–	–
WA	50 PU ($2,500)	6 months’ disqualification	70 PU ($3,500) or imprisonment for 9 months	2 years’ disqualification	100 PU ($5,000) or imprisonment for 18 months	Permanent disqualification

Table 9: Maximum penalty and minimum disqualification period for refusal to provide blood sample

State	Maximum Penalty First Offence	Minimum Disqualification First Offence	Maximum Penalty Second Offence	Minimum Disqualification Second Offence	Maximum Penalty Repeat Offence	Minimum Disqualification Third Offence
VIC	12 penalty units [PU] ($1,257.72)	2 years’ disqualification	25 PU ($2,620.25) or 3 months’ imprisonment	4 years’ disqualification	–	–
ACT	30 penalty units ($3,000) and/or 6 months’ imprisonment	6 months’ disqualification	30 PU ($3,000) and/or 12 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	–	–
NSW	30 penalty units ($3,300) and/or 18 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	50 PU ($5,500) and/or 24 months imprisonment	2 years’ disqualification	–	–
NT	10 penalty units ($1,100) or 12 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	20 penalty units ($2,200) or 12 months’ imprisonment	18 months’ disqualification	–	–
QLD	28 PU ($2,100) or 9 months’ imprisonment	DEFAULT disqualification of 6 months	60 PU ($4,500) or 18 months’ imprisonment	DEFAULT disqualification of 9 or 12 months^119	60 PU ($4,500) or 18 months’ imprisonment^120	DEFAULT disqualification of 12 or 24 months^121
SA	$1,200	12 months’ disqualification (1 month if offence ‘trifling’)	$2,500	3 years’ disqualification	–	–
TAS	30 PU ($3,000) and/or 12 months’ imprisonment	12 months’ disqualification	60 PU ($6,000) and/or 24 months’ imprisonment	24 months’ disqualification	–	–
WA	50 PU ($2,500)	6 months’ disqualification	70 PU ($3,500) or 9 months’ imprisonment	2 years	100 PU ($5,000) or 18 months’ imprisonment	Permanent disqualification

Table 10: Maximum penalty and minimum disqualification period for refusal to stop or remain stopped

State	Maximum Penalty First Offence	Minimum Disqualification First Offence	Maximum Penalty Repeat Offence	Minimum Disqualification Second Offence	Maximum Penalty Repeat Offence	Minimum Disqualification Third Offence
VIC	12 penalty units [PU] ($1,257.72)	2 years’ disqualification	25 PU ($2,620.25) or 3 months’ imprisonment	4 years’ disqualification	–	–
ACT	20 PU ($2,000)	–	–	–	–	–
NSW	10 PU ($1,100)	–	–	–	–	–
NT	200 PU ($22,000) or 12 months’ imprisonment	–	–	–	–	–
QLD	60 PU ($4,500) for private vehicle, 120 PU ($9,000) for another vehicle	–	–	–	–	–
SA	$1,200	12 months’ disqualification (unless offence ‘trifling’)	$2,500	3 years’ disqualification	–	–
TAS	10 PU ($1,000) or imprisonment for 6 months	MAXIMUM 3 years’ disqualification	–	–	–	––
WA	6 PU ($300)	–	12 PU ($600)	–	–	–