How serious is drink driving? Is it a criminal offence? Are you bombarded with the above questions in your mind? Then this article is for you!
If you’ve been charged with drink driving, you might be wondering if it’s a criminal offence in the eyes of the law. The answer is yes, but there are many other factors that affect how serious your charges are and whether you face penalties beyond the suspension or cancellation of your driver’s license. If you have been charged with drink driving, it’s important to talk to experienced Sydney criminal law specialists who can provide you with helpful information about your case and represent you in court.
What is Drink Driving?
Under Australian law, you’re deemed to be under the influence of alcohol if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.05% or greater. This means that if you have any amount of alcohol in your system at all, you are breaking Australian law. If you are found to be over 0.05%, there can be very serious consequences for your license and your personal safety on the road.
What is Over the Legal Limit?
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is measured in grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, and it’s expressed as a percentage. The current legal limit is 0.05%. If you exceed that limit, you could be charged with ‘drink driving’ or ‘driving under the influence’ (DUI). There are strict laws regarding what you can and can’t do if you get caught. You can talk to your criminal lawyers Sydney to know more.
Can I Have a Criminal Record for Drink Driving?
The short answer is yes. It is possible to receive criminal charges for drinking and driving, even if you do not hurt anyone or yourself. DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) can both result in criminal charges, such as,
Imprisonment: You could be sent to prison or jail, depending on your state’s laws and your BAC (blood alcohol content).
Fines: Your penalty will usually depend on how high your BAC was at arrest.
License suspension: If you’ve been convicted of drunk driving before, your license may be suspended again—or revoked completely.
How to Clear My Criminal Record?
Many people who have been charged with drink driving want to know how they can clear their criminal record. If you were charged but not convicted of an offence, there are several actions you can take to get rid of your criminal record. These steps vary from state to state and from country to country, so you should speak with a criminal barrister in Sydney for specific information.
The author of this article is one of the leading criminal lawyers Sydney who specialise in criminal law and traffic law, which includes drink driving, licence suspension appeals and more. Visit https://powerhouselaw.sydney/ for more.
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