Specialist Driving Offence Lawyers
We are a leading criminal law firm specialising in defending clients charged with driving offences in Victoria. Our experienced team of driving offence lawyers is dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation and guiding you through the complexities of the legal system. If you are facing a driving offence charge, see one of our driving offence lawyers.
Conveniently located, we are Melbourne traffic lawyers near you. We have offices across Melbourne in Broadmeadows, Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Moorabbin, Geelong, Werribee, Ballarat and the Melbourne CBD among others. We regularly appear at the local courts in these areas, including the County and Supreme Courts.
See our office locations page for a complete list.
Why you need an experienced driving offence lawyer
If you want every chance of keeping your driver’s licence, engage lawyers that specialise in driving offences.
The state of Victoria takes driving offences seriously. As specialist driving offence lawyers, we routinely deal with driving-related matters in the Magistrates’ Court and Superior Courts. We know how to get you the best outcome.
When facing a driving offence charge, seeking professional legal representation is crucial to ensure that all aspects of your case are considered and that penalties are avoided or minimised.
If you are found guilty of a driving offence, consequences can include interlock conditions, losing your licence, severe financial penalties, or imprisonment in serious cases.
It is vital to engage a competent and experienced driving offences lawyer who can support you throughout the legal process, represent you in Court and provide the expertise necessary for a successful defence and not guilty verdict or, if found guilty, to minimise the penalties you may face.
Our experience with driving offences
If you’re facing charges for a driving offence, our team of lawyers is available to assist you. With our extensive experience in handling driving-related cases, it’s unlikely that you’ll find a matter we haven’t dealt with before. As specialists in driving offences, we take pride in representing our clients in court and advocating for their rights.
Victorian motorists are facing stricter enforcement by the police, and driving regulations are becoming more complicated. While improvements have been made in favour of motorists, both the courts and VicRoads can impose penalties that don’t necessarily run simultaneously.
Even a straightforward matter can become complicated when you have already been to Court and you received a license suspension or infringement notice from VicRoads. This situation can arise due to the demerit points incurred by pleading guilty; however, it may be possible to avoid demerit points by accepting an alternative charge.
How important is your licence, and what will it cost to lose it?
Licence suspension or licence disqualification and time off the roads cost you time and money and can impact your employment prospects. To maximise your chances of keeping your driver’s licence (or receiving the minimum disqualification or suspension), call one of our driving specialist lawyers to ensure you receive the best representation and defence in Court.
Driving with a suspended license
If you have had your licence disqualified or suspended and you are a driving a car or motorcycle registered in your name, you are likely to be picked up by Victoria traffic police’s number plate scanners.
If you’ve been charged with driving while your license is suspended, seeking immediate legal assistance is essential. Our knowledgeable driving offence lawyers will provide guidance on the importance of your personal circumstances and the circumstances of your offence to vigorously advocate for your rights in court, including keeping your driver’s licence and other penalties to a minimum.
Drink driving offences
Drink driving is a serious offence in Victoria and can have severe consequences. Our experienced lawyers will carefully analyse the evidence against you, challenge inconsistencies, and explore all possible legal avenues to minimise the impact on your life and, where necessary, engage specialist counsel to assist in your defence. We are dedicated to helping you navigate through the complexities of drink driving charges and achieving the best possible outcome. Contact Melbourne’s best lawyers for drink driving offences.
Driving camera offences
When it comes to driving camera offences in Victoria, it’s crucial to be aware of violations that can be detected on cameras while driving. Our team of lawyers has extensive expertise in camera-detected offences, which can lead to severe consequences.
What offences can cameras catch you committing when driving?
Some common camera-detected driving offences include:
- Speeding: Speed cameras are strategically placed to capture vehicles exceeding the designated speed limit accurately. If you’ve been caught speeding, we can provide expert guidance and representation to help you navigate the legal process and minimise the impact on your driving record.
- Red light violations: Intersection cameras are utilised to monitor and detect drivers who run red lights. If you’re facing a red light violation charge, we will analyse the evidence.
- Mobile phone use: Cameras are increasingly employed to detect drivers using mobile phones while operating a vehicle. It’s important to remember that using a mobile phone while driving is illegal in Victoria.
- Unregistered vehicles: Cameras are also used to identify unregistered vehicles on the road. A charge for Driving an Unregistered Vehicle can result in significant fines, especially for a subsequent offence.
Driving camera offences can be hard to defend, depending on the circumstances. See our defending traffic infringements page for further information.
See ‘Disputing speeding fines in Victoria‘ for more on appealing driving infringements.
Serious driving offences and penalties
Serious driving offences, such as those involving death or serious injury caused by culpable or dangerous driving are liable to severe maximum penalties.
Culpable driving is a very serious offence committed when a person drives a motor vehicle negligently, recklessly or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and causes the death of another person.
Dangerous driving causing death or serious injury is slightly less serious than culpable driving, and the related offence of dangerous driving is committed when a person drives a motor vehicle at a speed or in a manner that is dangerous to the public.
A guilty finding for serious driving offences almost always results in an immediate custodial sentence (imprisonment). From the perspective of a police officer, whether or not serious injury or death results from an accident, the driver of the offending vehicle will most likely be charged with a serious driving offence.
The penalty for dangerous driving Victoria
The maximum penalty for dangerous driving is 120 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months or both (s64 of the Road Safety Act 1986).
The penalty for dangerous driving causing death or serious injury Victoria
The maximum penalty for dangerous driving causing death is 10 years of imprisonment, and the maximum penalty for causing serious injury is 5 years (s319 of the Crimes Act 1958).
The penalty for culpable driving Victoria
The maximum penalty for culpable driving causing the death of another person is liable to 20 years imprisonment or a level 3 fine or both (s318 of the Crimes Act 1958).
What if I have been charged with a serious driving offence?
Seeing a driving offences lawyer early is important if you have been charged with a serious driving offence. If possible, see a lawyer before your interview and before charges. Remember, if the police request you to come to the station for a chat, it is likely they intend to interview you.
If you have been charged in relation to a serious accident, your lawyer needs to obtain reports, engage consultants and gather evidence by subpoena or otherwise.
We have a strong record of successfully defending clients charged with dangerous driving offences in Victoria. We understand the complexities of dangerous driving cases, including those involving death or injury. We provide defence tailored to your specific circumstances, ensuring your rights are protected throughout the legal process to achieve the best possible outcome.
For more information on serious driving-related offences, see our traffic lawyers page.
How long do driving offences stay on your record?
Understanding the duration of driving offences on your record is important. If you are convicted, these offences are disclosable on your record for 10 years or more. Depending on the severity of the offence, driving offences can be disclosable on your record for even longer. The key for any lawyers representing a client wanting to keep their record clean is to understand the application of the spent conviction scheme and the penalty of diversion. There are things a lawyer can do to ensure a traffic matter is not on your permanent record.
Where will my case be heard?
Offences like drink driving, driving whilst disqualified or driving whilst suspended, dangerous driving and hoon offences are heard in the Magistrates’ Court. This is called the summary stream.
More serious offences involving death or serious injury carry heavier penalties and will be heard in the County Court or Supreme Court of Victoria. This is called the indictable stream.
Contact our experienced driving offence lawyers.
If you’re facing a driving offence charge in Victoria, don’t face it alone. Seek support and advice from our driving offences lawyers. We are here to fight for your rights, protect your interests, and provide the exceptional legal representation that you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation for legal advice for driving offences. Let us help you navigate through this challenging time.
