Drink driving penalties

You may have to go to court if you're caught drink driving in the Northern Territory (NT).

The courts will decide how long your licence must be disqualified for and whether you receive a fine or a jail term.

Your penalty will depend on:

  • your blood/breath alcohol concentration at the time of the offence
  • whether you have been previously convicted of a drink driving offence.

Your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is measured in a percentage per 100 millilitres of blood.

You breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) is measure in a percentage per 210 litres of breath exhaled.

To find out more about penalty units and other offences read traffic offences and penalties.

The details of penalties are in the Traffic Act 1987.

This table shows the maximum penalties that may apply for a first drink driving offence:

BAC/BrAC

Minimum licence disqualification

Maximum fine amount

Demerit points

Maximum term of imprisonment

Over 0.00%
  • under 18 years old
  • learner licence driver
  • provisional licence driver
  • probationary driver
  • unlicensed driver
3 months (mandatory)Court ordered fine of 5 penalty units 3 months
Over 0.00%

Drivers of certain vehicles including:

  • vehicles over 15 tonnes GVM
  • vehicles carrying dangerous goods
  • commercial passenger vehicles
  • vehicles that can carry more than 12 people including the driver
  • vehicles carrying more than 12 people
  • vehicles designed to carry goods when a person is travelling in that space.
NA
$400 traffic infringement notice (on-the-spot fine)

or

Court ordered fine of 5 penalty units
3
3 months
0.05% and over, but under 0.08%
3 months
$400 traffic infringement notice (on the spot fine)

or

Court ordered 5 penalty units fine
3
3 months
0.08% and over, but under 0.15%
6 months
7.5 penalty units fine
 
6 months
0.15% and over
12 months
10 penalty units fine
 
12 months

In addition to the below penalties for a second or subsequent drink driving offence, you may also receive an alcohol ignition lock order.

BAC/BrAC

Minimum licence disqualification

Maximum fine amount

Demerit points

Maximum term of imprisonment

Over 0.00%
  • under 18 years old
  • learner licence driver
  • provisional licence driver
  • probationary driver
  • unlicensed driver
6 months (mandatory)
Court ordered fine of 7.5 penalty units for second offence  
6 months
Over 0.00%

Drivers of certain vehicles including:

  • vehicles over 15 tonnes GVM
  • vehicles carrying dangerous goods
  • commercial passenger vehicles
  • vehicles that can carry more than 12 people including the driver
  • vehicles carrying more than 12 people
  • vehicles designed to carry goods when a person is travelling in that space.
3 months for second offence

6 months for subsequent offence

$400 traffic infringement notice

or

Court ordered 7.5 penalty units fine for second offence
3
6 months
0.05% and over, but under 0.08%
6 months
7.5 penalty units fine
3
6  months
0.08% and over, but under 0.15%
12 months
20 penalty units fine
 
12 months
0.15% and over
18 months
20 penalty units fine
 
12 months

Your licence will be immediately suspended if you:

  • have been charged with a second or subsequent low-range drink driving offence
  • have been charged with a second or subsequent mid-range drink driving offence
  • have been charged with a high-range drink driving offence
  • fail to provide police with a sample of breath or blood when requested
  • have been charged with a second or subsequent offence for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence
  • have been charged with a second or subsequent drink driving offence and are a driver instructor, the holder of a licence or a driver of a vehicle to whom a zero blood or breath alcohol concentration applies.

The immediate suspension will end when the drink driving charge has been finalised by a court, is withdrawn or discontinued.

You may appeal to the Local Court against an immediate suspension notice.

When your disqualification ends, you can apply for a driver licence by going to an MVR office in person.

If your licence was disqualified because of a drink or drug driving offence, you may be required to complete a drink and drug driver education course.

You will be charged a licence fee.

You may also have to install an alcohol ignition lock.

If you are charged with a drink driving offence, you may have been placed on the Banned Drinker Register.


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