I appeared at Gatton Magistrates Court again recently, representing a client charged with several offences, primarily Repeat High Range DUI Drink Driving, Repeat Assault Police and Possess Dangerous Drug (Cannabis).
This was my client's third High Range DUI charge, and their second within the last 5 years.
This was my client's fifth Assault Police charge (actual assault, not obstruct Police).
My client was handed a suspended term of imprisonment for their most recent Assault Police charge.
This was my client's first Possess Dangerous Drug charge.
Needless to say, my job was less about saving my client's licence, and more about keeping them out of jail.
When deciding how to deal with offenders such as my client, the courts have a number of options available.
A suspended term of imprisonment means that the client does not actually go to jail, but the term of imprisonment hangs over their head for a set period.
If the person returns to court for any other offence punishable by imprisonment during the set period, which a lot of seemingly minor offences are, the Magistrate has 2 options.
The Magistrate can either extend the length of the suspension period, in other words extend the period during which the term of imprisonment hangs over the person’s head, or activate the term of imprisonment.
Alternate to a suspended term of imprisonment, the Magistrate can hand down an intensive correction order, impose a term of imprisonment with immediate parole, or incarcerate the person by physically sending them to jail for a period.
An intensive correction order is a form of imprisonment which is served within the community.
Persons on an intensive correction order must report to the Probation & Parole office during their ordered period, and comply with any directions given.
If a person breaches an intensive correction order, by committing another offence or failing to comply with any given directions, they will be brought back before the court and resentenced for their original offence.
Imprisonment with immediate parole means that the client does not physically go to jail, but technically according to their record they did, however their court date is their release date.
Persons on parole must also report to the Probation & Parole office during their set parole period.
If a person breaches parole, by committing another offence or failing to comply with any given directions, they will be immediately imprisoned for the remainder of their prison term.
The Magistrate also has the discretion to hand down a period of Probation, which simply means the person must report for counselling and other reformatory measures throughout a set period.
My client faced a maximum penalty for their DUI Drink Driving offence of 18 months imprisonment, 60 penalty units and a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification.
A penalty unit in Queensland is currently valued at $121.90.
Further, persons who plead or are found guilty in the Magistrates Court must pay the Offender Levy, which is presently worth $114.80.
Magistrates have a general power to impose up to a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification, above and beyond any legislated disqualification ranges.
I prepared detailed and comprehensive written submissions of the relevant case law.
I made forceful submissions to the Magistrate on a number of key issues.
I had my client obtain multiple character references, based on a template which I had earlier provided.
I was able to persuade the Magistrate that a licence disqualification and period of Probation only were appropriate.
My client received a 15 month licence disqualification and 18 months Probation.
My client received no term of imprisonment, wholly suspended or otherwise.
Needless to say, my client was extremely relieved.
Wiseman Lawyers specialise in Disqualified Driving, DUI Drink Driving and Traffic Law.
Regards
Andrew Wiseman, Wiseman Lawyers
Ph: 1300 947 352
andrew.wiseman@wisemanlawyers.com.au
Click here to read about other clients I have helped:
Queenslanders charged with DUI Drink Driving, Drug Driving or Fail To Provide Specimen face a maximum penalty of a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification, 9 months imprisonment and 28 penalty units.
Persons charged with Careless Driving (Drive Without Due Care & Attention) face a maximum penalty of a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification, 6 months imprisonment and 40 penalty units.
Queenslanders charged with Dangerous Driving, which is a Criminal offence, face a maximum penalty, depending upon the circumstances of aggravation, of 5 years imprisonment, 200 penalty units and a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification.
Persons charged with Disqualified Driving face a maximum penalty of a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification, 12 months imprisonment and 40 penalty units.
Queenslanders charged with Evade Police a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment, 200 penalty units and a lifetime licence disqualification.
Persons charged with Repeat DUI Drink Driving, Repeat Drug Driving, Repeat Fail To Provide Specimen, or a Repeat combination of these offences, face a maximum penalty of a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification, 18 months imprisonment and 60 penalty units.
A penalty unit in Queensland is currently worth $113.85.
In addition to the above penalties, anyone who pleads or is found guilty in the Magistrates Court must pay the Offender Levy, which is presently worth $110.90.
Magistrates have a general power to impose up to a lifetime driver’s licence disqualification, above and beyond any legislated disqualification ranges.
Wiseman Lawyers specialise in DUI Drink Driving, Drug Driving, Careless & Dangerous Driving, Evade Police and Drug, Alcohol & Traffic offences.