Drink Drive -- Get caught again and lose your licence for longer

Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between .05 and .079, who have a previous alcohol offence for drink driving will lose their licence for longer.

• Second offence - lose your licence for three months
• Third offence - lose your licence for six months
• Fourth or subsequent offence - lose your licence for 12 months.

If you commit an offence of driving with a BAC of .05-.079 and it is your first drink drive offence, the Police will issue you with an expiation notice.

If you commit another drink drive offence, you may be prosecuted through the Courts.

A second offence will result in your licence being disqualified and cancelled and you will be subject to provisional or probationary conditions when your licence is re-issued.

Mobile random breath testing

Since July 2003, Random Breath Testing (RBT), has been permitted during prescribed periods, such as school holidays and long weekends. This allowed the South Australia Police in a marked vehicle to stop any motor vehicle driven on a road and to direct the driver to submit to an alcotest.

The South Australia Police also have the power to test a driver if they have been involved in a crash, commit a traffic offence or appear to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

As of 1 June 2005, unrestricted random mobile breath testing will enable the South Australia Police to stop any driver, anywhere and require them to submit to an alcotest.

Speeding and red light camera offences earn demerit points

Under the road safety laws, if you're caught by a red light camera, you'll get demerit points. If you're caught speeding, you'll get demerit points. And if you're caught by a red light camera speeding through a red light, you'll get hit twice, with demerit points and expiation fees for each offence.

The registered owner (or contact owner, if a joint ownership) will incur the penalties for any speeding and/or red light offences, unless they:

• Complete a Statutory Declaration nominating the driver of the vehicle (who will be liable for the penalty); or
• Provide reasons that satisfy the South Australia Police (SAPOL) why they cannot identify the driver and the steps they have taken in attempting to identify the driver.

A corporate fee applies for speeding and/or red light offences if a company fails to nominate the driver at the time of the offence.

Frequently Asked Questions