Losing your licence doesn't just affect you, it impacts family and friends.
You could even lose your job.
And, do you really want to live with the shame and embarrassment that goes with a drink driving offence?
It’s simple. If you plan to drink, plan not to drive.
Drink Drive? Not worth the risk.
The Not worth the (beep) risk advertising campaign centres on the consequences of losing your licence from drink driving.
Know your options
If you plan to drink, plan not to drive.
Even if you feel like you won’t have much, the safest option is to leave your car at home leaving all temptation there too!
Arrange for a designated driver or stay at your mate’s.
Utilise the many rideshare platforms at your fingertips. These can be pre-booked or arranged on the spot.
Trains and buses are also a convenient and affordable option in most parts of the metropolitan area.
To help keep everyone safe over the holiday period, double demerits are a reminder that the risks of drink and drug driving is not worth the risk.
Application of drink and drug driving laws
Show moreThe laws also apply to people driving or riding:
- any motor vehicle as defined in section 4 of the Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008 including:
- eRideables
- motorised mobility scooters
- motorised wheelchairs
- motorcycles and quad bikes
- tractors and agricultural vehicles
- on roads, paths, tracks, carparks and any other place the public can access.
Drink driving
Show moreIf you plan to drink, plan not to drive. You could be over the limit and not know it. It's difficult to try and determine your own blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level. Your BAC is affected by several factors, including:
- The amount of alcohol you drink.
- The period over which alcohol was consumed.
- Your body mass.
- Whether or not you have eaten.
- Your fitness level and health of your liver.
If you do have a drink, as a guide:
- Men should not drink more than 2 standard drinks in the first hour and 1 standard drink every following hour.
- Women should not drink more than 1 standard drink every hour.
- A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol
- Men and women should not drink more than 4 standard drinks per day, and no more than 10 per week.
Note: Learner and provisional drivers must have a zero BAC when driving.
How Much is a Standard Drink?
| Type | %Alc/Vol | Standard Drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Mid strength beer glass | 3-4% | 0.8 standard drink per 285 ml |
| Mid strength beer can | 3-4% | 1 standard drink per 375 ml |
| Wine | 10-14% | 1 standard drink per 100 ml |
| Spirits | 37-43% | 1 standard drink per 30 ml |
| Pre-mixed drinks | 5% | 1.5 standard drinks per 375 ml |
| Full strength beer glass | 4-6% | 1 standard drink per 285 ml |
| Full strength beer can | 4-6% | 1.5 standard drinks per 375 ml |
Infringements for Drink Driving Offences
If you are caught driving with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) equal to or above 0.05 and less than 0.08, for the first offence, you can pay an infringement to avoid being prosecuted in court. If you are caught a second or subsequent time, you cannot be dealt with by way of infringement. Instead, you will have to appear in court and will receive a fine up to $2000, be disqualified from driving for a minimum of six months, and may be required to participate in the alcohol interlock scheme.
For court penalties, see the tables in the next section.
| BAC | Infringement | Demerits |
|---|---|---|
| ≥ 0.05 but < 0.06 | $1,000 | 3 |
| ≥ 0.06 but < 0.07 | $1,000 | 4 |
| ≥ 0.07 but < 0.08 | $1,000 | 5 |
Court Penalties for Drink Driving Offences
The following tables show the court penalties for drink driving offences. The penalties in these tables represent drivers who held a full licence at the time of the offence.
| BAC ≥ 0.05 but < 0.07 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,250 (max) (licence disqualification at Court's discretion) |
| Second Offence | $1,250-$2,000 and 6 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $1,250-$2,000 and 8 months disqualification (min) |
| BAC ≥ 0.07 but < 0.08 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,250 (max) (licence disqualification at Court's discretion) |
| Second Offence | $1,500-$2,000 and 8 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $1,500-$2,000 and 10 months disqualification (min) |
| BAC ≥ 0.08 but < 0.09 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $750-$2,250 and 6 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $1,600-$2,250 and 8 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $1,600-$2,250 and 10 months disqualification (min) |
| BAC ≥ 0.09 but < 0.11 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $850-$2,250 and 7 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $1,700-$2,250 and 10 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $1,700-$2,250 and 13 months disqualification (min) |
| BAC ≥ 0.11 but < 0.13 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,000-$2,250 and 8 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $1,800-$3,000 and 14 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $1,800-$3,000 and 17 months disqualification (min) |
| BAC ≥ 0.13 but < 0.15 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,150-$2,250 and 9 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $2,400-$3,750 and 18 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $2,400-$4,500 and 30 months disqualification (min) |
| BAC ≥ 0.15 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence (no relevant prior convictions) | $1,700-$3,750 and 10 months disqualification (min) |
| First Offence (previously convicted of a drink driving offence involving ≥ 0.08 BAC) | $2,400-$3,750 and 18 months disqualification (min) |
| First Offence (previously convicted of a polydrug driving offence involving ≥ 0.08 BAC) | $2,700-$3,750 and 27 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $3,150-$5,250* and 30 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $3,150-$7,500** and disqualification for life |
*Alternative to fine for second offence is 9 months imprisonment
**Alternative to fine for third and subsequent offences is 18 months imprisonment
Zero BAC Drivers
In Western Australia, some drivers are subject to a zero Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) when they are behind the wheel. Penalties apply to those drivers who exceed the zero BAC limit.
A zero BAC applies to:
- Novice Drivers
- Holders of Extraordinary licences
- Recently Disqualified Drivers
- Drivers of:
- vehicles exceeding 22.5 tonne gross combination mass (GCM)
- vehicles carrying dangerous goods (when such goods are being carried)
- buses (while carrying passengers where the vehicle is equipped to carry more than 12 adults including the driver)
- small charter vehicles (when carrying passengers for hire or reward)
- taxis (when carrying passengers for hire or reward)
| Offence | Infringement | Demerits | Court penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAC > 0 but < 0.02 | $400 | 3 Demerits | $400-$750 |
| BAC ≥ 0.02 but < 0.05 | - | 3 months disqualification (min)* | $400-$750 |
*If a novice driver is disqualified, the licence is cancelled. For all other licence holders, a disqualification will result in a suspension.
WA Alcohol Interlock Scheme
An alcohol interlock is a breath testing device which, when installed in a vehicle or motorcycle, prevents it from being operated if a breath sample reads above a certain amount of alcohol.
The WA Alcohol Interlock Scheme aims to reduce the road safety risk posed by drink drivers. It is a mandatory, user pays, performance-based scheme in which alcohol interlock devices provide separation of drinking and driving behaviour.
In WA, interlocks are mandatory for drivers who:
- Are convicted of driving with a BAC 0.15 or over.
- Are convicted of dangerous driving causing death, bodily harm or grievous bodily harm, where they're under the influence of alcohol to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of a vehicle.
- Commit a second drink driving offence of any kind within 5 years.
- Fail to comply with a request to provide a breath sample to a member of WA Police.
The provides more information on the Alcohol Interlock Scheme.
Drug driving
Show moreDifferent drugs have different effects on your driving skills and ability to make good decisions on the road.
Some drugs such as marijuana, slow your reaction time and impair your ability to judge speed and distance.
Other drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine can result in erratic, reckless and aggressive driver behaviour.
Some prescription medications can have side effects that impair your driving skills and can result in drowsiness and slow your reactions. Talk to your GP or pharmacist about whether your prescription or over the counter medication could affect your ability to drive safely. For more, see our Medicines and Driving Fact Sheet (PDF 125kb).
Taking any drug before driving increases the risk of a crash that results in road trauma.
Driving with Specified Drugs in Oral Fluid
Police have the power to stop drivers suspected of driving while impaired by any drug. Those found with specified drugs (Cannabis, Ecstasy or Meth) in their oral fluid can be charged with the offence of Driving with Specified Drugs in Oral Fluid.
| Driving with Specified Drugs in Oral Fluid | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,250 (max) and 3 Demerits |
| Second OR Subsequent Offence | $1,250-$2,000 and 6 months disqualification (min) |
Drug Impaired Driving
The more serious offence of Drug Impaired Driving, or Driving under the Influence of Drugs, applies to drivers found to be so impaired by either prescription or illicit drugs that they are not capable of proper control of a vehicle. This applies where police have evidence of suspicious or erratic driving behaviour and where that suspicion is confirmed following a driver assessment and/or blood tests.
| Drug Impaired Driving | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,700-$3,750 and 10 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $3,150-$5,250* and 30 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $3,150-$7,500** and disqualification for life |
*Alternative to fine for second offence is 9 months imprisonment
**Alternative to fine for third and subsequent offences is 18 months imprisonment
Drug Driving Prohibition Notices
WA Police will issue drivers who test positive for specified drugs (Cannabis, Ecstasy or Meth) or refuse a roadside drug test with a prohibition notice which bans them from driving for 24 hours.
Breaching the prohibition notice is an offence. Police may issue an infringement notice with a penalty of $600.
Drink and drug driving
Show moreMotorists who refuse to provide samples for drug and alcohol testing will be hit with the highest penalty for the relevant substance impaired driving offences (drink driving, drug driving, or drink and drug driving).
Drink and Drug Driving Penalties
| Illicit drug and BAC ≥ 0.05 but < 0.07 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,900 (max) and 3 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $1,900-$3,000 and 9 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $1,900-$3,000 and 12 months disqualification (min) |
| Illicit drug and BAC ≥ 0.07 but < 0.08 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,900 (max) and 3 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $2,250-$3,000 and 12 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $2,250-$3,000 and 15 months disqualification (min) |
| Illicit drug and BAC ≥ 0.08 but < 0.09 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,150-$3,400 and 9 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $2,400-$3,400 and 12 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $2,400-$3,400 and 15 months disqualification (min) |
| Illicit drug and BAC ≥ 0.09 but < 0.11 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,300-$3,400 and 11 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $2,550-$3,400 and 15 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $2,550-$3,400 and 20 months disqualification (min) |
| Illicit drug and BAC ≥ 0.11 but < 0.13 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,500-$3,400 and 12 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $2,700-$4,500 and 21 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $2,700-$4,500 and 26 months disqualification (min) |
| Illicit drug and BAC ≥ 0.13 but < 0.15 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence | $1,750-$3,400 and 14 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $3,600-$5,650 and 27 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $3,600-$6,750 and 42 months disqualification (min) |
| Illicit drug and BAC ≥ 0.15 | Court Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offence (no relevant prior convictions) | $2,050-$5,650 and 15 months disqualification (min) |
| First Offence (previously convicted of a drink driving offence involving ≥ 0.08 BAC) | $2,400-$5,650 and 18 months disqualification (min) |
| First Offence (previously convicted of a polydrug offence involving ≥ 0.08 BAC) | $3,600-$5,650 and 27 months disqualification (min) |
| Second Offence | $4,750-$7,900* and 42 months disqualification (min) |
| Subsequent Offence | $4,750-$11,250** and disqualification for life |
*Alternative to fine for second offence is 9 months imprisonment
**Alternative to fine for third and subsequent offences is 18 months imprisonment
