If you've been charged with drug driving
in Queensland, you may be wondering if it's possible to get a work licence. A
work licence is a special type of authority issued by the court that allows you
to continue driving for work purposes even if your licence becomes disqualified
by the court for drug driving. In this article, we'll discuss the requirements
for obtaining a work licence in Queensland and explain how it works.
Drug Driving Laws in Queensland
Before we dive into the details of work licences, it's
important to understand the two types of drug driving charges in Queensland.
The first is driving with a relevant drug present, which refers to having one
of three specific drugs in your system: methylamphetamine (also known as speed
or ice), MDMA (the active ingredient in ecstasy), or THC (the active ingredient
in cannabis). The second charge is driving under the influence of a drug, which
can include any drugs (legal, illegal, prescribed or not) that police believe
have negatively affected your ability to drive.
Eligibility for a Work Licence
To be eligible to apply for a work licence,
you must meet several criteria:
- Hold
a current Queensland open driver's licence for the vehicle you were
driving. The open licence must have been held at the time of committing
the offence.
- Have
committed the drug driving offence by driving with a relevant drug present
(and not driving under the influence).
- Not
have been driving for your job at the time you were charged (with some
exceptions for jobs where driving is not the main component).
- Not
have been driving under a learner, provisional, probationary or restricted
licence.
In addition, you must not have been convicted anywhere of
drink driving or drug driving, or a similar offence, in the last five years.
You also cannot have been disqualified by any court, had a licence suspended or
cancelled (except in certain limited circumstances), or previously applied for
a work licence.
Why a Work Licence is Important for Drug Driving Charges
In Queensland, there are mandatory periods of
disqualification for drug driving offences. This means that if you plead guilty
to drug driving, you will be disqualified from driving for a period of time. A
work licence is important because it allows you to keep driving for work
purposes during that disqualification.
Applying for a Work Licence
If you are charged with driving with a relevant drug
present, you may be able to apply for a work licence when you appear in court
to plead guilty. However, if you are charged with driving under the influence
of a drug, you cannot apply for any type of licence to keep driving during your
disqualification.
If the court grants you a work licence, it will allow you to
drive for purposes directly connected with the means of earning an income. This
includes driving to and from your place of work using the shortest route
possible, as well as driving for any required work duties.
To apply for a work licence, you must provide the court with
an affidavit of yourself and, if you're not self-employed, an affidavit of your
employer. Your affidavit should address your personal, work, financial and
driving circumstances, while your employer's affidavit should explain why you
need a licence for your job and state that you will lose your job unless you
are issued with a work licence. Both affidavits must be in the correct format,
contain all necessary information to satisfy the magistrate, and be properly witnessed.
They must also be accompanied by an application form.
Conclusion
If you are charged with drug driving in Queensland, it may
be possible to obtain a work licence that will allow you to continue driving
for work purposes during your disqualification period.
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