Work Licences Explained
If you have been charged with drink driving in Queensland, a work licence may allow you to keep driving for work during your disqualification period. It is the most common question people ask after a drink driving charge — and the answer depends on your charge provision , your driving history, and your employment — not the BAC reading. This guide explains how work licences work under Queensland law, who is eligible, what evidence the court needs, and what to expect at the hearing.
What Is a Work Licence?
A work licence is a restricted driving authority granted by the Magistrates Court under section 87 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld) — known as the TORUM Act. It does not prevent a disqualification. If you are convicted of drink driving, a mandatory disqualification period applies regardless. What a work licence does is allow you to drive during that disqualification…
Who Is Eligible?
Not everyone charged with drink driving can apply for a work licence. The TORUM Act sets out strict eligibility criteria. You must meet all of the following: The type of charge — not the BAC reading This is the most commonly misunderstood part. Whether you can apply depends on the type of drink driving charge , not how high your reading was. If you are charged with the standard drink driving…
What Evidence Does the Court Need?
A work licence application is decided on the material placed before the Magistrate. The application fails or succeeds on the quality of that material. The court needs to see: Your affidavit A sworn statement setting out your employment, why you need your licence for work, your personal circumstances, and the hardship a full disqualification would cause. The affidavit must be specific — not a…
What Happens at the Hearing
The work licence application is heard at the same time as the guilty plea for the drink driving charge. It cannot be applied for later — if you do not make the application at sentencing, you lose the opportunity entirely. The hearing runs like this: You plead guilty to the drink driving charge The prosecutor reads the facts of the offence Sacha makes sentencing submissions — addressing the…
The Alcohol Interlock and Work Licences
If your BAC was 0.100 or above (mid-range or above), the alcohol ignition interlock program applies to your licence — including your work licence. An interlock device is fitted to the vehicle you drive. It requires a clean breath sample before the engine will start. The interlock obligation runs for a set period after your disqualification ends. It is administered by the Department of Transport…
Why Work Licence Applications Fail
Most unsuccessful work licence applications fail not because the applicant was ineligible, but because the material was inadequate. Common reasons include: Vague affidavit. Saying "I need my licence for work" is not enough. The court needs specifics — what you do, where you drive, how far, how often, and what happens if you cannot drive. Weak employer evidence. A one-line letter from a boss saying…
If You Are Self-Employed
Self-employed applicants face additional scrutiny. There is no employer to provide a letter, no supervisor to confirm the driving requirement. The court needs to be satisfied — on the material you provide — that your business genuinely requires you to drive and that a disqualification would cause genuine hardship to your livelihood. What helps: ABN registration and business records showing the…