In 2025, stricter drunk driving laws and their penalties were introduced, with South Australia’s first drunk driving class offense of 0.05 BAC set at a $980 fine, with offenses above that charged $875. This is drunk driving charges in South Australia’s first class with offenses above that set at $875. This practice helps reduce road deaths, which further helps lower the one-fifth of overall yearly death statistics in Australia that road deaths account for. These laws need to be understood and followed by every driver, new or experienced.
More Fines for Drunk Driving
Now Australia imposes an instant fine of $980 for people above 0.05 BAC driving, with additional demerit points. In South Australia, the expiation fee is $875 for the same offense, along with a potential suspension of the license for more serious cases that go to higher court. Learners are set at stricter requirements, as well as provisional drivers, with a set 0.00 BAC and immediate suspended license for any alcohol detected, and harsher punishments for any offense.
Fines and Demerit Points
Demerit points in and out of the system is set up where new powers given to the police allow them to issue fines, and repeat offenders get harsher punishments, which tend to be more suspension of the license. This includes the disqualification of the license for longer time spans, as well as mandatory alcohol education, and for more severe cases, imprisonment is enforced. Conducting breath tests at random has been stepped up in frequency as well as in the number of tests conducted in a single location and time. This has been noted especially on weekends and holidays when there used to be a concentration of accidents that were associated with alcohol.
‘Closure’ Initiatives
Regardless of the information and education presented over the years, alcohol is still a significant issue when concerning driving deaths in Australia. The inclusion of a modification to the 2025 legislation is to be intended as part of the greater “Vision Zero” approach that aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on the roads by 2050. The approach is being reinforced with bigger fines and increased frequency fines, all part of a “We will not tolerate” approach to drunk driving.
“Value” Initiatives for Novice and Young Drivers
Both learner and provisional drivers are classified under the ‘zero’ plan with any breath alcohol level over 0.00 bringing stiff penalties as a result of the high risks these types of drivers carry with them. Even first offenders face the imposition of mandatory rehabilitation programs and lengthy periods of disqualification.
Police Enforcement & Your Rights
Offenders no longer carry the same societal ‘shame’ for drunk driving and random breath testing as these have become social issues. Police have the right to issue fines, and in the case of breath tests, offenders are obliged to pay fines, in the first instance of prompt payment, or face the court, with fines that have no limit.
