Drink driving can lead you to a midrange PCA offence in New South Wales, Australia. What’s a midrange PCA offence? If you’re curious, this article is for you.
Drink driving is not only a danger to the driver, but also to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. When people drink and drive, their reaction times are slowed, their judgment is impaired, and they are more likely to make mistakes.
Whatever the reason, drink driving is a deadly epidemic. It is important to remember that there is no safe level of blood alcohol content (BAC) for driving. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely. If you are caught drink driving, you could face a number of penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and loss of your driver’s license. You could also be sued by the victims of a drink driving offence.
Mid Range PCA Offence
A midrange PCA (prescribed concentration of alcohol) offence is when a driver is found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) range above 0.08 and less than 0.15. The penalty for this can include a maximum fine of AUD 3,300 and a 12-month imprisonment.
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) explains what BAC means. When conducting roadside alcohol breath tests, law enforcement officers look for blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream.
A BAC of 0.05% (point 0 five) means that there is 0.05g of alcohol in every 100ml of blood. To be within legal bounds, you must be below 0.05% BAC to drive in Australia. However, your legal BAC limit could be less, depending on what type of licence you have, for example learner drivers must have a 0.00% BAC.
Furthermore, the body needs approximately one hour to metabolise a standard drink. But two people with the same alcohol consumption can have two different blood alcohol counts (BACs). This is due to the fact that a variety of individual characteristics influence the absorption and breakdown of alcohol.
What does a standard drink contain? One serving is usually more than one ‘standard drink.’ Here are some examples:
- a pot of full-strength beer has 1.1 standard drinks
- a 375ml stubby of full-strength beer is around 1.4 standard drinks
- an average glass of white wine (150mls) has 1.4 standard drinks
- an average glass of red wine (150mls) has 1.6 standard drinks.
An Australian standard drink contains 10g of alcohol (12.5ml of pure alcohol). Knowing this is important because you can count your drinks and you can track your BAC level. If you can track your BAC level, you will know that you can still drive legally.
Some links that might help:
- Standard drinks guide from the Department of Health
- Drinking Calculator

How Does the Police Determine Your BAC Level?
In NSW, the police determine BAC levels using a combination of methods, including:
1. Random Breath Testing (RBT). Police can stop any driver and ask them to speak or blow into a breath-testing device. If a driver fails the test, they will need to provide a sample of their blood or urine for further testing.
2. Blood and Urine Tests. Police can request a blood or urine test if they suspect a driver is under the influence of alcohol. They can conduct these tests following an accident.
3. Checkpoints. Police may set up checkpoints to test drivers for alcohol and drug levels. They often conduct these checkpoints during holiday periods or in areas where there have been previous incidents of drink driving.
Drivers need to be aware of their BAC levels, as even a small amount of alcohol can impair their judgment, reaction times, and driving skills. For more information on BAC levels and their effects, drivers can refer to resources provided by Transport for NSW and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF).
Midrange PCA Offence Penalties and Automatic Disqualification Period
Penalties | First offence | Subsequent offence |
Maximum court-imposed fine | AUD 2200 | AUD 3300 |
Maximum prison term | 9 months | 12 months |
Minimum disqualification | 6 months | 12 months |
Maximum disqualification | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Automatic disqualification (a disqualification period that applies in the absence of a specific court order) | 12 months | 3 years |
Immediate licence suspension | Yes | Yes |
Subject to an alcohol interlock order | Yes | Yes |
Mandatory Interlock Program for Midrange PCA Offence
The Alcohol Interlock Program (AIP) is a court-ordered program that requires drink-driving midrange PCA offenders to install an alcohol interlock device in their vehicles. Where an offence of this nature is a second or subsequent offence, then the court will impose a mandatory minimum period of 24 months using the interlock device. The device prevents the motor vehicle from starting if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above 0.00.
The AIP is designed to reduce drink-driving recidivism and protect the public from the dangers of drunk driving. The program has been shown to be effective in reducing drink-driving offenses by up to 60%.
When an offender is ordered to participate in the AIP, they must have an alcohol interlock device installed in their vehicle. The device is connected to the vehicle’s ignition system and will not allow the vehicle to start if the driver’s BAC is above 0.00.
Midrange PCA offenders must provide breath samples to the device at regular intervals while they are driving. The device will also record all breath samples and store them for a period of time.
If an offender fails a breath test, the device will prevent the vehicle from starting. The offender will also need to report the failure to the AIP within 24 hours.

Get Help from a Traffic Offence Lawyer
Mid-range drink driving is a serious offence that can have devastating consequences for all involved. It is important to remember that even a small amount of alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely.
If you have been charged with a midrange PCA offence or any other major traffic offence in NSW, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Traffic offence lawyers at JB Solicitors can help you to understand your rights and options for drink driving offences.
Don’t risk your driving/criminal record or your freedom. Contact us today and get the legal help you need.