Home > Legal issues > Traffic

Traffic

This section is about traffic offences and motor accidents and insurance.

There are many types of traffic offences. Most offences apply to drivers and motorcyclists. These include:

  • going over the speed limit
  • careless and dangerous driving
  • drink and drug driving
  • refusing to take an alcohol or drug test
  • breaking road rules.

You could also commit a traffic offence if you are a cyclist, pedestrian, rollerblader, skateboarder or horse rider.

If you commit a traffic offence, you can be fined for the offence through the infringements system or you can be charged with the offence.

See ‘Traffic – frequently asked questions’ (link below) for answers to some common questions about licence suspension and cancellation and court hearings for traffic offences.

See ‘Fines’ (link below) for information about police-issued infringements and penalties.

For information about licensing, registration and road rules contact VicRoads (link below).

Get legal advice

You can represent yourself at court but we strongly recommend that you get legal advice first. You should talk to a lawyer if you are charged with an offence such as:

  • drink or drug driving
  • dangerous driving or hoon driving
  • driving without a licence or while your licence is cancelled or suspended
  • offences involving injury or serious property damage.

You should also talk to a lawyer if:

  • you have been to court before for a traffic offence
  • you may face alcohol interlock conditions – see ‘Alcohol interlock’ in ‘Possible outcomes for traffic offences’ (link below)
  • you are applying for re-licensing.

More information

Traffic – frequently asked questions

Fines

Possible outcomes for traffic offences

Youth issues – Driving

Related publications

Road to court

Related websites

VicRoads (new window)

How we can help

Call Victoria Legal Aid’s (VLA) Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter. Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

If you have to go to court and have not been able to get legal advice beforehand, our free legal services include lawyers who are on ‘duty’ to help at many courts and tribunals.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.

Who else can help?

Your local community legal centre (CLC) can give you legal information and advice. Most CLC services are free. See the Community Law website (new window) for more information and CLC contact details.

DirectLine (new window) can refer you to drink driving courses throughout Victoria and help with drug and alcohol problems. Call them on 1800 888 236.