Shannon A. McLaughlin - Traffic Law Expert

Driving on Australian roads comes with significant responsibilities, including adhering to traffic laws, prioritising road safety, and avoiding potential penalties. This blog post aims to provide comprehensive insights into the most common traffic offences encountered in the country. By familiarising yourself with these offences and implementing safe driving practices, you can actively contribute to a safer and more harmonious driving environment for everyone on Australian roads. Most Common Traffic Offences and How to Avoid Them Speeding Speeding continues to be one of the most prevalent traffic offences across Australia, posing serious risks to road users. To avoid this offence, it is crucial to always maintain awareness of posted speed limits. Additionally, drivers should adapt their speed to match road conditions,

Drink driving penalties QLD Request Your Free Case Review CHECK OUT OUR FIVE STAR REVIEWS We Look After Our Clients Ally HodgesDrink Driver Lawyer Client I found the whole process with Donnelly, very easy and straightforward. Great communication and I felt very confident by being guided through the whole process. The outcome was far better than expected, but also everything that I deserve. I would recommend this group to anyone who is in a situation where they need representation for a matter in court. Natalie HowellDrink Driver Lawyer Client Danielle from Donnelly Law was absolutely fantastic! Super kind, helpful, and explained everything to me. I was extremely anxious and she made the whole situation easier to get through. I can

What Is A QP9 & How Do I Get One? For those who aren’t familiar with the logistics and legal jargon of court-related matters, you may not have heard of a QP9 or even know what it is. It is important that you have an understanding of what is contained in the QP9 when heading to court. In this post, we’ll explain what a QP9 is and why it matters. What is a QP9? When someone is accused of a crime, the Police Prosecutions unit creates a Queensland Police Form 9 or police court brief (QP9). In addition to listing the charge and a brief summary of the allegations made by the police against you, the QP9 also includes details

How Demerit Points Work In Queensland To understand how demerit points work in Queensland, there are several factors that you need to consider. Unlike many other states where drivers start with a certain number of demerit points and lose them for violating traffic laws, Queensland drivers start with none, and they get added if a traffic offence is committed. How many demerit points will be added to your record will depend on the type of offence you have committed. Here are some common examples of traffic offences that add demerits points: Not wearing a seatbelt Speeding Using a mobile phone whilst driving Failing to obey a traffic signal Drug driving Drink driving How many demerits points do you get? The

Why You Should Hire A Traffic Lawyer Traffic charges are quite common here in Queensland, and depending on the severity of your charge, you could be facing costly and lengthy penalties. If this is the case for you, it is worth considering hiring a traffic lawyer to ensure you achieve the best result you can. What is a traffic lawyer? A traffic lawyer is well-versed in the traffic rules that govern traffic-related fines, penalties, and offences. They can assist you in comprehending legalese and the significance of the charge. If you have been charged with a traffic offence, a traffic lawyer is your best point of call since they keep up with the ongoing changes made to Queensland’s traffic law

Self-Representation Vs Hiring A Lawyer If you have been charged with a traffic offence and you need to attend court, you may be wondering if you can represent yourself. The answer is yes, however, it isn’t always the best way to go about it. It’s important to know that choosing to represent yourself without being properly prepared first can have huge repercussions on your future. In this post, we’ll share the pros and cons of self-representation and hiring a lawyer to help you make the best decision for yourself. Hiring a lawyer It’s almost always in your best interest to hire a lawyer and here are some key reasons why: A lawyer can help you achieve the best possible outcome

How To Plead Not Guilty For DUI Offence If you have been charged with an offence and you know you are guilty but some details are wrong or misconstrued, it’s important that you seek legal advice before accepting a guilty plea. Why? Because it may see you receive a harsher penalty as a result and, this can be detrimental to your future. You should know exactly what you’ve been charged with and the evidence surrounding it. In this post, you’ll find information on pleading not guilty to traffic offences and the process involved. Who can plead not guilty to a traffic offence? Anyone can plead not guilty to a traffic offence however, there are very limited circumstances where a not

Penalty For Drink Driving On P Plates QLD Having a provisional licence, aka being on your P’s as its informally known, means that you have restrictions on your licence, and one of them is you must have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of zero at all times when driving, but what happens if you get caught drink driving on your P’s? In this post, we’ll share all you need to know about this topic in the hopes that if you do hold this licence type, you’ll think twice before getting behind the wheel after a drink or two. Australian Drink Driving Laws for P-Plate Drivers Regardless of where you live in Australia, a zero alcohol limit applies to all Provisional

Understanding The Terms You May Come Across In Your Legal Matter Processes and requirements may vary between each matter, but there is an underlying commonality that links everything together – the terms used. For anyone with a first time offence or limited exposure to the judicial system, it can feel like information overload and trying to remember what every term means only adds to the stress. We’ve put together a list of the common legal terms you’ll most likely come across through the process, along with what each of them means. Please feel free to bookmark this page for quick reference! 1) “associate” in reference to a solicitor means: a partner, employee, or agent of the solicitor or of the