If you have been disqualified from driving after a drug driving conviction, the limited licence process is broadly the same as for other disqualifications — but the eligibility checks have specific considerations for drug offences. This guide covers the practical pathway for drug driving disqualifications.
Eligibility check
First offence
If this is your first drug driving conviction and you have no prior qualifying offences within the five-year window, you are eligible to apply for a limited licence. The standard process applies:
- Wait 28 days (stand-down period)
- Prepare evidence of hardship
- File and serve the application
- Attend the hearing
Prior offences within 5 years
If you have a prior conviction for any qualifying offence within 5 years — not just drug driving — the repeat offence bar under s103(2)(d) applies. Qualifying offences include:
- Prior drug driving conviction
- Prior alcohol driving conviction
- Prior reckless or dangerous driving conviction
- Prior driving while disqualified conviction
See our repeat offending guide and drug driving eligibility guide for the full analysis.
Combined alcohol and drug offences
If the offence involved both alcohol and drugs:
- The alcohol reading is assessed against the interlock thresholds
- If the breath reading is 800+ mcg/L or blood is 160+ mg/100mL, the interlock bar applies
- The offence counts as a qualifying offence for the repeat offence bar
The application process
The process for drug driving limited licences is identical to other applications:
Evidence package
- Sworn affidavit detailing your employment, hardship, and driving needs
- Sworn employer affidavit confirming driving is essential to your role
- Transport alternatives — evidence of limited public transport
- Boundary map showing your home, workplace, and routes
- Financial records if self-employed
Filing and service
File with the District Court and serve a copy on the police prosecutor. See our filing process and service requirements guides.
The hearing
The hearing follows the standard limited licence process. The judge will consider your hardship evidence and the prosecutor's position. See our court hearing guide.
Conditions for drug driving limited licences
The court will impose standard conditions (days, times, area, purpose). For drug driving cases specifically:
- A zero alcohol condition may or may not be imposed (it is standard for alcohol cases but less common for drug-only cases)
- The court may impose any other conditions it considers appropriate
- The conditions will be tailored to the specific hardship grounds established in your evidence
About defending the drug driving charge
This guide covers the limited licence pathway. For information about defending drug driving charges, sentencing, and the evidential requirements for drug driving prosecutions, visit our sister site.