The Local Court Lawyers

20/04/2025

🚨 ATTENTION E-BIKE RIDERS: ENFORCEMENT STARTS SOON!

📣 As part of our Pedals and Power campaign, we’ve been educating our community on e-bike safety and rules.

📅 Starting today, NSW Police will be actively patrolling and issuing fines for e-bike violations. If you haven’t already, now’s the time to make sure you’re following the rules!

✅ What’s expected:

🪖 Helmets must be worn at all times
🚫 E-bike compliance: don't exceed the 25 km/h speed limit when assisted and ensure your e-bike’s motor power is within legal limits
📵 No mobile phone use while riding
🔊 Safe riding: Be aware of pedestrians, follow road rules and always give way where required.

🚨 Important Fines:

Illegal electric bike or e-scooter: $723
Not wearing a helmet: $410
Mobile phone use: $410 (increased fines in school zones)
Bicycle does not give way to pedestrians: $136
Riding a bicycle negligently, furiously or recklessly: $544

🔔 Help us keep our roads safe! If you spot unsafe riding or illegal e-bikes, report it to your local police station or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

23/12/2022

Believe it or not, driving fatigued is one of the biggest contributors to the road toll in New South Wales. And, at this time of year – the long summer school holidays – it is most one of the most prevalent problems on the road, as people drive to visit family and friends to celebrate the Christmas season.
Read more here:
https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/lets-talk-about-driver-fatigue/

21/12/2022

New South Wales has become the first state in Australia to criminalise coercive control.
Read more here:
https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/new-south-wales-introduces-coercive-control/

New South Wales has become the first state in Australia to criminalise coercive control.

27/11/2022

What are the rules for mobile phones while driving?
When the woman took to social media, noting that while the phone was in her bra she did have both hands on the steering wheel, the comments were divided with many people urging her to dispute the fine, with one saying “I’m struggling to work out how a phone down a woman’s bra is any different than a phone in a jeans pocket (which is perfectly legal),” read more:

https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/woman-fined-1000-for-driving-with-her-phone-in-her-bra/

If you think you’ve been fined unfairly, for speeding, or mobile phone use while driving or any other driving offence, you can dispute the penalty in the local court.

22/11/2022

What is a Coronial Inquest?
The Coroner’s Court, which is headed by the State Coroner, ensures that all sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths, suspected deaths, fires and explosions are properly investigated. Read more here:
https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/what-is-a-coronial-inquest/

What is a Coronial Inquest?The Coroner’s Court, which is headed by the State Coroner, ensures that all sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths, suspected deaths, fires and explosions are properly investigated.

20/11/2022

Appearing in local court can be daunting – here’s what to do to make sure you’re prepared.
Read more here:

So, you’re appearing in court. There’s no doubt, it can be nerve-wracking and a bit stressful. Here we explain what to expect and how to prepare yourself for a Local Court hearing or at your first mention. No matter what offence you have been charged with, the first step – and the most critica...

27/10/2022

The good news for those of us who live and work on the mid-north Coast is that crime is declining. Here’s an in depth look at the latest figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) is a government-funded agency within the Department of Communities and Justice. It was established in 1969 and so has a good bank of data on crime trends across New South Wales. Its research is interesting, not just for lawyers or police officers, journalists or those with an interest in social justice. Read more here:
https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/bocsar-crime-stats/

The good news for those of us who live and work on the mid-north Coast is that crime is declining. Here’s an in depth look at the latest figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) is a government-funded agency wit...

20/10/2022

In New South Wales you can face serious criminal charges if you have information about a serious crime, and don’t pass this information onto authorities. Read more here:
https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/concealing-a-serious-indictable-offence/

In New South Wales you can face serious criminal charges if you have information about a serious crime, and don’t pass this information onto authorities.

18/10/2022

How to get bail... some basics of applying for bail

In NSW, generally speaking, there are 4 reasons why police and courts can refuse to grant bail to a defendant:

There is a risk the person will commit further serious offences while on bail;
The community or a particular victim(s) will be endangered if the person is on bail;
If bailed, there is a risk the person will fail to appear at court to answer the substantive charges;
While on bail, there is a risk the person will interfere with Prosecution witnesses.
In short, if bail is opposed by police, it’s for one of these 4 reasons.

When we make a bail application (or “release application”), the defence law
read more here:
https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/how-to-get-bail-some-of-the-basics-of-applying-for-bail

Some of the basic facts on how to apply for bail in NSW

09/10/2022

The New South Wales Government is set to introduce new laws this week, which will affect those people convicted of murder and serving prison time in the state, where the victims body has never been found.

‘No body, no parole’ laws have been discussed for several years, and have, over time, been implemented in other states and territories. New South Wales is one of the last to do so. Read more here:
https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/no-body-no-parole-laws-in-nsw/

The New South Wales Government is set to introduce new laws this week, which will affect those people convicted of murder and serving prison time in the state, where the victims body has never been found. ‘No body, no parole’ laws have been discussed for several years, and have, over time, been ...

07/10/2022

Dangerous driving (occasioning death), compared to negligent driving (occasioning death), read more here:

https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/dangerous-driving-and-negligent-driving-occasioning-death/

A small community in New South Wales is mourning the loss of five young lives recently – all teenagers killed in a one-car road fatality. The driver, who is only 18 years old himself, was the only survivor of the crash. He has been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death. P...

03/10/2022

After two years of pandemic-related disruptions and many local court matters being adjourned, or handled remotely, over the phone or via audio visual technology or other forms of electronic communication matters, normality is returning to the local courts in NSW.

That said, there are still health precautions in place – see what they are here:

https://www.localcourtlawyers.com.au/the-local-court-including-new-covid-rule/

After two years of pandemic-related disruptions and many local court matters being adjourned, or handled remotely, over the phone or via audio visual technology or other forms of electronic communication matters, normality is returning to the local courts in NSW. That said, there are still health pr...