Section 78 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act Queensland states:

(1) A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a road unless the person holds a driver licence authorising the person to drive the vehicle on the road.

Maximum penalty- 40 penalty units or 1 year's imprisonment.

Licence disqualification - 6 months.

Penalty unit = $100.00

In order for the Police to prove their case at Court, they must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:

The accused:

(1) Was a driver of a motor vehicle on the road; and

(2) Did not hold a driver licence authorising the person to drive the vehicle on the road; and

(3) Did not hold a driver licence due to suspension resulting from travelling in excess of the speed limit by more than 40km/h.

It will be necessary for the Police in every offence to prove that the accused was the person who committed the offence. Click here to learn more about identification evidence.

Possible defences to this offence include but are not limited to

1. The accused held a valid licence authorising him/her to drive

2. The accused did not hold a valid licence but was not driving on the road

3. The accused was not in fact suspended from driving due to a high speed conviction

4. Duress - example: there was a threat of violence against the accused or some other person that the accused reasonably believed would be carried out if they did not drive.

5. Necessity - example: there was an extraordinary emergency

6. Insanity

7. Identification i.e. the accused was not the driver

8. Mistake of fact - example: The accused held an honest and reasonable, but mistaken belief that he/she was not suspended from driving as a result of a high speed conviction

Under section 3(5) of the Criminal Code Act  Queensland this offence is classed a simple offence and therefore may be heard in the Magistrates Court pursuant to section 19 of the Justices Act Queensland.