sec.78Driving of motor vehicle without a driver licence prohibited

### sec.78 Driving of motor vehicle without a driver licence prohibited 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— if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified, by any court order, from holding or obtaining a driver licence—60 penalty units or 18 months imprisonment; or otherwise—40 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment. An infringement notice under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 ( infringement notice ) may be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) only if— the person is an unlicensed driver for the motor vehicle driven by the person; and the person has not, in the 5 years before the contravention, been convicted of an offence against subsection (1) ; and subsections (1B) to (1E) do not prevent the infringement notice being issued to the person. An infringement notice can not be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) if— the person has, in the 2 years before the contravention, been a person mentioned in section 91J (1) ; and the person did not become an interlock driver because a Queensland driver licence was not granted to the person after the person’s disqualification period mentioned in that section ended. Subject to subsection (1D) , an infringement notice can not be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) if— the person had been an interlock driver; but at the time of the contravention— the person did not hold a valid Queensland driver licence; and the person’s interlock period had not ended. An infringement notice may be issued to a person mentioned in subsection (1C) whose Queensland driver licence expired within 4 weeks before the contravention mentioned in the subsection. An infringement notice must not be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) if the person has never held a driver licence. If a person commits an offence against subsection (1) when the person is a disqualified driver, or is a repeat unlicensed driver for the offence, the court, in deciding what penalty to impose on the person, must consider— all the circumstances of the case, including circumstances of aggravation or mitigation; and the public interest; and the person’s criminal history and traffic history; and any information before it relating to the person’s medical history, or the person’s mental or physical capacity, that the court considers relevant; and whether the offence was committed in association with the commission or attempted commission of another offence and, if so, the nature of the other offence; and any other matters that the court considers relevant. If the court convicts a person of an offence against subsection (1) and any of the following circumstances apply, the court, whether or not any other sentence is imposed, must disqualify the person from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence for the period mentioned in relation to the circumstance— if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified, by any court order, from holding or obtaining a driver licence—for a period, of at least 2 years but not more than 5 years, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because of the allocation of demerit points—6 months; See section 127 (4) (b) for the effect of a suspension because of the allocation of demerit points under the driver licensing regulation. if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended because of the allocation of demerit points—6 months; if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because the person had been convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit—6 months; if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended because the person had been convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit—6 months; if the person committed the offence while the person’s driver licence was suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 —a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 —a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person was a repeat unlicensed driver for the offence—a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while, under section 79B — the person’s Queensland driver licence was suspended; or the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended; or the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence; for a period, of at least 2 years but not more than 5 years, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person was a person mentioned in subsection (1B) or (1C) —for a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if, at the time of committing the offence, the person had never held a driver licence—3 months. For subsection (3) , if the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a) and another paragraph of the subsection exist, the court must apply paragraph (a) . Subsection (3) applies whether or not a conviction is recorded for the offence. A person must not allow another person to drive a motor vehicle on a road if the person knows the other person does not hold a driver licence authorising the other person to drive the vehicle on the road. Maximum penalty—20 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment. In this section— any court order means an order of any Australian court. disqualified driver means a person— who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because of any court order; or who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because— of the allocation of demerit points; or the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or the person’s driver licence is suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 ; or whose authority to drive on a Queensland road under the person’s non-Queensland driver licence is suspended— because of the allocation of demerit points; or because the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 . repeat unlicensed driver , for an offence, means a person who— is an unlicensed driver for the motor vehicle driven by the person when the offence is committed; and has, in the 5 years before committing the offence, been convicted of an offence against subsection (1) . unlicensed driver , for a motor vehicle, means a person, other than a disqualified driver, who does not hold a driver licence authorising the person to drive the vehicle on the road. s 78 (prev 1949 13 Geo 6 No. 26 s 15) amd 1959 8 Eliz 2 No. 55 s 12; 1961 10 Eliz 2 No. 27 s 9; 1965 No. 26 s 14 ; 1974 No. 18 s 7 (amd 1984 No. 102 s 36 ); 1975 No. 13 s 3 ; 1984 No. 102 s 33 ; 1990 No. 103 s 2 .26; 1994 No. 7 s 3 sch ; 1999 No. 42 s 54 (1) sch amdts 33–35 reloc 1999 No. 42 s 54 (1) sch amdt 89 amd 1999 No. 70 s 166 sch 1 sub 2001 No. 79 s 96 amd 2002 No. 4 s 3 ; 2002 No. 71 s 21 ; 2003 No. 69 s 5 ; 2005 No. 49 s 60 ; 2006 No. 21 s 141 ; 2010 No. 13 ss 14 , 3 sch pt 1 ; 2014 No. 43 s 82 ; 2017 No. 18 s 33 amd 2024 No. 45 s 93 (uncommenced amendment) (sec.78-ssec.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— if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified, by any court order, from holding or obtaining a driver licence—60 penalty units or 18 months imprisonment; or otherwise—40 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment. (sec.78-ssec.1A) An infringement notice under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 ( infringement notice ) may be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) only if— the person is an unlicensed driver for the motor vehicle driven by the person; and the person has not, in the 5 years before the contravention, been convicted of an offence against subsection (1) ; and subsections (1B) to (1E) do not prevent the infringement notice being issued to the person. (sec.78-ssec.1B) An infringement notice can not be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) if— the person has, in the 2 years before the contravention, been a person mentioned in section 91J (1) ; and the person did not become an interlock driver because a Queensland driver licence was not granted to the person after the person’s disqualification period mentioned in that section ended. (sec.78-ssec.1C) Subject to subsection (1D) , an infringement notice can not be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) if— the person had been an interlock driver; but at the time of the contravention— the person did not hold a valid Queensland driver licence; and the person’s interlock period had not ended. (sec.78-ssec.1D) An infringement notice may be issued to a person mentioned in subsection (1C) whose Queensland driver licence expired within 4 weeks before the contravention mentioned in the subsection. (sec.78-ssec.1E) An infringement notice must not be issued to a person for a contravention of subsection (1) if the person has never held a driver licence. (sec.78-ssec.2) If a person commits an offence against subsection (1) when the person is a disqualified driver, or is a repeat unlicensed driver for the offence, the court, in deciding what penalty to impose on the person, must consider— all the circumstances of the case, including circumstances of aggravation or mitigation; and the public interest; and the person’s criminal history and traffic history; and any information before it relating to the person’s medical history, or the person’s mental or physical capacity, that the court considers relevant; and whether the offence was committed in association with the commission or attempted commission of another offence and, if so, the nature of the other offence; and any other matters that the court considers relevant. (sec.78-ssec.3) If the court convicts a person of an offence against subsection (1) and any of the following circumstances apply, the court, whether or not any other sentence is imposed, must disqualify the person from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence for the period mentioned in relation to the circumstance— if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified, by any court order, from holding or obtaining a driver licence—for a period, of at least 2 years but not more than 5 years, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because of the allocation of demerit points—6 months; See section 127 (4) (b) for the effect of a suspension because of the allocation of demerit points under the driver licensing regulation. if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended because of the allocation of demerit points—6 months; if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because the person had been convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit—6 months; if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended because the person had been convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit—6 months; if the person committed the offence while the person’s driver licence was suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 —a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 —a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person was a repeat unlicensed driver for the offence—a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while, under section 79B — the person’s Queensland driver licence was suspended; or the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended; or the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence; for a period, of at least 2 years but not more than 5 years, decided by the court; if the person committed the offence while the person was a person mentioned in subsection (1B) or (1C) —for a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; if, at the time of committing the offence, the person had never held a driver licence—3 months. (sec.78-ssec.3A) For subsection (3) , if the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a) and another paragraph of the subsection exist, the court must apply paragraph (a) . (sec.78-ssec.4) Subsection (3) applies whether or not a conviction is recorded for the offence. (sec.78-ssec.5) A person must not allow another person to drive a motor vehicle on a road if the person knows the other person does not hold a driver licence authorising the other person to drive the vehicle on the road. Maximum penalty—20 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment. (sec.78-ssec.6) In this section— any court order means an order of any Australian court. disqualified driver means a person— who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because of any court order; or who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because— of the allocation of demerit points; or the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or the person’s driver licence is suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 ; or whose authority to drive on a Queensland road under the person’s non-Queensland driver licence is suspended— because of the allocation of demerit points; or because the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 . repeat unlicensed driver , for an offence, means a person who— is an unlicensed driver for the motor vehicle driven by the person when the offence is committed; and has, in the 5 years before committing the offence, been convicted of an offence against subsection (1) . unlicensed driver , for a motor vehicle, means a person, other than a disqualified driver, who does not hold a driver licence authorising the person to drive the vehicle on the road. - (a) if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified, by any court order, from holding or obtaining a driver licence—60 penalty units or 18 months imprisonment; or - (b) otherwise—40 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment. - (a) the person is an unlicensed driver for the motor vehicle driven by the person; and - (b) the person has not, in the 5 years before the contravention, been convicted of an offence against subsection (1) ; and - (c) subsections (1B) to (1E) do not prevent the infringement notice being issued to the person. - (a) the person has, in the 2 years before the contravention, been a person mentioned in section 91J (1) ; and - (b) the person did not become an interlock driver because a Queensland driver licence was not granted to the person after the person’s disqualification period mentioned in that section ended. - (a) the person had been an interlock driver; but - (b) at the time of the contravention— (i) the person did not hold a valid Queensland driver licence; and (ii) the person’s interlock period had not ended. - (i) the person did not hold a valid Queensland driver licence; and - (ii) the person’s interlock period had not ended. - (i) the person did not hold a valid Queensland driver licence; and - (ii) the person’s interlock period had not ended. - (a) all the circumstances of the case, including circumstances of aggravation or mitigation; and - (b) the public interest; and - (c) the person’s criminal history and traffic history; and - (d) any information before it relating to the person’s medical history, or the person’s mental or physical capacity, that the court considers relevant; and - (e) whether the offence was committed in association with the commission or attempted commission of another offence and, if so, the nature of the other offence; and - (f) any other matters that the court considers relevant. - (a) if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified, by any court order, from holding or obtaining a driver licence—for a period, of at least 2 years but not more than 5 years, decided by the court; - (b) if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because of the allocation of demerit points—6 months; Note— See section 127 (4) (b) for the effect of a suspension because of the allocation of demerit points under the driver licensing regulation. - (c) if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended because of the allocation of demerit points—6 months; - (d) if the person committed the offence while the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because the person had been convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit—6 months; - (e) if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended because the person had been convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit—6 months; - (f) if the person committed the offence while the person’s driver licence was suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 —a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; - (g) if the person committed the offence while the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 —a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; - (h) if the person committed the offence while the person was a repeat unlicensed driver for the offence—a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; - (i) if the person committed the offence while, under section 79B — (i) the person’s Queensland driver licence was suspended; or (ii) the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended; or (iii) the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence; for a period, of at least 2 years but not more than 5 years, decided by the court; - (i) the person’s Queensland driver licence was suspended; or - (ii) the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended; or - (iii) the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence; - (j) if the person committed the offence while the person was a person mentioned in subsection (1B) or (1C) —for a period, of at least 1 month but not more than 6 months, decided by the court; - (k) if, at the time of committing the offence, the person had never held a driver licence—3 months. - (i) the person’s Queensland driver licence was suspended; or - (ii) the person’s authority to drive on a Queensland road under a non-Queensland driver licence was suspended; or - (iii) the person was disqualified from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence; - (a) who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because of any court order; or - (b) who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence because— (i) of the allocation of demerit points; or (ii) the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or (iii) the person’s driver licence is suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 ; or - (i) of the allocation of demerit points; or - (ii) the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or - (iii) the person’s driver licence is suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 ; or - (c) whose authority to drive on a Queensland road under the person’s non-Queensland driver licence is suspended— (i) because of the allocation of demerit points; or (ii) because the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or (iii) under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 . - (i) because of the allocation of demerit points; or - (ii) because the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or - (iii) under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 . - (i) of the allocation of demerit points; or - (ii) the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or - (iii) the person’s driver licence is suspended under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 ; or - (i) because of the allocation of demerit points; or - (ii) because the person was convicted of an offence against the Queensland Road Rules , section 20 , for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit; or - (iii) under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 or Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 . - (a) is an unlicensed driver for the motor vehicle driven by the person when the offence is committed; and - (b) has, in the 5 years before committing the offence, been convicted of an offence against subsection (1) .