Never had a valid driver's licence (never licenced in Australia)
.webp)
Lorem Ipsum
Lorem Ipsum
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove
Lorem Ipsum
Possible Defences
Lorem Ipsum
Potential Penalties
Lorem Ipsum
Legal Process
& Options
Lorem Ipsum
Pleading
Not Guilty
Lorem Ipsum
Pleading
Guilty
Lorem Ipsum
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the offence of driving while suspended, disqualified or cancelled?
It is a criminal offence under section 54 of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) to drive a motor vehicle while your driver licence is:
- Suspended (temporarily withdrawn)
- Disqualified (by a court or authority from holding a licence)
- Cancelled (revoked and no longer valid)
Will I get a criminal record?
- Yes, if convicted. A finding of guilt will usually result in a criminal conviction, which may affect employment, travel, and future court matters. In limited circumstances, you may receive a non-conviction order (e.g., a section 10 dismissal)
Can I lose my licence?
- Yes. If convicted, you will be disqualified from driving for a minimum period set by law. The court may reduce the disqualification to the minimum allowable, but cannot remove it entirely
What if I didn’t know my licence was suspended or cancelled?
You may have a defence if you can show that you genuinely did not know, and could not reasonably have known, that your licence was not valid. This is a factual defence and will depend on the evidence
What happens if I plead guilty?
The court will proceed to sentence you, considering your:
- Driving history
- Circumstances of the offence
- Level of cooperation and remorse
- Whether you’ve done a Traffic Offender Program
You may receive a reduced penalty for pleading guilty early
What happens if I plead not guilty?
- The matter will go to a hearing, where the prosecution must prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt. If the court accepts your defence, the charge will be dismissed.
Need help with a Drive While Suspended, Disqualified or Cancelled charge?
- Contact Brightstone Defence Criminal Lawyers for expert guidance and immediate support to protect your rights and explore the best defence strategy
We’re updating this section to serve you better.
SUCCESS CASES & ARTICLES
Brightstone Defence delivers focused criminal defence services year-round and has built a strong track record of successful outcomes.
We’re working on bringing you more helpful information. Stay tuned.
Meet our lawyers
Testimonials
WORLD CLASS
REPRESENTATION
100+ 5 Star Reviews
Personalised legal strategies tailored to each case
Recognised leaders in criminal defence law
Free initial consultation and case evaluation
Proven success in high-stakes and complex cases
Alex and Sharon are highly professional, detail-oriented, and truly takes the time to understand the client’s perspective. He provides clear, practical, and well-considered legal advice based on deep expertise and experience. I genuinely felt supported and confident throughout the process. If you’re looking for a trustworthy and capable legal team, this firm is definitely a top choice.
Shaok L
Being involved in a legal case is not merely a challenging experience — it can be life-changing. Choosing the right legal team is not solely a matter of cost; it is, in many ways, a decision that can shape your future. Mr. Alex Cao and his team have demonstrated exceptional professionalism, drawing upon their extensive experience and expertise in criminal law. From developing overarching legal strategies to crafting precise language in legal documents—details that can often determine the outcome of a case—they provide comprehensive and thoughtful ...
Keyy
Excellent service from start to finish. Professional, responsive, and genuinely caring. Brightstone Legal made a stressful situation manageable. Highly recommend them for anyone needing reliable and knowledgeable legal support.
Liang F
I had an excellent experience with Brightstone Legal. From start to finish, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely dedicated to helping me. They communicated clearly, provided sound legal advice, and always made me feel supported throughout the entire process. I highly recommend Brightstone Legal to anyone in need of reliable and trustworthy legal representation. Thank you for your outstanding service!
Jeffrey Q
This law firm was a lifesaver during an incredibly stressful time as I’m facing serious charges. Alex and his team help me and provide thoughtful recommendations for my legal matter. The whole process was easy throughout and professional. I highly recommend this firm to anyone in need of trustworthy legal help.
Fengrui T
When you encounter any problems in life and need help, just look for these two lawyers. They will definitely do their best to help us, especially with criminal issues. Alex Cao, Alex Zhao, and Cherry (I've faced serious charges in the past.）If you have any legal problems, just contact them, they are the best choice! PERFECT!
David
Thankfully, with the patient support and detailed investigation by Lawyer Cao and his team, the case finally concluded with me being acquitted and released without charges. This case dragged on for two years—it was mentally and emotionally draining. But thanks to Lawyer Cao and his team, who didn’t give up even after losing the first trial, I was eventually found not guilty at the final ...
Lyt
Brightstone Legal. Mr Alex Cao of Brightstone Legal and his team guided me through every steps of my case, they are experienced, effective and efficient. Delivered results beyond and above everyone’s expectations. I am really grateful to have the chance to hire him and received help from his team. I recommend this already highly reputable law firm to everyone!
XNN
I’m extremely grateful to Lawyer Cherry for helping my boyfriend achieve a very favorable outcome. Cherry and Alex Zhao were both very attentive, taking the time to clearly explain the process and provide us with detailed and professional legal advice. Their dedication made us feel confident that we had chosen the right lawyers and placed our trust in the right people. In the future, I will definitely recommend Brightstone Criminal to any friends in need of legal assistance. Thank you ...
Venus C
I considered myself is very lucky to have Alex Cao as my lawyer and work with his team over the past several months. Alex Cao is excellent lawyer who is highly competent legal practitioner. He and his team showed great dedication, professionalism and compassion throughout my case this helped me so much when I was at my lowest. Huge appreciation to Alex Cao who spent a lot of time on my matter and successfully helped me got the best possible outcome that is truly a relief ...
Xuefeng L
I am truly very thankful to Brightstone’s Lawyer Alex Cao, as well as his assistant and colleagues, for helping us win the case. Mr Cao and his team were extremely professional, not only in their legal knowledge but also in patiently answering all of our questions. They demonstrated great patience, approachability, and empathy throughout the process, and paid close attention to every detail, which was a huge help. Finally we achieved the best possible outcome for our case.
Hannah H
First of all, I would like to thank Alex Cao from Brightstone Legal. My case isn’t an easy one, I was set up by my ex partner, it was stressful and heart broken. The amazing lawyer, Alex Cao went above and beyond to assist with the matter. He was professional, knowledgeable, and always available to answer any questions I had. Indeed, I lost for words at how professional, knowledgeable and experienced he is. He took lot of efforts to handle my case and finally managed to achieve best ...
Rachel Y
Extremely professional legal services — thank you to Lawyer Alex Cao and his team for all the help they gave me. I was very fortunate to have found Lawyer Alex Cao right at the moment I encountered difficulties. With his help, I was able to avoid many complicated problems and resolve a major crisis. Over the course of a year working with him, Lawyer Cao not only provided me with legal assistance, but also offered emotional support that helped me pull through times ...
Jason G
When I was facing difficulties and feeling overwhelmed, the team at Brightstone Legal provided me with immediate and professional assistance. From the receptionist quickly arranging my appointment to Criminal Lawyer Alex Cao patiently organising the key points of my case and providing precise legal analysis. They not only fought for my best interests but also helped me save 70% of my legal fees. I’m truly grateful ...
Elizabeth W
Sharon Yu was efficient, organised and kept it simple. She adapted quickly to an unfamiliar situation and she ensured, given unfamiliarity, to be well-prepared. She helped me get through a legal matter, cared and did a thorough job. Her assistants also. I recommend Sharon Yu and Brightsone Legal to any person needing legal assistance and advice. As a person of mostly Anglo background I had a good experience interacting with 4 Chinese staff ...
Caitlin G
Alex Cao has demonstrated excellent professionalism and competence, second to none. Through his intelligence, dedication, skills, and in collaboration with Angela Cook, they've restored my life back in order.
Jason C
Compared several legal institutes, I am very glad I finally made this right choice. Thanks very much for Alex Cao's excellent service as my solicitor. He is so professional, nice and patient with a silver tongue and a very quick thinking under different situations. Highly recommend!
Alan
A huge thanks to Alex, He made such a thorough effort for my case giving me a great result at the end of my trial, Alex is very nice, patient and has a great attention to detail, I highly recommend anyone to seek legal advice with brightstone!!!
Tobias S
To Alex Zhao and Alex Cao, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for your outstanding legal expertise and dedication. Your relentless efforts, attention to detail, and unwavering support have been instrumental in resolving my case successfully. Your professionalism and genuine concern for my well-being have left a lasting impact. Thank you for being exemplary legal advocates. I am truly grateful to have had you by my side.
J
I was facing a legal situation that was causing me a lot of stress and uncertainty, and I am so grateful to have found Alex Cao. His team was professional, attentive, and genuinely caring about my situation. I wholeheartedly recommend Alex Cao to anyone in need of top-notch legal assistance. Their professionalism, knowledge, communication, and genuine care for their clients set them apart.
LIANG W
Brightstone legal team provides excellent and professional service for us and help us to achieve the best outcome. We really appreciate the help from Brightstone legal team especially Alex Cao. We will highly recommend to anyone if they need any legal help.
Iris K
Alex zhao and Alex cao are very professional and responsible, excellent analysis and handling of the case, and got the best result! The best lawyer I've ever seen in Sydney!
Tony
I am deeply grateful to Attorney Cao (Alex) and his team for their professional, compassionate, and knowledgeable representation. They helped me obtain a favorable court result and I am confident that justice has been served. I highly recommend them to anyone who needs legal assistance.
Jimmy L
I'm really appreciate Alex as well as Sharon who took over my case from a year ago. Not only have they developed effective strategies coping my court case, but they also helped me achieved unexpected result, which won't affect my visa and potential permanent residency, and I'm grateful to what they have put a lot effort into in the last year.
Humphrey B
It's an incredibly professional and efficient team that saved me from the very beginning. A big thank you to Alex Zhao and the entire team for their hard work and dedication.
Milos P
I am truly honored to have received help from Alex and his team. With their support, I was able to achieve the best possible outcome in the shortest time and lowest cost. Throughout the entire process, the team maintained highly efficient communication, patently and thoroughly explaining and analyzing every detail, they demonstrated great adaptability, carefully weighing the pros and cons, and working closely with me to determine the best course of action ...
Lei Z
Get instant estimated Quotes
and a free consultation session
Facing criminal charges? Our experienced defence lawyers are here to help. Book your free consultation now to discuss your case and understand your options.
