Lawyer Help

Facing another disqualification you can't afford to take?

$1,725 ($575 x3) + $575 wrap-up fee if granted

A section 94 order asks the court for community work instead of taking your licence again: you keep working, and the mortgage keeps getting paid. Melanie Coxon, barrister, 30+ years' experience, prepares it and argues it. Ring before you plead guilty: once you're sentenced, this door closes.

Or text us on 021 911 133 and we'll ring you back

Google reviews

Melanie Coxon's track record, in her clients' own words

★★★★★
Google review

“Mrs. Coxon was very dedicated and responsible. This case was quite difficult and the success rate was relatively low. However, through hard work and her superb professional knowledge, S94 was successfully won. Thanks a lot!”

★★★★★
Google review

“The best lawyer you could ever ask for. I got an unprecedented Sentence all due to her hard work and due diligence- A+++++”

★★★★★
Google review

“I cannot thank Melanie enough for everything she has done for me. From the very beginning, she was professional, compassionate, and always willing to answer my questions. English is not my first language, but she was patient and made sure I understood every step of the process…”

Ring, and we'll get you some direction and peace of mind.

A limited licence won't help this time. Section 94 might.

Driving while disqualified, driving while suspended, or breaching a limited licence carries a disqualification the judge has no choice about, and the law also stops you applying for a limited licence to get through it.

Section 94 is a separate door, and it's still open. It lets a judge order community work instead of taking your licence again. It has to be raised at sentencing, and it's won on paper: affidavits and written submissions, before anyone stands up in court.

Current as at August 2026. General information, not advice on your specific case.

What's included

  • A first appointment to check you're eligible and plan the application
  • Affidavits drafted for you, and for your employer where one's needed
  • Written submissions filed with the court before the hearing
  • Melanie at both court appearances, arguing it in person
  • One fixed fee, payable in three instalments

The $230 phone appointment is from anywhere in New Zealand. The court work is at the Auckland courts.

One fee: $1,725

That's the whole application: the affidavits, the written submissions the judge reads beforehand, and both court appearances with Melanie on her feet for you. Pay it in three bites of $575 if that better suits your pocketbook today.

There's a $575 wrap-up fee if the order is granted: the part you only pay if you get the result. If it isn't granted, it's never charged.

Most firms want a couple of grand up front before they start. We want $575. And if money is still the reason you haven't rung, ring and say so; instalments are how this fee is normally paid, not a favour.

Or text us on 021 911 133 and we'll ring you back

Section 94 application (incl GST)

  • Affidavits, written submissions and both court appearances$1,725
  • Payable in3 × $575
  • Wrap-up fee, only if the order is granted$575

Related fees

  • Phone appointment$230
  • Extra court appearance, Auckland DC$230
  • Extra court appearance, other greater Auckland$287

No court filing fee: a section 94 application is decided at your sentencing, not filed as a separate matter. All our fees, on one page →

Melanie Coxon, barrister

Won on paper, and the paper is hers

Melanie Coxon is a barrister sole with 30+ years in traffic and criminal law. Applications like this are won in the affidavits and the written submissions, and she drafts them herself, then argues them herself. No juniors, no hand-offs.

Whether it's your first time or you're on a first-name basis with the court staff, we're not here to judge. We're here to sort it and keep you moving forward.

Meet Melanie Coxon

What happens when you ring us

The steps marked YOU are the only ones that need anything from you.

YOURing before you plead guilty

A driving-while-disqualified charge can be dealt with and sentenced the same day, and once you're sentenced, the option is gone. Already pleaded but not sentenced? Ring today; there may still be a window.

WE DOCheck you're eligible, and tell you straight

First phone appointment, usually the same day. You'll know whether this is open to you before you've paid for an application.

YOUSend us three or four documents

A letter from your employer, on letterhead, saying what happens to your job if you can't drive. Your roster or payslips. We give you the list and chase what's missing.

WE DODraft the affidavits and the submissions, then argue it

Melanie writes the sworn affidavits and the written submissions the judge reads before the hearing, then appears at both dates: the plea, and the hearing where it's argued. The police often oppose these; opposition raises the bar, but it's still the judge's call.

WE DOIf it's granted, we sort out the rest

We explain exactly what you've been ordered to do and by when. The $575 wrap-up fee is payable now, and only now. Then it's back to work, and Bob's your uncle.

Am I eligible?

The rules are stricter than a limited licence, and the phone call is the real test. Roughly, section 94 is likely open to you if:

Not sure which side of the line you're on? Ring and we'll tell you straight.

Section 94 FAQs

How many hours of community work will I get, and does it have to be community work?

The law allows 40 to 400 hours; where you land depends on the offending, and the judge can still fine you as well. It doesn't have to be community work either: community detention or supervision can be ordered instead, so if you physically can't do the work, say so on the first call.

I was disqualified for demerit points. Does that count?

Probably not on its own, and it's worth checking before you spend anything: this asks whether a court has disqualified you on conviction, and a demerit suspension comes from the transport agency, not a judge. But if a court has also disqualified you at some point, that counts. It's the first thing we check.

Will I go to prison for this?

For a first or second driving-while-disqualified charge, prison isn't the usual outcome: the maximum is three months, and the sentence is far more often a fine and a disqualification. It becomes a genuine risk at a third or subsequent charge, where the maximum rises to two years. If you're in that territory, you'll be told so directly on the first call, because it changes how the whole matter is run.

The police are opposing it. Is it over?

No. They oppose these routinely. Opposition raises the standard the paperwork has to meet; it doesn't decide the outcome. The judge does.

Do I have to come to Auckland?

Not for the appointments: those are by phone, wherever you are. The court work is done at the Auckland courts, and we'll tell you which dates need you there in person.

Ring before you plead guilty.

$1,725 fixed, in three instalments. One call today tells you whether section 94 is open to you, and gets you some direction and peace of mind. The option can be gone the same day you plead, so ring first.

Or text us on 021 911 133 and we'll ring you back

Mon–Fri 9am–9pm · Sat 2pm–6pm

No credit, free call 0800 OK2DRIVE (0800 6523 7483)

What our customers say

★★★★★
"Can’t thank Melanie enough for her expertise. Got a great result today, better than what I expected. Highly recommend Melanie and her team. Thanks Melanie 🙏"Frazer
★★★★★
"Melanie and her team did an amazing job throughout the whole case , even taking part payments in a tough time with covid 19 struggles unlike most law firms , to top it all off i was able to get what seemed like an unlikely outcome. 100% would recommend to anyone . Thank you to Melanie and her team"Michael
★★★★★
"Amazing Service, friendly and very helpful. Melanie kept me up to date at all times and made sure I was comfortable with alll decisions."Isaac

Section 94 reviews →