Our team of expert driving solicitors are here to help people who face the loss of their licence or other penalties, for a wide range of motoring offences.
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Hallinan's experienced solicitors for motoring offences approach all cases in a discreet and pro-active manner, providing clear and no-nonsense advice to help our clients identify how to move forwards.
Road traffic legislation is an area of law that is increasingly complex with potentially serious implications for clients livelihoods and on their families. It is crucial to work with driving solicitors who not only have extensive experience in this area but who also have access to market-leading experts, including road-traffic collision experts and drug/alcohol experts.​
Solicitors for Motoring Offences in London Covering:
Drink Driving
Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit. Sentences may range from a fine, points on your licence, to driving bans and even imprisonment.
Speeding Ticket Related Offences
Driving above the legal speed limit. Sentences range from fines, points on your licence, as well as driving bans.
Driving Whilst Under the Influence of Drugs
Being unfit to drive due to the consumption of legal or illegal drugs, or driving with certain levels of illegal drugs in your blood. Penalties include, up to 6 months in prison, a minimum of 1 year driving ban and unlimited fines.
Dangerous Driving
When someone's driving falls far below the standard expected of a safe and competent driver. Penalties range from imprisonment, unlimited fines, loss of license or points on your licence.
Death by Dangerous Driving
When dangerous driving causes the death of another person. The maximum sentence for this offence is life imprisonment.
Driving Without a License/Driving Whilst Disqualified
​Driving without a valid licence, including driving whilst disqualified, carried a penalty ranging from fines, points, driving bans and perhaps imprisonment for the most serious cases.
Driving Without Insurance
Driving without at least third party insurance in place. Penalties include fines and driving bans.
Recent Successes in Driving Offences
R v H – client with history of driving offences sentenced to a community order as opposed to imprisonment for a second driving whilst disqualified conviction.
R v S – client charged with driving with alcohol well above the legal limit was given points and a fine, despite the facts of the case dictating that a community order or imprisonment would have been the likely outcome
R v P – significant reduction in costs for a client prosecuted for vehicle-related matters by the local authority, saving the client almost £2,500 in prosecution costs.
Frequently Asked Questions to Our Driving Solicitors
What are 'special reasons' hearings for driving offences?
Special reasons are found where there are extenuating or mitigating circumstances, connected to the offence at hand, which would mean that a driving ban should be reduced or avoided entirely. This is a complex area of motoring law, so it is important to instruct a solicitor with good knowledge of this area of law in order to have the best chance at convincing the court to find that special reasons apply in your case.
What are 'special experts' for motoring offences, and why are they important?
These are experts who are leaders in their fields on various issues relating to road traffic matters. This could include intoxication, back calculations, accident investigations and numerous other areas which arise. It is important to work with a driving solicitor who has close working relationships to these types of experts, so they can provide additional reports for your defence when needed.
​I recently passed my test and I have received my second speeding ticket. What could happen?
If a driver, newly passed and within 2 years of qualification, receives 6 penalty points on their licence, the court may revoke the licence. This will mean that the driver will need to undertake a further driving test before being able to drive again, as well as undertaking their theory test again. Special reasons may apply and therefore we would recommend that anybody facing similar proceedings contact our firm, as we may be able to assist in avoiding this from happening.
What is exceptional hardship, and how does this differ from special reasons?
Exceptional hardship relates to circumstances which would make any disqualification an exceptionally harsh punishment, and may relate the defendant’s circumstances without being directly related to the commission of the offence itself. An example may be, for example, that a defendant is the sole carer of an elderly relative and, should they be banned, their relative would be unable to get to important medical appointments. The court may, in these circumstances, find that there would be exceptional hardship should they disqualify a defendant from driving and this, in turn, may avoid disqualification completely. This is another complex area, where the court will scrutinise closely the points raised in demonstrating exceptional hardship. It is a good idea to instruct a firm such as Hallinans, who have extensive expertise in this area of law.
How many points can I have on my licence before I lose it?
Most minor motoring offences come with punishments of 3 points on your licence, with some other more serious offences carrying more than this. You can have up to 12 points on your licence before the court decide to disqualify you completely for a fixed period of time.