Motoring Offences
Hill Twine Solicitors & Barristers understands how precious your driving licence is to you. Losing your licence, or receiving penalty points, can have a dramatic effect on your personal and professional life. Motoring and road traffic law can be a very technical area and going it alone at the police station or in court may lead to an outcome which could be avoided if you are legally represented. Did you know that road traffic courts are prosecuted by the police? Or that your entire case can be dealt with without your input, even, being disqualified in your absence? Being represented is crucial to ensure a fair and just outcome for you.
We are experienced driving offence lawyers who have been defending people in courts nationwide, including in the Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire road traffic courts, for many years. Whether you are accused of a motoring or traffic offence in Dorset or elsewhere, we can defend you.
If you have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution contact Hill Twine Solicitors for advice. It is crucial that you contact us immediately as there are very strict time limits that apply to this documentation and failing to comply is an offence itself carrying penalty points.
We Can Help You With:
As expert driving offence solicitors in Bournemouth, Dorset we can defend you for all motoring offences, including:
- Excess alcohol: drink driving offences including, driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, being in charge whilst under the influence of alcohol, driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs;
- Failing to provide a specimen: whether the offence is a driving or in charge offence and whether it is a breath specimen, urine specimen or blood specimen;
- Careless and dangerous driving: including due care and attention, death by careless driving, death by dangerous driving;
- Causing death by uninsured, unlicensed, or disqualified driver;
- Driving whilst disqualified;
- Driving whilst under the influence of drugs (drug driving);
- Speeding;
- Driving whilst using a mobile phone
- Red traffic light offences (particularly important in Dorset due to the notorious Holes Bay Road junction with Sterte Road, Poole traffic light camera);
- Failing to provide information relating to the identity of a driver (otherwise known as the section 172 offence;
- No insurance;
- No driving licence;
- Failing to stop after an accident and/or failing to report an accident;
- Goods vehicle-related offences such as tachograph offence and exceeding the permitted weight offences;
- Defective tyres;
- Wanton and furious driving or cycling.
We can also assist you in an application for a reduction of a driving disqualification (this is an application to the court to have your licence returned before the end of the disqualification period following a driving disqualification).
How We Can Represent You
You’ve got a ticket
Whether you have been stopped by the police whilst driving, or received a Notice of Intended Prosecution through the post, we can advise you on what your next steps should be to achieve the best outcome for you. You may not have been the driver or you may be concerned about the consequences of admitting the offence. Whatever your situation, we can provide assistance. Remember, you will need to act quickly because there are time limits you need to comply with.
The police want to interview you
Whether you have been arrested by the police or not, they may want to interview you for an alleged driving offence. This can have significant consequences for you because you may end up being prosecuted. Being interviewed by the police for a driving offence is the same as any other criminal offence: there is an investigation and you need to be legally represented by us to give you the best chance of achieving the right outcome for you. As holders of a Crime Legal Aid Contract, we can represent you for free at the police station, no matter what the offence or what your income is.
You are facing court proceedings
Our court representation service includes, the preparation of all court documents, paperwork, instructing experts, expert reports, and witness statements, as well as representation at the court hearings. We will advise you on:
- the appropriate plea, possible defences, and mitigation;
- special reasons arguments to avoid penalty points and driving disqualifications;
- exceptional hardship arguments if you are facing a totting disqualification to enable you to continue driving and avoid a disqualification;
- drink drive rehabilitation courses which you can go on to enable you to reduce a driving disqualification.
We understand how important your driving licence is to you. Contact us so we can help you.
Funding
Legal Aid
We can always represent free of charge for interviews under caution by the police. We can also represent you for free in any further proceedings, subject to your eligibility for legal aid. We can advise you on whether you are likely to qualify for funding and will make an application on your behalf . You do need to be aware, however, that for court proceedings the majority of road traffic offences do not qualify for legal aid, even if you pass the means test. We have a wealth of experience working with the Legal Aid Agency and will secure public funding to represent you if it is possible to do so.
Private Funding
We offer competitive rates and fixed fees if you are not eligible for legal aid. For more information on our rates for road traffic offences dealt with at the magistrates’ court please click here: Motoring Offences – Our Fees. Alternatively, contact us to discuss your options and we can provide you with a quotation.
If you have any questions or need advice