Motoring Offences Solicitors

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Penalties for driving offences are brought under the Highways Act 1980, the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Plus, with more and more speed cameras appearing on the roads, even momentary lapses of concentration can result in a driving ban or hefty fine. But the good news is that our road traffic offence solicitors excel at presenting mitigating circumstances and can help you get your penalty reduced.

Our team of specialist motoring solicitors strive to provide clear and honest advice when you are faced with a driving offence. We provide competitive fixed fees for consultations and representation at the Magistrates Court.

With offices in Birmingham, Northampton and London, we have successfully helped clients across the UK achieve the best possible outcome in a range of driving offences.

Have you been involved in a road traffic accident or another driving offence? Contact our specialist motoring offences solicitors on 0300 303 2071 for immediate assistance. 

Please be advised that our criminal law services do not include a no-win, no-fee feature. For more information on our pricing, get in touch with our team today.

How Our Motoring Offences Solicitors Can Help

Our team of driving offences solicitors is here to offer legal advice on how to avoid a driving ban or a criminal conviction when you are facing charges such as:

We understand the debilitating effects of a driving disqualification on your personal and professional life, so we will give you honest and reliable advice on how to avoid that when the driving ban is up to a judge (as opposed to mandatory).

From advice at police stations to representations at court hearings, we can support you at every stage of your case. If you are facing more complex charges, our driving offences experts can help collect evidence and assess the situation to provide you with a realistic outlook on your case and the next steps you could take.

 Get in touch with our expert motoring offences solicitors in London, Birmingham and Northampton today to find out how we can best support you.

Driving Offence Advice

In some cases, motoring offences may be minor; in others, they can have serious consequences. If you have been contacted by the police or informed of an intended prosecution, contact our driving offences solicitors at the earliest opportunity. After all, some options such as driver awareness courses may not be available once a court date has been set. 

We will establish the facts of your case and advise on the best course of action to take. If a court date has already been set, there is no need to worry. We will provide practical and honest advice so you have a clear idea of what the likely outcome will be. Not to mention, we can even represent you in court, providing strong legal backing.

Our Expertise

Our motoring offence lawyers excel at advising on a range of road traffic issues, including:

Costs

Depending on the complexity of your cases, we charge the following fees:

Stages of Entering a Guilty Plea

While most motoring offences can be successfully defended, in some cases, it makes sense to plead guilty to minimise your penalty as far as possible. If you decide to enter a guilty please, we will:

Why Choose Witan Solicitors

Being involved in a driving accident or a motoring offence can be very stressful and depending on the severity of the consequences, you could be facing serious legal consequences. 

With Witan Solicitors by your side, you are guaranteed reliable legal advice, as well as: 

• 100+ years of combined experience with driving offences 
• Non-judgemental, client-centred approach 
• Jargon-free legal advice
• Affordable fixed-fee consultations 
• Recognised by the Legal 500
• Motoring offences solicitors in London, Northampton and Birmingham

Our honest and transparent approach ensures that you understand the implications of your case and the possible outcomes, so you always feel in control of your situation. 

FAQ

What are the most common motoring offences?

Some of the most common driving offences we help clients with include drunk driving, drug driving, using a mobile phone while driving and speeding. 

What is a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP)?

Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is an official letter from the Police that informs a defendant that they may face prosecution for a crime they are suspected of committing. It is served to the driver or registered keeper of the vehicle that has been involved in a traffic incident. 

Receiving a NIP doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be prosecuted, only that there is a possibility that you might be. If you have been given a Notice of Intended Prosecution and you need further advice, speak to our motoring offences solicitors on 0300 303 2071. 

How long after a driving offence can I be charged?

As a general rule, for a driving offence to be prosecuted in court, you must be served a NIP within 14 days of the offence. If the NIP is sent within 14 days but you haven’t received it yet at the end of the period, you can still be charged.

What happens if I get 12 points on my licence?

If you receive a penalty of 12 points or more for driving offences (also known as “totting up”), you will automatically be banned from driving for 6 months. If this happens, you will have to appear in court. 

How can I get out of a driving ban?

If you have been banned from driving due to accumulating too many penalty points on your licence you may present an argument in court to attempt to keep your driver’s licence by making a successful Exceptional Hardship submission. 

Exceptional Hardship is a legal argument claiming that the hardship you will suffer as a result of the totting-up disqualification is of exceptional severity. If your argument is accepted by the court, your appeal will be successful and the driving band will be lifted. 

However, proving Exceptional Hardship can be challenging, as it is reasonably expected that a disqualified driver will suffer some hardships, which is considered an acceptable consequence of the punishment.

Do I need a specialist motoring offences solicitor?

If you are facing motoring offence allegations, it’s always best to seek legal advice from a specialist driving offences lawyer. Having expert professional representation ensures that your rights are protected and that you have the best chance at achieving a positive outcome in your case.

How much does it cost to hire a driving offences solicitor?

At Witan Solicitors, we have a transparent pricing policy and we offer fixed-fee services for all motoring offences. You can check out our driving offences legal costs here.

I have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution from the police, what should I do?

Before you return any paperwork, you should contact our motoring offences lawyers immediately as the success of any technical defences will depend on this part of the process being carried out correctly. We will review the notice and ensure that it complies with the legal requirements. We will then advise on whether to complete it.

What if I have not received a notice within 14 days?

Under Section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the registered keeper of a vehicle needs to receive notice of intended prosecution within 14 days unless:

• An accident has occurred due to the presence of their vehicle on the road 
• The police gave them a verbal warning at the time of the offence
• They were offered a fixed penalty
• The motoring offence is an exception to the rule due to a statutory provision

What if I am unsure about who the driver was?

Under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, individuals who are the registered keeper of a vehicle must take all reasonable steps to establish who was driving their vehicle. Businesses, on the other hand, must keep records of who is driving the vehicle unless it is unreasonable to.

Our experienced motoring offences solicitors will help you gather the necessary evidence to build a strong defence.

What if the police ask to speak to me about a driving incident?

If the police say that they want to speak to you about a road traffic incident, there is no need to worry. Simply inform them that you want to speak legal advice first, even if they are only asking for an informal chat.

Will I be disqualified if I go to court?

Not necessarily. Different motoring offences carry different penalties. For example, drink-driving and dangerous driving result in obligatory disqualification for at least 12 months.

For spreading cases, disqualification is considered when the speed is 30mph above the speed limit.

If a driver gets 12 points within three years, they may be disqualified under the totting up provisions for 6 months unless they can show that they will suffer exceptional hardship

Our driving offences lawyers will provide you with a clear indication of what punishment you can expect.

How long will it take for my case to conclude?

It will depend on whether you plead guilty or not guilty, as well as the date for the final hearing.

What accreditations do your team have?

Our law firm has been recognised by the Legal 500 as one of the top law firms in the UK. With us in your corner, you can be confident that we will help you retain your driving licence or reduce the length of time disqualified.