A Guide to Motoring Offences.

SPEEDING
This is perhaps the most common offence you could be charged with. Penalty points range from 3 to 6 and in some cases you can be disqualified outright. You may be given a fixed penalty notice. You will be given 28 days to decide if you want to accept the 3 penalty points and fine. Why not use that time to take advice from us?

TOTTING UP
If you get 12 or more points on your licence within 3 years you must be disqualified from driving for a minimum period of 6 months. However if a disqualification would cause you ‘exceptional hardship’ we can assist you with saving your licence. In some circumstances we may be able to argue that you have ‘special reasons’ for not endorsing your licence with any points at all.

DRIVING WHILE USING A MOBILE PHONE
This offence is now endorseable with 3 penalty points. It is possible that using your phone can be the basis for a more serious careless or dangerous driving charge.

DRIVING WITHOUT INSURANCE
The court must endorse your licence with at least 6 penalty points and you can be disqualified. It is important that you check with your insurance company that you are ‘on risk’ especially if you take out your insurance over the phone. When you renew your policy, it is your responsibility to provide full details of any changes in your circumstances, always check the terms. It is not a defence to driving without insurance to claim that you thought you were insured.

DRINK DRIVING or DRIVING WHILST UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS
This is a very serious offence carrying a minimum period of 1 years disqualification or 3 years if you have a previous conviction within the last 10 years. The court can impose large fines and in the most serious cases a prison sentence. Take our advice.

CARELESS DRIVING/DANGEROUS DRIVING
These are serious driving offences carrying obligatory endorsement of your licence and for Dangerous Driving a minimum period of disqualification of 1 year and an order to re-sit your driving test. The court can impose large fines and in the most serious cases a prison sentence.

CAUSING DEATH BY DANGEROUS / CARELESS DRIVING
The most serious charge that a motorist can face. Cases of this type are prosecuted in the High Court and in most cases result in a lengthy prison sentence. It is essential that you obtain the correct advice and secure the best representation available.