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Drink drive/ ‘in charge’

On August 13, 2014, Posted by , In Drink driving,Featured, By , With Comments Off on Drink drive/ ‘in charge’

There is an important distinction between excess alcohol whilst driving, and excess alcohol whilst “in charge” of a vehicle. The distinction becomes clear when looking at the sentencing guidelines. The emphasis in the guidelines when it is a case of “in charge” is on imposing penalty points rather than disqualifying….

Drink driving – sentencing guidelines

On August 8, 2014, Posted by , In Drink driving, With Comments Off on Drink driving – sentencing guidelines

When you search the Internet for legal representation, there is a natural tendency to opt for someone local, especially when you are looking for quality representation by a solicitor or barrister in and around Surrey. The Internet is crowded by portals, organised by large companies who in turn pass the…

Special Reasons in Drink Drive cases

On August 6, 2014, Posted by , In Drink driving, With Comments Off on Special Reasons in Drink Drive cases

When a client asks for representation for a drink drive charge, the process that the lawyer goes through can be quite complex. This blog is going to focus on the term ‘special reasons’. The first issue to determine is whether the client is guilty of the alleged offence; there are…

Drink drive offences

On August 4, 2014, Posted by , In Drink driving, With Comments Off on Drink drive offences

Drink/driving offence Excess alcohol (driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle). Contrary to Road Traffic Act 1988, s.5.1(1)(a). This offence is triable summarily, which means that the hearing can only take place at the Magistrates’ Court. I usually attend the following Magistrates’ Courts to represent drivers charged with drink…

Early Intervention in Criminal Proceedings: How to save time and money and get excellent results

On January 3, 2014, Posted by , In Featured,Private Crime,Regulatory Law, By , With Comments Off on Early Intervention in Criminal Proceedings: How to save time and money and get excellent results

I save my clients considerable amounts of money and avoid the perils of a criminal trial by early intervention in the criminal process. I am a new breed of English lawyer. For large firms of solicitors with no criminal department, I can mean the difference between saving a client’s liberty…

Drink Drive

On January 2, 2014, Posted by , In Drink driving,Road Traffic, With Comments Off on Drink Drive

I attended the Aldershot Magistrates’ Court today, representing a client charged with a second drink drive offence within three years. He faced serious consequences, and needed to be properly represented; that is why he came to me. I don’t accept instructions under the legal aid system, and will not be…

Hackney Carriage Licensing Sub-Committee Appeal

On October 1, 2013, Posted by , In Licensing, With Comments Off on Hackney Carriage Licensing Sub-Committee Appeal

A Hackney Carriage Licence holder was wise enough to instruct me to represent him at his appeal against the revocation of his Hackney Carriage Licence. The hearing involved a trial of the issues that led to his licence revocation and then presentation of witnesses on behalf of the appellant licence…

Difficult mitigation

On May 14, 2013, Posted by , In Road Traffic,Speeding,Totting-up, With No Comments

I recently represented a client at Guildford Magistrates’ Court charged with speeding – 96 in a 70. He already had six penalty points on his licence and faced disqualification if he received penalty points in line with the sentencing guidelines. He narrowly avoided disqualification after I informed the court of…

Failing to stop after an accident

On May 14, 2013, Posted by , In Accidents,Fail to stop,Road Traffic, With No Comments

If you have an accident on the road, you must stop and exchange details. If you continue your journey without stopping, for any distance, an explanation will be required. I represented a driver recently who had driven a considerable distance after being involved in a road traffic accident. The explanation…

Preparation for trial

On May 14, 2013, Posted by , In Road Traffic,Trials, With No Comments

Spare a moment, if you will, for your lawyer who is preparing your trial. At a recent case at the Redhill Magistrates’ Court, I was asked to represent a client at a trial for a road traffic matter. It sounds simple, doesn’t it? The first job of preparation is understanding…