In fear of losing your drivers licence?

If you think you’re going to be disqualified from driving, call us today.

Our solicitor for driving offences can provide advice on what courses of action might be available to you to prevent you from losing your licence.

If you commit a road traffic offence, the offence may be punishable with a mandatory disqualification. The only way to avoid the disqualification is to convince the Courts that there are “special reasons” why you should not be disqualified.

For road traffic offences that carry a discretionary disqualification period, it may also be possible to convince the Courts not to impose a disqualification period based on the circumstances in which the offence was committed.

Avoiding Disqualification

Discretionary disqualifications hinge on the circumstances surrounding the case. We can help you to build a defence to prove to the Courts that there were mitigating circumstances that led to an offence being committed. For example, if you are being accused of Careless Driving then it may be possible to show that sudden changes in conditions caused a deterioration in driving skills.

Alcohol-Related Offences

If you are at risk of being disqualified for an alcohol-related offence, it may be possible to argue that you were forced to drive because of an emergency situation. Other possible defences include the shortness of the distance that the vehicle was moved. The Courts may exercise discretion in cases where a vehicle was only moved a short distance. If you can show that your drink was spiked or laced, then you may also be able to mount a successful defence.

Failing to Stop or Failure to Provide Correct Details

You may be able to show that there was no one at the scene to leave your details with or that there was a real and present danger which prevented you from stopping. You may also be able to show that genuine fear for your safety prevented you from subsequently reporting the incident. You may be fully acquitted or you may be given a reduced penalty.

Driving Without Insurance

It may be possible to show that the responsibility for obtaining the correct insurance actually fell with another party. This is most likely to apply when you are not the keeper of the vehicle. Alternatively, it may be possible to show that confusing terms in an insurance contract or renewal led you to believe that you had the correct insurance.

Special Reasons

Special reasons are unique circumstances that relate to the reason that the offence was committed, rather than unique circumstances about the motorist themselves. If there are any special reasons that relate to your case, the judge may use their discretion to reduce the number of penalty points which are endorsed or they may lessen the standard period of disqualification. In extreme cases, the judge may decide not to impose any sanctions at all.

Exceptional Hardship

A driver may be able to avoid disqualification if they are able to show that a ban would cause them to experience ‘exceptional hardship’. Examples of hardship include losing your job or the ability to continue to live at your existing home. You may also be able to cite exceptional hardship if a ban were to impact on other people, such as your children or people for whom you are a caregiver.

Drink Drivers Rehabilitation Course

A motorist who is given a ban for drink driving offences may be able to reduce their ban by taking a Drink Drivers Rehabilitation Course. The course must be funded by the driver and taken within a given time-frame. The Courts may offer drivers a reduction of disqualification of 25% if they take the course.

Removal of Disqualification

Drivers who have extended bans (more than 2 years) may apply to the Magistrates Court to request a reduction in sentence, once they have served a minimum period of their ban. The Courts will take into account the effect on the driver and the nature of their offence. Minimum penalties depend on the imposed period of disqualification.

Call us on 020 3634 9755