
Driving & Motor Offence Solicitors
Falling foul of driving laws is easily done, but the punishments can be severe. Yet, in a surprising number of cases, drivers have a defendable case.
To have the best chance of winning your case, it’s essential to get the right legal advice, which is where Setfords can help. Our motor offence solicitors have extensive experience in handling all types of road traffic and motoring matters, from speeding and drink-driving, to cases involving HGVs. Furthermore, when it’s clear a prosecution is unlikely to be successfully defended, we’ll instead offer advice on how you can reduce the penalty.
Find out more about the services offered by our driving offences solicitors below.
Driving & Motor Offence Solicitor Services
How exactly can our motor offence solicitors help you? Check out our main specialisms below.
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Driving without insurance
Driving without insurance
Driving a vehicle on a public highway without valid insurance is an offence in the UK. If found guilty, you could face points on your licence, a driving ban, and fines.
The defence for driving without insurance can be complicated. So, having an experienced solicitor on your side gives you the best chance of success. Contact Setfords to find out more about how we can help you.
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Drink driving and drug driving
Drink driving and drug driving
Drink driving and drug driving offences can lead to consequences ranging from a twelve month ban to a prison sentence, so it is clear that they are very serious charges.
If you have been accused of drink or drug driving but want to mount a defence, it’s crucial that you get the right legal advice to help your case. Setfords’ drink driving offence solicitors are here to offer just this.
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Dangerous driving
Dangerous driving
Facing a charge of dangerous driving is a very serious offence. You can face a prison sentence as well as a lengthy driving ban.
Working with road traffic accident solicitors who are experts in this area can help reduce your sentence or even avoid a conviction entirely. Contact Setfords today to find out more.
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Mobile phone driving offences
Mobile phone driving offences
The first laws restricting the use of phones at the wheel in the UK came into force in 2003. If you are facing charges for breaking these laws, Setfords’ road traffic offence solicitors can carefully review the evidence against you and assess the strength of the prosecution’s case.
They will help you understand your legal rights and options, and develop a defence strategy tailored to your circumstances. They can also negotiate with the prosecution to potentially reduce charges or seek alternative sentencing options.
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Speeding offences
Speeding offences
Speeding can lead to a number of penalties, including points on your licence, fines, and even driving bans.
At Setfords, our speeding solicitors can advise you on the best way forward, helping you to understand your situation, rights, and potential outcomes.
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Exceptional hardship
Exceptional hardship
Often, if you reach 12 points on your licence within three years, you will be disqualified from driving. However, in some cases, where a driving ban will result in ‘exceptional hardship’ for you or others, the court may be persuaded not to implement a ban.
What counts as exceptional hardship can vary, but typically includes a loss of employment or detriment to health. You need an expert driving offences solicitor to give your defence the best chance of success, which is where Setfords can help.
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Other Services
Other Services
Other areas our road traffic law solicitors can assist with include:
- Appeals
- Careless driving/driving without due care and attention
- Death by careless driving
- Death by dangerous driving
- Defective vehicle/dangerous condition
- Driving licence offence codes and endorsements
- Driving while disqualified
- Driving without a licence
- Fail to produce documents
- Fail to provide a specimen
- Fail to stop/report
- Failure to identify driver
- Medical revocation of driving licence
- New drivers
- Not in proper control of a motor vehicle
- No insurance
- No MOT
- No valid tax
- Removal of a disqualification
- Road traffic offence training courses
- Speed awareness course
- Special reasons
- Tachographs
- Taxi/touting offence
- Traffic light offences
- Weight offences
Driving without insurance
Driving a vehicle on a public highway without valid insurance is an offence in the UK. If found guilty, you could face points on your licence, a driving ban, and fines.
The defence for driving without insurance can be complicated. So, having an experienced solicitor on your side gives you the best chance of success. Contact Setfords to find out more about how we can help you.
Drink driving and drug driving
Drink driving and drug driving offences can lead to consequences ranging from a twelve month ban to a prison sentence, so it is clear that they are very serious charges.
If you have been accused of drink or drug driving but want to mount a defence, it’s crucial that you get the right legal advice to help your case. Setfords’ drink driving offence solicitors are here to offer just this.
Dangerous driving
Facing a charge of dangerous driving is a very serious offence. You can face a prison sentence as well as a lengthy driving ban.
Working with road traffic accident solicitors who are experts in this area can help reduce your sentence or even avoid a conviction entirely. Contact Setfords today to find out more.
Mobile phone driving offences
The first laws restricting the use of phones at the wheel in the UK came into force in 2003. If you are facing charges for breaking these laws, Setfords’ road traffic offence solicitors can carefully review the evidence against you and assess the strength of the prosecution’s case.
They will help you understand your legal rights and options, and develop a defence strategy tailored to your circumstances. They can also negotiate with the prosecution to potentially reduce charges or seek alternative sentencing options.
Speeding offences
Speeding can lead to a number of penalties, including points on your licence, fines, and even driving bans.
At Setfords, our speeding solicitors can advise you on the best way forward, helping you to understand your situation, rights, and potential outcomes.
Exceptional hardship
Often, if you reach 12 points on your licence within three years, you will be disqualified from driving. However, in some cases, where a driving ban will result in ‘exceptional hardship’ for you or others, the court may be persuaded not to implement a ban.
What counts as exceptional hardship can vary, but typically includes a loss of employment or detriment to health. You need an expert driving offences solicitor to give your defence the best chance of success, which is where Setfords can help.
Other Services
Other areas our road traffic law solicitors can assist with include:
- Appeals
- Careless driving/driving without due care and attention
- Death by careless driving
- Death by dangerous driving
- Defective vehicle/dangerous condition
- Driving licence offence codes and endorsements
- Driving while disqualified
- Driving without a licence
- Fail to produce documents
- Fail to provide a specimen
- Fail to stop/report
- Failure to identify driver
- Medical revocation of driving licence
- New drivers
- Not in proper control of a motor vehicle
- No insurance
- No MOT
- No valid tax
- Removal of a disqualification
- Road traffic offence training courses
- Speed awareness course
- Special reasons
- Tachographs
- Taxi/touting offence
- Traffic light offences
- Weight offences
Setfords’ Approach to Driving & Motor Offences
All of our motor offence solicitors are highly experienced, so you will never receive legal advice from an unqualified junior. Our lawyers will carefully consider your case to give you the best advice on your specific situation and the likely outcomes.
At Setfords, our distinctive support structure ensures that our solicitors can fully concentrate on the cases they handle, free from the distractions of internal billing targets or office administration. This means that when you choose our road traffic lawyers, you can expect a personalised and highly professional legal service that is dedicated to your specific needs.
Driving & Motor Offences Specialist Solicitors
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Edmund Conybeare
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Edwina Gatehouse
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Wayne Horner
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Driving & Motor Offences FAQs
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What should I do if I receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP)?
If you receive a NIP, the first thing to do is to read through it carefully so that you fully understand the alleged offence. You must respond to the NIP within the given timeframe — usually 28 days — and also identify the person driving at the time of the alleged offence if it wasn’t you.
It is advisable to contact a road traffic offence solicitor who specialises in these types of cases as soon as possible. They will be able to advise you on your specific circumstances and your options going forward.
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What happens if I am caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious criminal offence in the UK. If you are suspected of doing so, you may be asked to perform a roadside breath test, provide a blood or urine sample, or undergo impairment tests. Should the test results indicate impairment, you will likely be arrested and taken to a police station for further testing and questioning. If you are convicted, you will likely be dealt with a driving ban, fines, and typically a criminal record.
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What are the penalties for speeding offences?
The penalties for speeding offences in the UK vary depending on the severity of the transgression — how fast you were driving over the limit. For minor offences, penalties typically include a fine of up to 50% of your weekly income, three points on your licence, or a speed awareness course. For more significant offences, you can be fined up to 150% of your weekly income (up to £2500), up to six points on your licence, and even be disqualified from driving.
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Can I challenge a motoring offence accusation?
Yes, you have the right to challenge a motoring offence accusation in the UK. There are several avenues through which you can do so, depending on the circumstances of the case, including:
- Disputing the allegation and pleading not guilty if you believe you are innocent of the offence
- Challenging the case on procedural grounds if improper procedures were followed by the police
- Presenting mitigating circumstances to reduce the severity of the penalties for the transgression
This list is not exhaustive, and one of Setfords’ road traffic solicitors can advise you further on possible ways you may be able to challenge a motoring offence accusation.
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What are the consequences of driving without insurance?
Driving without at least third party insurance is a serious offence in the UK, and can lead to severe consequences, such as:
- A Fixed Penalty Notice (including a fine and points on your licence)
- Prosecution and court appearance including an unlimited fine and possible driving ban
- Vehicle seizure
- Increased insurance premiums in the future.
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What happens if I receive penalty points on my driving licence?
In the UK, penalty points are given for various motoring offences, and the number you are given will depend on the severity of the transgression. The points will remain on your licence for a set period of time, which is typically four years from the date of the offence. If you acquire 12 or more points in a three-year period, you can receive a driving disqualification for a set period of time.
Speak to a Road Traffic & Motoring Offences Solicitor on 0330 828 4863