With a slight slip of judgement, anyone can find themselves facing drink driving charges, no matter their walk of life. The potential ramifications of such a charge are massive, but luckily, with the help of a solicitor, you should be able to fight your case effectively.
How is drink driving defined?
Drink driving refers to a number of crimes surrounding intoxication and being in control of a vehicle. The exact crimes vary, some of which are listed below:
- Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
- Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
- Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis
- Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink
Sentencing for drink driving
There is a wide range of variety in the potential for drink driving sentencing, including fines, driving bans, and even prison. A list of the potential sentencing options for driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink is given below:
- Driving ban – 12-month minimum if it’s a first conviction, 3-year minimum if you have a previous alcohol-related driving conviction from the past 10 years
- Prison – up to 6 months if no other more serious crimes were also committed
- Community order – supervision orders, unpaid work etc.
- Fine – potential huge (unlimited)
If convicted of causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink, you could receive up to 14 years’ imprisonment and have to pass an extended driving test to get your licence back.
Other non-direct results of a drink-driving conviction include a likely significant rise in insurance premiums, a potential ban from countries such as America, and employment-related repercussions if you need to drive for work. For high-risk offenders, you won’t necessarily get your licence back at all after a drink-driving ban. This is another area where a lawyer may be able to effectively argue your case for driving again.
What we can do to help
Whether you’ve been charged with drink driving or have received a court summons for a related offence, it’s important to seek legal assistance as soon as you can. A qualified and experienced solicitor will be able to:
- Help you prepare for and advise you during interviews under caution
- Apply for bail if necessary and help ensure the best conditions are set
- Make sure that the law is applied appropriately throughout the investigation and trial
- Help you prepare for trial and represent you in court
- Assist you with the appeals process if necessary
Potentially more so than in many other legal areas, seeking legal assistance with traffic-related offences can make an incredible difference in how your case plays out. The impact that a solicitor can have on your case is often maximised the earlier they are able to intervene in the process, making it essential that you seek legal attention in good time.
If you’ve been charged with a drink driving offence and need legal advice, call our team at Ashcott Solicitors now on 0161 234 0020 (Manchester) /0203 053 8625 (London) / 07956 555979 (24 hour).
You can also contact us via our contact form and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
