Talking sense about Motoring

Practice area – Motoring Law

The Head of Private Crime at Hine & Associates solicitors, Jennifer Mee, has a wealth of experience in representing clients in road traffic matters. Her appearances on behalf of well known clients have been reported by the press both nationally and locally, most recently in the Daily Mail on Valentine's Day.  Jennifer Mee talks about Motoring in the following article.

In these days of increased speed cameras and road traffic policing, even the most conscientious of drivers can find themselves in receipt of a Notice of Intended Prosecution.  If you have a clean licence, this can be annoying.  If you have points on your licence and are reliant on your car to support your family, it can be devastating.

With the recent news that a speed camera on the M6 has captured an incredible 5,500 drivers with total fines of £168,000 in only 5 weeks, it is clear that more and more people are likely to find themselves with endorsements.

However, 12 points need not mean the automatic loss of your licence.  We can assist you by examining the police case for potential flaws but further, dependant upon your personal circumstances, it may be that an argument can be advanced in Court to save your licence, even on conviction.  Even on receipt of a notice for your first set of penalty points, it is always worth investigating any potential defences as it can be all too easy to acquire more points.

Notices of Intended Prosecutions in their own right can come with their own pitfalls.  From September 2007, anyone convicted of failing to provide information to identify the driver of a car involved in a road traffic offence, now finds themselves liable on conviction to 6 penalty points.  This can leave someone with pre-existing points in a precarious position.  However, again there may be arguments that can be advanced to avoid the imposition of points and avoid the loss of a licence.

Increased road traffic policing has also led to a marked increase in the number of arrests for drink drive related offences.  In most cases, a conviction for a drink drive related offence will lead to an automatic mandatory minimum disqualification of 12 months.  Again such a disqualification can be devastating for a person reliant on their licence for work.  While exceptional hardship arguments are not available for drink driving related offences, there may be special reasons arguments or defences available that can protect your licence.

Road Traffic Law is a specialised area that requires specialist skills.  At Hine & Associates, our advocates are equipped to assist you with every aspect of your case.

If you fear you are in danger of losing your licence, do not leave matters to chance; contact Jennifer Mee at Hine & Associates solicitors at our Gerrards Cross office.

We can help with:

Speeding                                                        Drink/Drive (Excess Alcohol)

Failing to Provide a Specimen                    Failing to Notify (section 172)

Fail to Stop/Report                                        Using a Mobile Phone

Careless Driving                                            Dangerous Driving

Driving while Disqualified