If you’ve been caught drink driving, it’s completely natural to feel overwhelmed and anxious about what the future holds. Your mind may be racing about the outcome of your case, along with the potential driving ban, fine, and criminal record that could follow.
In the meantime, you may have more urgent questions, such as whether you can drive to work on Monday or continue driving your children home from school.
In this article, Parnell and Peel will clarify your driving rights between now and your court date so you know exactly where you stand legally.

With a success rate of at least 87%, you could not be in safer hands.
Please call us on 033 03411690 or make a Free Online Enquiry for immediate assistance. All enquiries are completely confidential.
“Client care, support and professional standards others should uphold themselves to. Parnell and Peel successfully negotiated me keeping my driving licence after other solicitors, a large National, left the case in tatters and an impossible position to defend. Cannot recommend highly enough.”
Caught Drink Driving: Can I Still Drive Until Court?
Here's everything you need to know about your driving rights in the interim period between being arrested and attending court.
Can I Drive Home From the Police Station?
After being arrested for drink driving, the police will take you back to the station for questioning and will require you to provide another breath test or a blood or urine sample. If charged, you’ll usually be released on bail unless the offence is severe or you’re considered a flight risk.
Naturally, if you’re still intoxicated at this point, the police will not permit you to drive home from the station. You'll remain in custody until a breath test confirms your blood alcohol level has dropped below the legal limit (35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath). Once sober, you can drive home and await your court hearing outside police custody.
Can I Still Drive While Waiting for the Court Date?
Yes, you can legally drive between being charged and your court date. At this stage, you’ve only been charged with an offence and have not yet been convicted. You are legally allowed to continue driving until you plead guilty or are convicted.
In most cases, you don’t need to inform your insurer, employer, or any regulatory body about the charge until you’re officially convicted. However, checking your insurance policy or employment contract for any clauses about this matter is worth checking.
When driving during this period, it’s crucial to be extra cautious on the roads, as any further offences could negatively impact your case. It is also advisable to consult a motor offence lawyer to discuss your next steps and potential defences. For example, they may be able to challenge police procedures, question the reliability of testing equipment, or argue special reasons to reduce potential penalties.
What Happens at the Court Appearance?
Your first court appearance is known as a ‘plea hearing’, where you can plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ to drink driving. If you plead guilty, you will typically be convicted, and the court will impose an immediate driving ban. You will be prohibited from driving home and face a minimum driving disqualification of 12 months.
If you choose to plead not guilty, your case will go to trial, which will usually take place three to six months after the initial hearing. During this waiting period, you can continue driving. However, an immediate mandatory driving ban will follow if you're found guilty at trial.
Need Help with a Drink Driving Case? Speak to Our Experts
If you have a court hearing looming and are worried about losing your licence, don't leave your future to chance. Parnell and Peel’s specialist drink driving solicitors are here to guide you through every step of the process. We have successfully defended 87% of drink driving cases and have the technical know-how to challenge seemingly open and shut cases.
Contact us today by calling 033 03411690 or submitting a free online enquiry. We’ll respond promptly with tailored guidance on your case. All enquiries are confidential, and you are not obligated to proceed with our services.
Why Parnell and Peel Solicitors?
At Parnell and Peel Solicitors, we understand how daunting it is to face a drink driving charge. Going to court is not something most people are used to. Along with this anxiety, there is the worry that your driving record will be tainted with a drink driving conviction or that you could lose your licence. Undoubtedly, this will significantly impact your life and may even result in you losing your job.
If you have recently been charged with a drink driving offence, our solicitors are here to help you. We will use our decades of knowledge and expertise to get the best possible outcome in your case. You might think pleading guilty is your only option, believing there’s no way to avoid a conviction. However, we have the skills to challenge and win seemingly open and shut cases.
Our Results
Our skilled solicitors are experienced in handling motoring complex offences and have an excellent track record. We have successfully defended 87% of the drink driving cases we've handled, with some cases exceeding even this strong success rate, as highlighted below:

Even if you think there is no chance of winning, we know what tactics to use to your advantage.
We've often achieved results far better than our clients anticipated.
We do this because we understand just how important your driving licence is, for you, for your job, career or business, and for your family and friends.
We will do all that we can to help you keep your licence, so please do not delay, call us now on 033 03411690 or make a Free Online Enquiry and let us take the strain from hereon in.
“The best service. I had already been to court once and pleaded guilty for drink driving before reaching out to Abdul & his team. I wasn’t 100% happy with my previous solicitors but knew the moment I spoke to Abdul that it was the right choice to take him and his team on to keep my drivers license. I was able to keep the same barrister and during my second hearing my case was reopened and was able to plead not guilty. We were then given a case management hearing in which the CPS offered no evidence. Thank you so much to everyone at Parnell & Peel. Nothing was ever any bother and Abdul was more than happy to get back to me answering any questions I had in a timely manner. After a daunting 10 months of back and forth, the nightmare is finally over and I can now move on with my life. Thank you so much, I couldn’t believe it when I got the call through saying it was all over with.”
“Drink driving- Not guilty.
Worth every penny!
I was certain I would lose my license at the time.
After contacting Parnell and Peel, Abdul quickly filled me with confidence and explained in great detail how he would defend my case.
I was amazed with the result and Abdul’s expertise and professionalism. He was amazing, I was stressed with the case and rang him many times, sometimes more than once a day, but despite this Abdul always responded. He made an application and my drink drive case was withdrawn a day before Trial.
Abdul is certainly skilled and fantastic at his job. Money well spent, there may be cheaper solicitors out there but none are better than Abdul and his team. Truly quality service.
I really can’t put in words how thankful I am and I would highly recommend Parnell and Peel solicitors to anyone.”
