Drink Driving Offence
Drink Driving Offence
If you are accused of a drink driving offence and you need to fight to protect your driving licence.
Why not get the specialist Drink Driving Offence Lawyers with a proven track record of 87 to 96% success in helping their clients to keep their driving licence on your side?
Have you been charged with a drink driving offence?
If you have an impending court hearing date and are worried about losing your licence, please contact our specialist drink driving lawyers as a matter of urgency.
Whether you intend to plead guilty or not guilty, our dedicated lawyers will provide you with the best advice and defence.
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.”
At Parnell and Peel, we have over two decades of experience in handling drink driving cases. We will examine the details of your case and discuss the best way of mounting a defence. There may be circumstances which mean that you should not have been charged, or the police, laboratories or prosecuting authorities may have made mistakes that could allow us to ask for your case to be dropped.
To speak to one of our drink driving offence solicitors today, please call us on 033 00532252 or make a Free Online Enquiry for immediate assistance. All enquiries are completely confidential.
First Time Drink Driving Offence
It can be distressing to be charged with a drink driving offence, and the penalties can be severe, depending on the circumstances of your case. Obtaining legal representation is strongly recommended. Our solicitors can look at the details of the charge against you and provide expert advice on the right course of action.
A range of defences and mitigating circumstances can apply, including:
• Your drink was spiked without your knowledge
• Inaccuracies in the measuring or processing of your sample
• Incorrect procedures by the police or other authorities
• Alcohol consumed after an incident, such as a road traffic accident
• The driving was not done on a public road
• You were not driving the vehicle, nor were you intending to drive it
• You had to drive through necessity, for example, in an emergency situation
• You were placed under duress and forced to drive by someone else
While a prison sentence is possible for a first time drink driving offence, one will only be given for a more serious offence with aggravating factors. These could include exceptionally poor driving, carrying passengers at the time of the offence, injuring someone or causing an accident.
Drink Driving Penalties
Drink driving cases are generally heard in the Magistrates’ Court, and there is a statutory minimum driving ban of one year for anyone who is convicted. The magistrates will also impose a fine and have the discretion to commit an offender to prison.
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
• 3 months’ imprisonment
• up to £2,500 fine
• a potential driving ban
Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
• 6 months’ imprisonment
• an unlimited fine
• a ban from driving for at least 1 year
Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis
• 6 months’ imprisonment
• an unlimited fine
• a ban from driving for at least 1 year
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink
• life imprisonment
• an unlimited fine
• a ban from driving for at least 5 years
2nd Drink Driving Offence
The penalties imposed will be substantially more severe for a 2nd drink driving offence.
As well as an unlimited fine and the increased risk of a prison sentence, those convicted of driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink or refusing to provide a specimen, will face a minimum ban of 3 years if their previous conviction was in the past 10 years.
Because of the seriousness of a 2nd drink driving offence, you are strongly advised to speak to expert drink driving offence lawyers.
If you ask us to represent you, we will look at all of the details of your case and identify issues that could assist in your defence. Should the police have failed to follow the correct procedure in stopping you, arresting you, or in taking a sample, we can ask for your case to be discharged.
Why We Are Well Placed To Give You The Best Chance Of Success
If you ask us to represent you, we will go through the circumstances of your case in detail, checking to see whether any errors have been made in the collection or processing of your sample, in the way that you were stopped or detained, or in the prosecution of the case against you.
We will identify any issues that could allow us to request that charges be dropped. Should your case go ahead, we will put together the strongest possible defence on your behalf and ensure that you have expert representation in court.
Those charged with drink driving often assume there is no way to contest this, and may simply accept the charge and penalties. However, our statistics show that there is every chance that you will keep your licence if you ask us to help.
Drink driving charges are often misunderstood by clients and lawyers without expertise in this highly regulated area of law. You have rights which must not be infringed, and it is for the prosecution to both follow the correct procedure throughout and to prove guilt.
Law officers often fail to follow the right process, which is a breach of your rights. We can step in to defend you, ensuring that your interests are observed. Please note that it is crucial to work with expert drink driving solicitors who deal with these types of cases on a daily basis. General solicitors rarely have the understanding to handle a drink driving case in the right way.
We will attend the initial hearing with you, at which you will not be required to speak or answer questions, save for providing your name and how you wish to plead.
Following this, we will work on your case to try to have it dropped wherever possible. Should it go to trial, we will ensure you are thoroughly prepared, including by holding a mock trial with you in advance, so that you understand what questions you will be asked and know how to answer them.
We have an outstanding reputation in the specialist area of drink driving, and we are confident that we will obtain the best possible outcome on your behalf.
We know how vital it can be for you to be able to drive to meet family and work responsibilities, and we will do all we can to protect your licence.
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.
“Drink Driving – Not Guilty
Before starting I’d like to mention, I am usually not one to drop reviews online. However after my dealing with Abdul, The Parnell and Peel team, and Barrister Ashley Barns (at trial 1)- I am compelled.I reached out to Abdul last September- after being disappointed by other solicitors not being able to help (I suspect it mostly due to them not having the expertise)- and claiming I should plead guilty (what an absolute mistake that would have been).
My first conversion with Abdul filled me with confidence. This is a man who knows what he’s talking about. Very approachable, has a wealth of knowledge, and most importantly will tailor his approach according to your requirements. He was always at the end of line; even though his schedule is packed back-to-back. This is especially true before my first trial, when I was understandably quite nervous. He provided much need words of comfort (please note this is comfort, not guarantee. As In cases like these not much is guaranteed – much like life).
Abdul appointed Barrister Ashley Barnes for trial date, and without getting into the detail, Ashley completely wiped the floor with the prosecution. Causing the police officer to fumble his words and go back on what he had claimed (which is obviously not a great look for the prosecution). Because of the careful preparation and guidance provided by Abdul (including always laying out the options available ahead of time), Barrister Barnes (‘real life Harvey Spectre’- quoting another review I read regarding him online, prior to my trial) was able to demonstrate that the prosecution did not have a leg to stand on. He did this by dismantling the documentation they had provided as evidence (MGDDA).
After 20 mins of deliberation, all three magistrates decided in my favour. I now have my licence, no criminal record, and can carry on my life. Lesson of course learned, and truly feel like I have got a second chance.
I would whole heartedly recommend Abdul and the Parnell and Peel team to all around me. These guys are real life heroes.”
“5 Star Review”