We can advise and represent those being prosecuted for traffic offences, facing penalty points, a driving ban or even prison. We also regularly assist drivers, businesses and organisation's in the transport industry, such as taxi, private hire, bus and HGV drivers and operators in dealing with a wide range of regulatory issues. By way of example we appear before the Traffic Commissioner for both drivers and operators.
Motoring offences can potentially have devastating consequences for individuals particularly in those situations when the motorist clearly had no intention of doing anything wrong. This can be due to the seriousness of a particular incident, or where there has been a minor violation, but in the context of a motorists overall driving record the implications are far reaching. The accumulation of penalty points can result in a mandatory or discretionary driving disqualification or automatic revocation of your driving licence under the ‘totting-up’ and ‘new driver’ provisions. The result of losing the ability to drive can have severe consequences to your continued employment and personal situation. For certain more serious offences, the courts can also impose a custodial sentence.
In recent years there has clearly been a targeted increase in the enforcement of motoring offences and the amendments to the law mean tougher penalties are now given to motorists who fail to comply. When you are alleged to have committed a motoring offence or are, charged or prosecuted, it is important you fully understand everything about what is alleged against you and the options available. Our specialist team can help with that.
- Careless driving (driving without due care and attention)
- Dangerous driving
- Causing serious injury by dangerous driving
- Death by dangerous driving
- Failing to stop after an accident
- Failing to report an accident
- Failing to identify the driver
- Drink driving
- Drug driving
- Failing to provide a specimen
- Driving whilst disqualified
- Causing serious injury when driving whilst disqualified
- No driving licence
- No insurance
- No MOT
- Speeding
- Using a mobile phone
- Drivers hours and tachograph offences
- Excess weight
- Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition
How we can help:
- Advising on Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIP)
- Advising and representing at police interview
- Advising on Single Justice Procedure Notices (SJPN)
- Advising and representing at Court Hearings:
- Exceptional Hardship arguments
- Mitigation on sentence following a guilty plea
- Special Reasons arguments
- Trials
- Advising and representing at Traffic Commissioner Driver Conduct Hearings
If you are suspected of a motoring offence, we recommend you seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity. The team’s early intervention has in some instances stopped an investigation from progressing to a prosecution before the Courts. If you have been charged with an offence, we recognise it is a daunting experience and will do our best to help.
Where appropriate, some aspects of case preparation work and routine communication with clients or other parties (such as the police or the courts) may be delegated to our Paralegal, Kirsty Chaplin. Kirsty has a first class honours law degree from the University of Law and has worked exclusively on criminal defence and motoring offence cases since joining Leathes Prior in August 2022, working under the direct supervision of Howard Catherall.
what our clients say
I would like to thank you for the time and effort what you put into my case. From start to finish, nothing seemed too much trouble and you have certainty gone above and beyond for me and I really appreciate all what you done
A huge thank you Howard and Richard from us all, for your efforts on our behalf and allowing us to push the business forward with our new partner on board
We are immeasurably grateful to you and your team for taking us through the application process. You have been really wonderful to communicate with. To say we are pleased would be a great understatement, I would like to extend our appreciation for the amazing work done by you and your team. Your professionalism has impressed us and we consider ourselves honoured to have you as our attorney. Again thank you so much for everything your team have done, we commend you for the professionalism, skill and knowledge. Your devoted watch on details ensured a smooth flow of events through to the end product
I wanted to thank you for your dedication to my case and your excellent presentation to the magistrates on my behalf. Without your services I would not be driving today. I thought the way you approached the challenge of achieving a successful outcome for me was a masterpiece of strategy, planning and delivery. It was so interesting to watch you take the magistrates eloquently ‘by the hand’ through the maze of events and diverse facts that constituted my defence. Every “dot and t” was crossed with no stone left unturned. Your diligence, creativity and thorough investigations were exemplary and left no quarter for ambiguity at any stage of the proceedings. Furthermore the defence bundles that you prepared with the assistance of your helpful and professional assistant, were also a masterclass in both presentation and logical progression, and presented a daunting collection of hard evidence and background information to the magistrates which helped my defence significantly and shaped their response in a sympathetic and positive way. If there was a prize for the most accomplished defence of a client in a driving conviction case, you would certainly win it!
Good, prompt advice. Professional and impressive.
Leathes Prior Solicitors were professional, efficient and invaluable, I would like to offer my sincere thanks for their help with their involvement in this matter.