Drink Driving Solicitor – Specialist Drink Drive & Driving Offence Solicitors
Accused of drink driving? Our offence solicitors provide expert legal advice and representation for all motoring offences, including drink driving solicitors in London and across England.
0330 165 9334- Free Initial Consultation — Specialist Advice
- Fixed Fee — Protect Your Driving Licence
- Courts Across London, England and Wales
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“EXCELLENT”Solicitor for Drink Drive and Motor Offences
Drink driving is one of the most common offence types dealt with in the magistrates' court, and it is also one of the most serious. If you have been caught drink driving or are accused of drink driving, it is essential that you seek legal advice from a solicitor who specialises in this area of law. Our solicitors are specialist motoring offence solicitors who have been defending drink driving cases for over 20 years. We offer a free initial consultation and a fixed fee so you know exactly where you stand from day one.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to drive or attempt to drive a motor vehicle while over the legal limit. The prescribed limits are 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, or 107 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine. The evidential breath test at the police station is what determines whether you are charged. If you provided blood or urine, the analysis of that sample will form the prosecution evidence against you.
A drink driving conviction carries a mandatory disqualification of at least 12 months, an unlimited fine, and up to 6 months in prison depending on the severity of the offence. Losing your driving licence can affect your employment, your family, and every part of your daily life. Our team of drink driving solicitors will review every detail of your drink driving case and advise you on the best chance of achieving the best legal outcome available.
Contact our solicitors as soon as possible for expert legal advice. The consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. We provide legal representation at courts across London and nationwide.
Legal Limits in England & Wales
Expert Guidance on Driving Offences and Motoring Offences
Our comprehensive guides cover every aspect of motoring law, from drink drive penalties and defences to the court process and driving without insurance.
Drink Driving
Facing a drink driving charge? Our specialist solicitors provide expert legal advice and representation for all drink driving offences, from first offences to high readings.
Drink Driving Court Process
Facing court for drink driving? Understand every stage of the drink driving court process, from the magistrates court hearing to sentencing, and learn how specialist legal representation can make a difference to the outcome of your case.
Drink Driving Defences
There are a number of legal defences that may apply to your drink driving charge. Our specialist solicitors examine every aspect of the prosecution case to identify potential defences, from police procedure errors to unreliable breath test readings.
Drink Driving Ban & Licence
A driving ban is mandatory for a drink driving conviction. Understand how long your drink driving ban will last, whether you can reduce it through a rehabilitation course, and the steps to get your licence back after disqualification.
Drink Driving Consequences
A drink driving conviction goes far beyond the courtroom. Understand how a conviction can affect your car insurance, employment prospects, criminal record, DBS checks and ability to travel abroad.
Types of Drink Driving Offences
Drink driving is not a single offence. UK law recognises several distinct offences related to alcohol and driving, from being drunk in charge of a vehicle to causing death while over the prescribed limit. Understand each offence and its penalties.
Drink Driving Solicitors Near Me
Our specialist drink driving solicitors represent clients at courts across England, Wales and Scotland. Wherever you are based, we provide expert local representation with detailed knowledge of court procedures in your area.
Drink Drive Defense: Advice and Representation
Being accused does not always mean you will be convicted. There are a number of defence strategies that an expert drink driving solicitor can use to challenge the prosecution evidence. We examine every detail of your driving case to identify whether you have a defense that could lead to an acquittal, or whether mitigation can significantly reduce the penalty. Our solicitors can provide specialist advice on drink driving procedural errors, laced drinks defence, and other technical grounds.
Motoring Offence Solicitors Defending Drink Driving Cases
Even if you intend to plead guilty, having a solicitor present your mitigation at the magistrates' court can make a real difference. It may be possible to secure a shorter driving ban, avoid a custodial sentence, or secure a place on the drink driving rehabilitation course. If you were stopped by the police and believe there were procedural mistakes, we will review the police station records and identify every available option. Our legal team has extensive experience in motoring law and will fight to give you the best chance of keeping your licence.
Get in Touch for Expert Legal Advice
Whether you are facing a driving offence for the first time or this is a second offence, do not delay in contacting a solicitor. We are one of our motoring law firm's best rated teams of driving offence solicitors, and we can advise you from the moment you leave the police station. If you have been charged with driving or attempting to drive while under the influence of drink, or with driving with excess alcohol, call us or request a callback.
Procedural Errors
The police must follow a strict statutory procedure when requesting a specimen. A mistake in this process can mean the evidence against you is inadmissible in court.
Device Reliability
Breathalyser devices must be properly calibrated and maintained. We carefully examine device records to identify any reliability issues that could challenge your reading.
Hip Flask Defence
If you consumed alcohol after driving but before providing a specimen, this may have affected the reading. This defence can result in a complete acquittal.
Special Reasons
Even where a conviction stands, arguments under section 34(1) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 may persuade the court not to impose a disqualification.
Drink Drive Penalties, Driving Ban and Licence
The sentence depends on several factors, including your reading and whether this is a first or repeat offence. The consequences of drink driving can be severe, but a solicitor who understands the sentencing guidelines can often achieve a better result than you expect.
Driving Ban
A mandatory disqualification of at least 12 months. The court may reduce the ban if special reasons are accepted.
Unlimited Fine
The court can impose a fine with no upper limit. The amount depends on your income and the circumstances.
Imprisonment
A prison sentence of up to 6 months is possible, particularly where the reading is very high or for repeat offenders.
Penalty Points
Between 3 and 11 points on your licence where disqualification is not imposed.
Criminal Record
A conviction results in a criminal record that you will need to declare for a minimum of 5 years.
Losing your driving licence does not have to mean losing your livelihood. Our solicitor team will review the specifics of your drink driving case and present the strongest mitigation to the court. A drink driving ban of 12 months is the minimum, but a driving test may be required before reinstatement.
A second drink drive conviction within 10 years carries a minimum ban of 3 years. A high-risk offender may also be required to pass a medical examination. If you are facing a driving ban, including drink driving, our solicitors will explore every option to protect your licence.
The court may offer a driving rehabilitation course (DDRS), which can reduce your disqualification by up to 25%. Points on your licence remain, but the period of disqualification can be shortened significantly. Speak to our law solicitors to understand your options.
Failing to Provide, Drug Driving, and Traffic Offences
A drink drive charge is not the only matter you may face. We also defend related driving offences including drug driving, failing to provide a specimen, careless driving, and driving without due care.
Drunk in Charge of a Motor Vehicle
You do not need to be in the driving seat to face this charge. If you are found in charge of a motor vehicle while over the legal limit, you could be convicted even if you were sitting in a parked car with no intention of driving. This is a common offence and a serious offence in its own right.
Penalties include a possible driving ban, 10 penalty points on your licence, an unlimited fine, and up to 3 months in prison. Our expert solicitors can advise on the defense of no likelihood of driving, which may avoid disqualification entirely.
Failing to Provide a Specimen
If you refuse or fail to provide a specimen of breath, blood, or urine at a police station, you may be charged with this offence. The penalties for failing to provide are the same as for the underlying drink driving charge, depending on the circumstances.
You may have a defense if you had a reasonable excuse, such as a genuine medical condition. Failing to provide specimen sentencing is a particularly technical area of law, and specialist solicitors can make a significant difference to the outcome of your offence cases.
Drug Driving and Driving Without Due Care
Drug driving is a separate road traffic offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988, sometimes referred to as driving under the influence of drugs. The police can test for controlled substances at the roadside, and the prescribed limits are very low. Penalties are similar to drink driving, including a mandatory disqualification and a driving licence endorsement.
Careless driving and driving without due care and attention are also traffic offences we handle. Whether you need a driving license restored or are banned from driving, speak to one of our motoring solicitors about your driving related legal matters.
Questions People in Your Situation Often Ask
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Read answerBest Rated Drink Drive Solicitor Reviews
“I was facing a 12-month driving ban and genuinely feared for my job. My solicitor found a procedural error at the police station that led to the case being dismissed entirely. I was in pieces when I first called — I cannot thank them enough.”
James R.
Case Dismissed“From the very first call I felt heard, not judged. The solicitor explained the whole drink driving court process clearly, prepared my case thoroughly, and secured a much shorter ban than I had feared. The fixed fee meant no nasty surprises either.”
Sarah M.
Reduced Ban“I decided to plead guilty but having a specialist solicitor present my mitigation in the magistrates court made a genuine difference. Special reasons were accepted and I kept my licence. Honest, calm, and completely professional.”
David K.
Licence Retained“I was arrested on a Friday night and in a complete panic. A solicitor called me back within the hour — on a weekend. They were so reassuring, guided me through every step, and the outcome was far better than I had feared possible.”
Claire W.
Exceptional ServiceDrink Driving Solicitors Across London and England
We represent clients in every magistrates' and crown court across London, the South East, and every region nationwide. Our team of driving offence solicitors provide legal representation wherever you need us.
North West
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Preston
- Chester
- Carlisle
London & South East
- Central London
- Croydon
- Reading
- Brighton
- Canterbury
Midlands
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Leicester
- Coventry
- Derby
Yorkshire & North East
- Leeds
- Sheffield
- Newcastle
- York
- Hull
South West & Wales
- Cardiff
- Bristol
- Swansea
- Exeter
- Plymouth
East of England
- Norwich
- Cambridge
- Ipswich
- Colchester
- Chelmsford
Your area not listed? We cover every court in England and Wales.
Get in TouchFree Initial Consultation: Get in Touch
When you get in touch, a specialist drink driving solicitor will discuss the details of your drink driving case in complete confidence. This free initial consultation carries no obligation. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and provide expert drink driving legal advice and representation to clients across London and nationwide. Whether this is your first drink driving charge or you need advice on a driving offence, our solicitors can help.
Review Your Evidence
We review all evidence including your reading and the police station procedure records.
Identify Your Options
We identify any grounds to challenge the case. There are often more options than you might expect.
Advise on Likely Sentence
We advise you on the likely sentence and whether a reduction in your ban may be achievable.
Represent You at Court
We attend court with you and present the strongest possible case on your behalf.
You are in safe hands. If you would like to talk through your situation, we are here to listen.
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