Drink Driving - how long to court
Drink Driving - how long to court
Author
Discussion

LordLoveLength

Original Poster:

2,342 posts

159 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
Not me, but a neighbour who decided that as no pubs were open he’d have a drink or 2 and go for a drive at midnight.
Didn’t go well as he hit a car further up the road (was witnessed) then carried on and hit mine.
He was followed by the witness who saw me looking at damage to my car, and told me about the car up the road.
Police were called, and found him driving 3 streets away without lights and a flat tyre.
Came to take a statement, and told me he blew 3 times the limit and was charged the next day.

I’ve left it all to my insurance and they’ve given it to a third party firm.
Fine but when the firm asked for my version they told me he was denying hitting any cars or even drink driving
They are chasing the witness and Police report now.

This all happened six weeks ago but the neighbour is still driving? I would have thought he would have been to court by now and would be banned? What possible defence could he have?
I got the impression from the Police he’d been involved in an accident a couple of weeks prior but they didn’t elaborate. Could this be relevant?

Anyone any idea what he’s playing at?

agtlaw

7,402 posts

235 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
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There are numerous reasons why the case would not have concluded by now.

Contact the court. Preferably by email. Ask for the result, or when the case is next listed. It helps if you have D's date of birth.

LordLoveLength

Original Poster:

2,342 posts

159 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
Thanks. I don’t have his dob - and can only guess at the magistrates court.

I haven’t been informed of dates and don’t see why I would be. He was bailed on leaving the scene of an accident but charged with DD. Just wondered how long it should take.

bigandclever

14,357 posts

267 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
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I believe it can take several weeks between charging and first hearing anyway. Add in inevitable delays for Covid. He’s allowed to drive until then.

LosingGrip

8,851 posts

188 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
I nicked someone on Thursday night. He's going to court towards the end of August.

We used to have a policy of getting drink drivers to court within a week but COVID stopped it which is a shame.

He can still drive until it goes to court.

So

16,810 posts

199 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
Would you be this bothered if he hadn't hit your car OP?

LordLoveLength

Original Poster:

2,342 posts

159 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
Possibly although I doubt I’d be any the wiser.
Not a fan of people driving under the influence or whilst disqualified.

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
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You should attend the court hearing - bring your knitting with you.....

Osinjak

5,453 posts

150 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
So said:
Would you be this bothered if he hadn't hit your car OP?
What a stupid question.

StuntmanMike

15,060 posts

180 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
I nicked someone on Thursday night. He's going to court towards the end of August.

We used to have a policy of getting drink drivers to court within a week but COVID stopped it which is a shame.

He can still drive until it goes to court.
I live in south Cheshire. A few years ago a lorry driver that lives locally crashed his car drunk, property damage.

He exits the car and walks across a couple of miles of fields to get home and report the car stolen.

When he gets home the police were sat waiting for him.

So he rings his boss in the morning and gets picked up at the station.

Now they got on and I think he expected some kind of help? Pity?

What happened was when the boss dropped him if he was sacked on the spot.

Within the month he had been through the court system and had a three year ban.

vaud

59,407 posts

184 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
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he is innocent until proven guilty, so he can drive for now.

CharlieH89

9,080 posts

194 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
vaud said:
he is innocent until proven guilty, so he can drive for now.
Madness. Should be found guilty once he blows 3 times over the limit.
It’s crazy how he is allowed to carry on driving. What if he is a bad alchoholic and continues driving under the influence?

eldar

25,273 posts

225 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
So said:
Would you be this bothered if he hadn't hit your car OP?
Why would you ask. Are you the other driver?

Gareth79

9,023 posts

275 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
I nicked someone on Thursday night. He's going to court towards the end of August.

We used to have a policy of getting drink drivers to court within a week but COVID stopped it which is a shame.

He can still drive until it goes to court.
In normal times I've seen in news reports that it's quite common for somebody to be in court and sentenced the following day, which always impressed me.



agtlaw

7,402 posts

235 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
Gareth79 said:
In normal times I've seen in news reports that it's quite common for somebody to be in court and sentenced the following day, which always impressed me.
If refused bail, which isn’t the most likely outcome.

LosingGrip

8,851 posts

188 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
CharlieH89 said:
Madness. Should be found guilty once he blows 3 times over the limit.
It’s crazy how he is allowed to carry on driving. What if he is a bad alchoholic and continues driving under the influence?
Bail could be refused and they could be put before the next court.

Edit - AGTLaw beat me! Dinner distracted me!
We had it for a drug driver who got caught twice. Failed to provide on the second time. Remanded over the weekend.

Tony1963

5,808 posts

191 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
CharlieH89 said:
Madness. Should be found guilty once he blows 3 times over the limit.
It’s crazy how he is allowed to carry on driving. What if he is a bad alchoholic and continues driving under the influence?
Well, in that case maybe losing his license wouldn’t deter him from drinking or drink driving.

georgefreeman918

743 posts

128 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
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Took a guy at work 3 months to get his ban and in the meantime could keep driving. Baffled me - surely you would want them off the road instantly!

unident

6,702 posts

80 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
StuntmanMike said:
I live in south Cheshire. A few years ago a lorry driver that lives locally crashed his car drunk, property damage.

He exits the car and walks across a couple of miles of fields to get home and report the car stolen.

When he gets home the police were sat waiting for him.

So he rings his boss in the morning and gets picked up at the station.

Now they got on and I think he expected some kind of help? Pity?

What happened was when the boss dropped him if he was sacked on the spot.

Within the month he had been through the court system and had a three year ban.
That’s great. How much money did he win for his unfair dismissal?

unident

6,702 posts

80 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
quotequote all
CharlieH89 said:
Madness. Should be found guilty once he blows 3 times over the limit.
It’s crazy how he is allowed to carry on driving. What if he is a bad alchoholic and continues driving under the influence?
By who? Judge Dredd?