done for drink driving
Discussion
Hi all! I was done for drink driving on friday night. Had had a few glasses of wine, at home, and then suddenly panicked that I had not locked the back door of my work premises. didn't think I was over the limit, and didn't want to walk round as it is on main drag to a nightclub etc - it's only minutes away from where I live and I soooo wish I had walked! Anyway, 5 mins later am arrested and on way to distant police station. Locked in a cell all night etc. I know I deserve it, but my question is: I have never driven drunk before (honestly!) and I am single mum and am so gutted as I will not be able to drive my little boy to school etc. do you think the magistrates will give a stuff about that, and is it worth getting a solicitor, or would it be more effective to just say my piece when I'm in court?
Get a solicitor.
My co-director got done. A solicitor helped him get the minimum year's ban and £400 fine. Don't try and defend yourself. The Beaks don't react well to crying women.
The conviction won't be spent for 10 years so you'll have to disclose it on your insurance for quite some time.
Your only chance is an irregularity in the police paperwork, blood sample etc. You'll need expert advice for that
My co-director got done. A solicitor helped him get the minimum year's ban and £400 fine. Don't try and defend yourself. The Beaks don't react well to crying women.
The conviction won't be spent for 10 years so you'll have to disclose it on your insurance for quite some time.
Your only chance is an irregularity in the police paperwork, blood sample etc. You'll need expert advice for that
Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 8th May 19:31
Appreciate the 'if you can't do the time' commment. I am never ever going to do anything to risk spending another night in a cell! I just want to minimise the effect on my son if I can. Was hoping to be able to do it without haivng to spend £400 on a solicitor as well as fine and ban.
guttedandcycling said:
Appreciate the 'if you can't do the time' commment. I am never ever going to do anything to risk spending another night in a cell! I just want to minimise the effect on my son if I can. Was hoping to be able to do it without haivng to spend £400 on a solicitor as well as fine and ban.
TBH if you think £400 is going to get you good representation, you're in for a big shock! I recently handed over in excess of 3 grand to fight a silly 88 in a 70 speeding ticket!
Are you sure it was a "few" meaning 3 or 4? or several?
I've heard of people failing the breath test but passing the blood test. What were your results from the blood test, this is critical.
You may be lucky with a shorter disqualification period, but i would expect at least a years ban so anything less would be a huge blessing. But to reiterate what others have said, don't plead poverty then turn up with a solicitor, people always forget that point even though its glaringly obvious.
You're only option is to get your solicitor to go for lots of points, short disqualification period and fine.
Good luck though.
I've heard of people failing the breath test but passing the blood test. What were your results from the blood test, this is critical.
You may be lucky with a shorter disqualification period, but i would expect at least a years ban so anything less would be a huge blessing. But to reiterate what others have said, don't plead poverty then turn up with a solicitor, people always forget that point even though its glaringly obvious.
You're only option is to get your solicitor to go for lots of points, short disqualification period and fine.
Good luck though.
here you go
www.lawontheweb.co.uk/crimedrinkdriving.htm
www.80mg.org.uk/ddlaw.html
www.lawontheweb.co.uk/crimedrinkdriving.htm
www.80mg.org.uk/ddlaw.html
Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 8th May 20:23
A good friend of my wife got done for DD just recently. I wont bore you with the details, but a £900 fine and a ban for 18 months was the sentence, even after pleading guilty (the police had everything on CCTV). Add in the solicitors fees and it was a very costly mistake.
Get a good brief ASAP though. It might not save your license, but at least they can prevent (or at least try) to keep you from getting too harsh a sentence. For that alone, they are worth their weight in gold, but unfortunately charge the same amount.
Either way, you are looking at a pretty lengthy period of walking though - and a hefty insurance bill when you get your license back. Sorry, but what is done is done and you need to figure out what to do from now on.
Get a good brief ASAP though. It might not save your license, but at least they can prevent (or at least try) to keep you from getting too harsh a sentence. For that alone, they are worth their weight in gold, but unfortunately charge the same amount.
Either way, you are looking at a pretty lengthy period of walking though - and a hefty insurance bill when you get your license back. Sorry, but what is done is done and you need to figure out what to do from now on.
18 months is quite a big ban for a first offence isn't it. And going by what other people have said on this board and the advice I had earlier today, £900 is a big fine. I guess we don't know how over the limit she was and what happened etc. thanks for all your advice anyway, I will find out soon enough. My court date is 16th. I guess if i get a really long ban and dont get a solicitor I will wish I had, and if I get a really long ban and do get a solicitor I will wish I hadn't bothered. Long ban is the thing I have to resign myself to. And a lesson I wish I could have learned without this happening. Thanks for not all slating me anyway!
TPS said:
You could get upto 6 months imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and disqualification from driving for at least 12 months.As you have said the choice is yours in regards to getting a solicitor.
Although there's no way the first one or most of the second is going to happen for a relatively low infringement and first offence. That is the maximum sentence, you're right, but no point petrifying the poor woman!
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