Caught Speeding? Let Speeding Solicitors Help you
If you have been caught speeding you may need the help of a solicitor. Speeding offence solicitors are experts on UK motoring law and can make a real difference to your case.
The penalties surrounding a motoring offence such as speeding range from a speeding ticket to a speed awareness course to points on your licence. In addition to this, there’s always a chance that you could be banned from driving.
Taking Speed Detection Technology for Granted
Many drivers in england and wales tend to take speed detection technology for granted. This is because it is automatically assumed that the technology is used correctly and fairly.
We also tend to assume that speed detection technology works well and does not make mistakes. However, this isn’t always the case.
When You’ve Been Caught Speeding
When you’ve been caught speeding, whether it was by a speed camera or a police officer your speeding solicitors job is to help you. They will try to find out if you’re in as much trouble as you think you are.
If you have to go to court there may be a surprise for you. You could learn that magistrates are not used to working with the legal side of a speeding charge case.
This is because they are used to dealing with the facts. What this means for you is that a judge might view your defence as being somewhat sceptical.
In order to deal with the scepticism, you will need to hire a speeding solicitor whose quite the expert in speeding cases.
Using The ‘Code of Practice’ to Your Advantage
Let’s imagine you have been caught speeding and you’re told you have to attend court. When you get to court one of our road traffic lawyers, for example, uses the police’s Code of Practice to your advantage.
The full name of the document in question is the ‘Code of practice for the operational use of enforcement equipment’. This document issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
This is a rule book that tells the police exactly how evidence should be gathered. The rule book includes information on how to set up a speed trap location and how to correctly use a range of methods and devices.
A legal expert can use the information in the Code of Practice to your advantage. There is always a chance that the police had failed to set up a speed trap location correctly.
If this is the case then your solicitor could help to dismiss your case or reduce the number of points added to your licence.
Disqualified from Driving
When you are disqualified from driving there may be a number of reasons why the judge has disqualification them. If you were travelling less than 40% over the speed limit you may come away with a fixed penalty.
If you were travelling at more than 40% over the speed limit you may face a driving ban. The ban could last from 14 days and up to a year.
Alternatively, the judge may add up to 6 penalty points on your licence. If adding 6 more points to your licence means you have 12 or more points then you’re likely to face a ban.
The ban will, in this case, be mandatory and it could last at least 6 months. However, if you can show exceptional hardship or challenge the speed alleged by the court the ban could be avoided.
Driving at Over 140 MPH
If you have broken all of the UK’s speed limits by driving at over 140 miles per hour you could be charged with dangerous driving. Your solicitor will have to consider your case in detail.
However, they could help your case if you are a very skilled driver.
Helping you to Avoid a Driving Ban
No-one wants to have their driving licence taken away from them. However, a ban can be reduced or avoided if you get the help of speeding solicitors.
A guilty plea can also help to reduce or avoid a ban, although this is never guaranteed. Good mitigation that includes evidence that relates to your character could be considered.
It should also include details of those who will suffer if you are likely to lose your licence. If you drive for a company registered in england and wales and your only source of income is the work you do this could be taken into consideration.
Do I Need to Hire a Solicitor?
This answer to this question depends on your personal circumstances. If you need to keep your driving licence so you can work you will need to hire a solicitor.
If there’s a chance you may face a driving ban or disqualification, again, you should hire a solicitor. Representing yourself in court in not always a good idea.
If you are confident you can represent yourself in court you might want to think again. This is because the judge and the prosecution could work together and find yourself marginalised.
If you were caught drink driving or using mobile phones while you were speeding you’ll need to hire a solicitor to help you with your case.