Driving in a Car Park with Excess Alcohol – Public or Private Road? Prosecution Withdrawn

Laura Newton, motoring defence solicitor, was instructed to act for a driver who had given a very high alcohol breath reading after being involved in a RTA in his work car park. She was able to make arguments to the prosecution showing that the car park was not a public place and therefore the driver could not be guilty of drink driving. The prosecution agreed with the arguments and dropped the charge before the trial. The driver did not have to attend Court and did not have to give evidence. If convicted, the driver was facing a very lengthy ban and likely custodial sentence. He was relieved that the case did not go to trial and was not reported in the local press. After the case was dismissed, all legal costs were repaid under a Defence Costs Order.