Driving Under The Influence Of Drink Or Drugs

Offences of driving or attempting to drive under the influence of drink or drugs are taken very seriously by the courts. If you plead guilty or are found guilty after trial, you could face a fine, community order, or even a prison sentence, depending on the circumstances of the offence. You will also receive a driving ban unless Special Reasons not to disqualify you apply.

Providing a Specimen for Analysis

If the police suspect that you have been driving under the influence of drink or drugs you can expect to be arrested and detained in police custody. You will be expected to provide a specimen (usually breath, blood or urine) for analysis. Failing to provide such a specimen without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. Whether you have a reasonable excuse is a matter that will usually be left to the court to determine at trial. It can be a difficult defence to establish, and you should seek advice and representation from an expert motoring lawyer.

What should you do if Charged with a Drink or Drug Driving Offence?

If you have to go to court for a drink driving or drug driving offence, you should seek advice from one of our expert motoring lawyers immediately. They will be able to advise on whether you have any defence in law, and whether there are any weaknesses in the prosecution case. If necessary we can also instruct expert witnesses on your behalf.

If there are Special Reasons why you should not be banned from driving, we can advance these arguments on your behalf. We can also seek to reduce the length of any driving disqualification by 25% by asking the court to allow you to attend a Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Course.