Summary Motoring Offences
Our motoring team is led by John Brown who is one of the leading specialists in motoring offences in the Northwest. His previous background as a partner with Burton Copeland Solicitors, Manchester one of the UK’s leading motoring law specialists equipped him with many years of genuine, hands-on experience and expertise. He and his co-director Michael Hogan will guide you through the legal process and the court procedures involved and help you to avoid a ban and the imposition of severe penalties if possible.
What is a Summary Motoring Offence?
The following offences are summary motoring offences:
- Driving over the speed limit.
- Failure to stop after an Accident
- Failure to exchange details after an accident
- Failure to provide details of driver on request
- Failure to provide insurance details on request
- Failure to be in proper control of your car
- Driving over the prescribed limit of alcohol or drugs
- Using a hand-held device whilst driving
- Driving without due care and attention
- Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol or drugs.
- Driving without insurance
- Driving whilst disqualified
Our Fees.
Please note we do not accept instructions on legal aid for these types of cases.
Private fee-paying clients
Where you instruct us in a matter which we consider is complex we will offer an estimate based on an hourly rate. Our fees are currently £261.00 per hour for both our Directors Mr. Brown and Mr. Hogan. We will provide the best estimate we can based upon all the relevant factors involved in your case.
We do also offer a fixed fee service for a summary only motoring offence if the matter is more straightforward. The amount will vary depending on whether you plead guilty or not guilty and how many hearings are needed. The fee also depends on whether it is a half or whole day hearing.
Half Day Hearing
£1,000 + VAT
Full Day Hearing
£2,000 + VAT plus a further £500 per day for each continuing day of the trial.
The fixed price includes
- Initial telephone conference to obtain instructions and preliminary advice in respect of plea
- Consideration of all documents provided by client
- Initial communication with Police or CPS
- Preparation of plea and mitigation ahead of the hearing or an application for no case to answer
- Representation at Hearing.
- Arguments for exceptional hardship to avoid a driving qualification or for non - endorsement of a driving licence with penalty points or special reasons argument to avoid qualification in drink drive or drugs cases or restoration of a driving licence before a period of disqualification terminates.
- Correspondence as to advice and outcome of your case
- All related telephone calls, letters, and emails
All fees are subject to VAT
Exclusions (where applicable)
Travel costs to court at £0.45p per mile
Parking costs
Tunnel tolls
Additional Costs
Although our fees are fixed there may be unforeseen factors which would typically increase the fees involved in your case. Where there is likely to be any additional cost, we will make sure you are informed of this as soon as possible and you will be given a clear estimate of those extra costs. Such potential extra costs might include:
- Taking statements from witnesses.
- The cost of instructing a barrister or an expert to support your defence.
- Not guilty pleas.
- Where a second hearing is required, and this is beyond our control.
- Acting for you on an appeal.
Key steps in the proceedings
Whichever way your fees are paid, there are various steps in dealing with a Summary Only matter and these may vary according to individual circumstances. However, they will normally involve the following:
- Meeting with your solicitor to provide instructions
- Disclosure – where we will consider the prosecution evidence provided and provide advice on that basis
- Where an additional cost has been agreed, we will arrange to take witness statements
- We will go through the court process with you, so that you are fully aware of what to expect on the day of your hearing
- We will discuss the sentencing options available to the court
- We will undertake any preparatory work within the time frame of the fixed fee and obtain your instructions
- We will attend court on the day and meet you before your case is called into court.
- At the end of the hearing, we will discuss the outcome of the court hearing with you including any further steps to take and any additional costs.
Time Scales
Most summary motoring offences are dealt with at the first hearing, which is usually within one month of the date set by the police following arrest or by summons by the Court.
A guilty plea is entered the case is often concluded at the first hearing. However, this can be adjourned usually for no more than a month to six weeks if a special reasons or exceptional hardship argument is to be heard, which may require a separate hearing to be arranged.
Where a not guilty plea is entered the case will be adjourned for a trial to take place which is usually within three months.
Please bear in mind that a summary only motoring matter is considered a low priority by the court when compared to other cases and is therefore more likely to be adjourned to another day.