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Motoring Offences
Motoring offences are committed by many UK motorists each day, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly e.g. when driving just a few mph over the road speed limit. Once you are caught by the Police, and depending on the nature of the offence, you may be given a verbal warning, given a producer (if you don't have an available driving licence abd/or other documentation), or arrested at the road side. Following the driving offence you may end up being charged a fine, points added to your driving licence and may even summons you to a court appearance. Below are all the driving offences and the associated penalties.
Motoring Solicitor
A motoring solicitor may be able to help you avoid paying your fine, getting points on your licence and they can also prevent you from losing your driving licence. Furthermore a motoring solicitor may also be able to reduce the length of an imposed prison sentence.
Speeding Offence
Many motorists are caught speeding every year. You can receive from 3 points on your driving licence and £100 fine to a driving disqualification and a maximum fine of £2500 for a motorway offence and a maximum of £1000 for other roads. It is possible to defend a motoring offence. A motoring solicitor would look at all the evidence and procedures carried out by the police and many Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) have been avoided through the use of a motoring lawyer.
If you are caught speed on a motorway and you were driving over 100mph you will likely receive a driving ban. If you were not driving on a motorway and you were exceeding the speed limit by 30mph you will likely receive a disqualification from driving.
Failure to report name of the driver for a Speeding offence such as speed camera offence
If you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) for a speeding offence you are legally required to provide the name of the driver.
This is common when caught speeding by a fixed speed camera. Failure to report the name of the driver can result in a fine of up to £1000 and 6 penalty points on your driving licence.
Totting Up
If you have accrued 12 points on your driving licence (within a 3 year period) you will likely lose your driving licence. A court will decide if you are to lose your driving licence for at least 6 months. A loss of a driving licence can result in loss of employment, loss of a home and can affect your family who rely on your income. The common argument that motoring lawyers put across in court is that a disqualification would lead to 'exceptional hardship to the motorist.' Motoring lawyers will usually charge a fixed fee for this service and they have won many cases allowing motorists to keep their driving licence and carry on driving when facing a driving ban.
Driving with no insurance
If you caught driving with no insurance you can receive up to 8 penalty points on your driving licence or a disqualification from driving and a fine up to £5000. Employees can defend themselves and you can also argue 'special reasons' to help you avoid points on your licence for speeding.
Careless Driving
This is where a driver has caused an accident due to bad driving and a disrespect for the motoring law. You can get between 3 and 9 penalty points on your driving licence and a fine up to £2500 for careless driving. A court may also disqualify you from driving for any time period.
Dangerous Driving
If you are caught by the police for dangerous driving you can face a prison sentence of up to 2 years and you will lose you driving licence for a minimum of 12 months. A specialist motoring lawyer may be able to help you avoid receiving a driving ban.
Drink Driving
Driving whilst intoxicated is illegal. If you drink an amount of alcohol over the legal limit you face a maximum sentence of 6 months and at minimum a driving disqualification for 12 months. You may be able to avoid a driving ban if for example the police did not carry out their procedures properly. Medical reasons are another example where you may be able to argue your case and avoid a driving ban.
If you fail to provide a roadside breath test you will receive a fine up to £1000 and 4 penalty points on your driving licence. You may also be disqualified from driving by a court.
Driving whilst disqualified
If you were previously disqualified from driving and you are caught driving there is often little you can do about it. The maximum sentence for driving whilst disqualified is 6 months and possibly a disqualification from driving.
Failing to Stop at the scene of a accident or failing to report an accident
If you are involved in a road traffic accident you are required to stay at the scene to explain to the police when they arrive the sequence of events that led to the accident. If the police are not required for a relatively minor accident then you must stop to exchange contact and insurance details with the other drivers involved in the accident. Equally, if you fail to report an accident within 24 hours you are committing a crime. Failure to stop or report an accident results in 6 months imprisonment and between 5 and 10 penalty points on your driving licence. A fine not exceeding £5000 can also be imposed.
New Drivers receive double points for driving offences
If you have passed your driving test within the past 2 years and you are caught speeding then you will receive double the points. For example, if you are given 3 points on your driving licence for you driving offence then this will be doubled-up to 6 points.
Last updated: 1st August 2024
