Specialist drink and drug driving solicitors for cases in magistrates' courts across England and Wales. Speak to a solicitor who handles these charges every week, before your first hearing.
Tell us how to reach you and a specialist drink driving solicitor will call you back.
A drink or drug driving charge is decided on evidence, procedure and timing. All three are easier to influence early.
More on how we workOur solicitors defend drink and drug driving charges every week, in magistrates courts across England and Wales.
Talk through the charge, the evidence and your realistic options before you decide anything. No obligation.
Local representation in the court that will hear your case, from London and Manchester to Exeter and Newcastle.
Charges rarely arrive during office hours. You can reach advice outside them, including at the police station.
Drink driving solicitors are criminal defence solicitors who specialise in motoring offences involving alcohol or drugs. They advise from the moment you are charged or receive a postal requisition, check whether the police followed the correct procedure for the roadside test, the evidential breath, blood or urine sample and the custody record, and decide with you whether to plead guilty or not guilty. In court they argue the case, or present mitigation to keep the ban and fine as low as the Sentencing Council guideline allows, and they can raise special reasons where the facts of the offence justify a shorter ban or none at all. Most drink driving cases are dealt with entirely in the magistrates' court, usually at a first hearing a few weeks after the charge.
First offence, England and Wales. Breath readings in microgrammes per 100ml.
| Reading | Ban | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| 36 to 59 | 12 to 16 months | Band C fine |
| 60 to 89 | 17 to 22 months | Band C fine |
| 90 to 119 | 23 to 28 months | Community order |
| 120 or more | 29 to 36 months | 12 weeks' custody |
A second offence within 10 years means a ban of at least 3 years. A rehabilitation course can cut the ban by up to a quarter. Source: Sentencing Council guideline.
Estimate your ban with our calculatorFrom the police station interview through to sentencing, these are the areas our drink and drug driving solicitors work in every week.
If you've been accused of driving while over the legal alcohol limit, our expert solicitors can assess your case and build a strong legal defence strategy.
We provide expert representation for cases involving driving under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs, challenging evidence and procedures.
Our solicitors offer immediate assistance at police station interviews, ensuring your rights are protected from the earliest stages of proceedings.
We examine the accuracy of testing procedures and equipment, identifying potential errors or procedural failures that could affect your case.
Our solicitors work to reduce potential driving bans, presenting special reasons and mitigating circumstances to help you maintain your mobility.
We provide guidance on rehabilitation courses that can reduce disqualification periods and help you return to lawful driving more quickly.
Three steps, from the first phone call to the day of your hearing.
Discuss your drink driving or motoring offence case with a specialist and experienced solicitor.
Your solicitor examines breathalyser results, police procedures and evidence to identify technical or procedural defences.
Specialist representation to minimise penalties, avoid disqualification where possible, or secure the best available outcome.
Cases are heard in the court local to where you were stopped. We cover courts across England and Wales.
Plain-English guidance on motoring offences, breath and blood evidence, and what to expect in court.
Learn about increased enforcement during holiday periods, your rights at checkpoints, and how to handle seasonal policing targeting drink and drug driving.
Read the article
A second drink driving conviction within 10 years means a ban of at least 3 years, High Risk Offender status and a real risk of custody. What to expect and how to prepare.
Read the articleSpecialised guidance for professional drivers, HGV operators, and those who drive for work on managing and mitigating the impact of drug driving convictions.
Read the articleTell us what happened. A specialist drink and drug driving solicitor from our network will call you back, normally within 24 hours.