The consequences of driving in an inebriated state depend on the severity of the act. The offender can face fines, be disqualified from driving for a certain period, and even face imprisonment in serious cases.
When discussing drink driving offences, it is important to highlight not only the impact on the offender but also on other people. Drinking and driving can increase the risk of accidents, as the reaction times are slower in an inebriated state. Other people, perhaps friends of family members could be in the car with the offender at the time of the accident just as well as there are other passengers and drivers in other cars that may be involved in the accident.
Drinking and driving also have consequences on other peoples’ lives and our drink drive solicitor urges you to keep these in mind as one of the direst effects of this practice.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is a drink driving solicitor | A drink driving solicitor specializes in representing individuals charged with driving under the influence of alcohol |
|
Traffic offences types in the UK |
Drink driving, speeding offenses, careless driving, drug driving, traffic light offenses, driving without a license or permit, etc. |
|
Penalties |
Permit suspended for minimum 12 months for driving under the influence of alcohol; Maximum 3 years for cases involving serious cases; Additional fees and penalties may apply. |
| Involvement of victims |
If victims are involved in drink driving cases, the offenders can face imprisonment in addition to other penalties; Please contact our driving offence solicitors for these cases. |
| Release on bail |
If there is a lack of evidence or other relevant factors, the offender can be released on bail |
| Cases involving murder |
The police can arrest the individual at the scene of the accident and place them in custody for at least 24 hours if murder is involved |
| Witness testimony |
Witnesses can provide factual information and details about what they witnessed at the crime scene; Witnesses can also require legal support from a driving solicitor. |
| Medical evidence |
Medical records and assessments related to the individual’s condition due to alcohol consumption have a substantial impact on the case. |
| Legal representation in court (YES/NO) |
YES, our driving offence solicitors in London can represent you in court |
| Drunk driving offences consequences | Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal alcohol, limit can grant you a maximum fine of £2,500, possible driving ban, or up to 3 months’ imprisonment |
| Supervision for driving offence solicitors in London |
Our motoring offence solicitors are supervised by the UK Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority |
| Legal assistance during police custody (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Importance of seeking legal assistance from a drink driving solicitor in London |
Having a drink driving solicitor is important because we provide specialized expertise, protect your rights, and offer valuable guidance to obtain the best possible outcome |
| Assistance with other driving cases (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Cities our services are available | You can find our drink driving solicitors in London, but in other parts of the UK as well |
| Drink drive limit in the UK |
– 35 micrograms of alcohol/ 100 milliliters of breath; – 80 milligrams of alcohol/ 100 milliliters of blood; – 107 milligrams of alcohol/ 100 milliliters of urine |
|
Penalties for refusing to provide specimen |
– 6 months imprisonment, – unlimited fine, – at least 1 year driving ban |
|
Classification as high-risk offender |
Be convicted of two drink-driving offences within 10 years; Refuse to provide specimen; Have exceptionally high alcohol levels. |
| Applying for a new driving license |
After the disqualification period has ended; High-risk offenders must also pass a medical examination. |
| Increased insurance costs after being convicted (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Drunk driving consequences for employment |
It can affect your job security, especially if your role involves driving responsibilities. |
| Traveling difficulties for drunk-driving convictions |
Some countries can deny your visa or restrict your entry; Our driving solicitors can also assist in these cases. |
| Community order |
In some cases, you might also receive a community order, which can include: – curfew, – unpaid work, – regular meetings with a probation officer |
| Driving licence endorsement for drunk-driving |
A DR10 endorsement remains for 11 years from the date of conviction. |
| Aggravating factors for sentence |
– previous related convictions, – carrying passengers, – poor driving standards, – involvement in an accident, – high pedestrian presence, etc. |
| Mitigating factors for sentence |
– no prior convictions, – a genuine emergency, – spiked drinks, – a very short distance driven, – showing remorse or good character, – serious medical conditions, etc. |
| Pleading guilty |
Can reduce the sentence, but not the disqualification period; Our driving offence solicitors can represent you in court. |
| Drink-drive rehabilitation course – characteristics |
If you’re convicted of a drink-driving offense with a ban of 12 months or more, it can reduce your ban by up to a quarter. |
| Regulatory framework for drunk driving offenses and consequences |
Road Traffic Act 1988 |
| Why seek assistance from our motoring offence solicitors |
– legal advice, – court representation, – presenting mitigating factors, – expert guidance, – personalized support, – sentence negotiation, etc. |
Table of Contents
The drink drive limit in the UK
Firstly, before discussing the penalties that can apply for driving in an intoxicated state, we must outline the strict alcohol limits that apply to drivers.
Please keep in mind that the limits in Scotland are different from the ones in England, Wales and Northern Ireland listed below by our driving offence solicitors:
- 35: the level of alcohol expressed in micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath;
- 80: the alcohol level expressed in milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood;
- 107: the level of alcohol expressed in milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine.
- 22, 50, 67: the levels of alcohol in breath, blood and urine for Scotland, to highlight the difference between the UK regions.
Alcohol does not affect all drivers in the same way. The manner in which their reaction times are reduces as well as they experience other physical effects such as blurred vision or reduced concentration will depend on their age, weight and metabolism as well as the type of alcohol and other factors.
Please keep in mind that is you are banned from driving by a UK court you are not allowed to drive anywhere in the Kingdom. Our drink driving solicitors in London can give you more details.
Drink driving penalties
The consequences of the drink driving offence can be divided according to the severity of the offence and the damages to property or other individuals, as a direct result of inebriated driving.
Below, our drink driving solicitors in London list some of the most important categories:
- Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit: is penalised with a possible driving ban, a maximum fine of 2,500 £ or 3 months’ imprisonment;
- Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit: a driving ban of at least 1 year, an unlimited fine or 6 months’ imprisonment;
- Causing death by careless driving while inebriated: this is penalised with an unlimited fine, a driving ban for at least 2 years, extended driving test before being able to drive again or 14 years’ imprisonment.
Please keep in mind that these penalties are awarded according to the severity of the offence and our drink drive solicitors in London can help represent you before the court if you find yourself in any of these situations.
One should also keep in mind that penalties are also applicable upon refusal to provide the specimen for analysis (breath, blood, or urine). In this case, the offender may receive an unlimited fine, a driving ban for at least 1 year or 6 months’ imprisonment.
We invite you to watch a video about the consequences of drink driving:
High-risk drink driving offenders
High-risk offenders do not receive their driving licenses until they are able to prove that they are fit for operating vehicles again. This means that they are required to pass medical examinations with physicians that are appointed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in the UK.
We recommend reaching out to one of our driving offence solicitors if you are accused of being a high-risk offender. High-risk individuals are treated as such when:
- they are convicted of 2 drink driving offences within 10 years;
- they were driving with an alcohol level of at least 87.5 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath (and others for blood and urine samples);
- they refused to give their sample to the police.
When these individuals file an application for a new license, they are subject to an examination that will include blood tests, a physical examination as well as a medical questionnaire. Our drink driving solicitor in London can give you more details.
Failure to observe the drink driving limit in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland has a number of consequences that start with fines, driving bans, and, most importantly, imprisonment.
Mitigation factors in the case of drink driving in the UK
As previously stated, the consequences of drink driving in the UK can include a drive ban, fines, or even imprisonment. Sentencing depends on the severity of the case, whether or not it was a first-time offence and other criteria.
Our drink drive solicitors summarize some of the most important mitigating factors below:
- No previous drink drive convictions and/or no recent ones;
- The driving took place because of a real emergency;
- The driver had no idea that his/her drinks had been spiked;
- The drive was very short;
- The driver shows good character and/or remorse;
- The driver is the sole caretaker/had dependent relatives;
- The driver had a serious medical condition, a learning disability or mental disorder.
The consequences of drink driving can also be reduced (by this, meaning receiving a reduced sentence) if the defendant pleads guilty. However, in this case, he or she will not be receiving a shorter driving disqualification period.
Mitigation in the case of drink driving in the UK takes place as per the sentencing guidelines set forth by the magistrates’ courts and/or the Crown Court. It depends on the offence type, which can be explained by our driving offence solicitors. For example, the sentences are calculated differently in the case of driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol and of being in charge of the vehicle with excess alcohol.
The drink drive rehabilitation course
Depending on the type and the severity of the offence, a way in which the consequence of drink driving in the UK can be reduced (in some cases) is by means of a drink-drive rehabilitation course.
Individuals can take such a course when they are found guilty of a drink drive offence and if the ban on driving is for twelve months or more in their case.
Our drink drive solicitor in London summarizes some of the key issues to keep in mind regarding drink-drive rehabilitation courses:
- The offender pays for the course. The associated costs can be up to £250;
- The driving ban is reduced if the course is completed within a certain period;
- A usual driving ban reduction is of a quarter of the initial ban duration;
- The decision to take the course or not is taken in court, during the drink driving legal proceedings;
- The decision is final and the individual cannot rethink it later. However, there is the option to change the course at any point before it starts. What this means is that the provider can be changed.
Rehabilitation courses for drink drive offenders in the UK take place in groups (either in person or remotely) and usually include sixteen hours.
If you need legal aid after having been involved in a drink driving accident, do not hesitate to contact our drink drive solicitors for ongoing assistance and support.