Additional Drink Driving Consequences

If you have been convicted of a drink driving offence, it is likely you may suffer potential additional consequences such as:

• An increase in car insurance
• Possible difficulty travelling overseas due to a criminal record
• Your conviction being made visible to your employers and impacting on your contract of employment

How Long Will Drink Driving Convictions Stay on my Licence?

If you are charged with drink driving, the court is obliged to put an endorsement on your driving licence which will remain on your licence for 11 years after the time of conviction.

Challenging An Evidential Breath Sample

Although the breathalyser devices used by the police are type approved by the Home Office, they can be challenged. Evidence can be provided as to how much a person had consumed alongside an Expert Report to confirm whether the breathalyser reading. This can then be used to challenge the reliability of the breathalyser. The expert will provide a calculation using all of the factors available to them in order to calculate the likely level of alcohol in blood and breath (known as a Widmark calculation). The Widmark calculation may then be used as the basis to challenge the breathalyser.

Defending A Drink Driving Charge

If you have been charged with a drink driving offence you will have the option to plead not guilty and proceed to trial.  You may not be able to see a way of defending the case and think that you appear guilty, but it is always worth taking advice to see whether any of the available defences apply to your case and circumstances.  

As mentioned, there is a very strict statutory regime in place that the police must follow in such cases, and we can advise you whether the procedure and law has in fact been complied with.

The area of law that covers motoring offences is quite complex and we have developed knowledge in this area over many combined decades of practice in this area. For this reason, is it important to appoint a professional for advice and representation.

Breath Tests

A police officer does not have to be in uniform to request a breath test. However, they do have to be in uniform to administer it unless it follows an accident.

A police officer will request a breath test under the following circumstances:

• They have reasonable cause to suspect you are committing or have committed a moving traffic offence.
• They have reason to suspect that you are driving after having consumed alcohol, or you are about to attempt to drive the vehicle.
• They have reason to believe you were the person who was driving/attempting to drive or in charge of a vehicle which has been involved in an accident.

The police officer will ask you to provide two breath samples. If the readings are different, they are obliged to take the lowest one and ignore the higher. If your reading is above the legal limit, you will be charged for committing an offence.

Very specific protocols have to be followed when the police carry out a breath test, and you should not be found guilty of an offence where the police have breached those rules.

How We Can Help

At The Motoring Lawyers, we understand how stressful it can be to face drink driving charges, especially as the consequences of a conviction include a mandatory driving disqualification.  We are here to help, having developed knowledge and expertise in defending these cases over many years. 

For many people, a driving disqualification may mean a loss of livelihood, independence and an inability to support those who rely on you. 

Whether you have been involved in an accident or were pulled over by the police and suspected of drink driving by the attending officers, we can provide you with all the necessary guidance and advice you need.

We have helped many clients avoid disqualification and many of our cases have been dropped by the prosecution before they even come to trial because of the assistance we have been able to provide to clients.

We offer a free consultation to run through the facts of your case and advise you as to the best course of action.  We will consider all aspects of the case and in the event you plead not guilty, we will formulate a trial strategy based on our vast experience.

By instructing The Motoring Lawyers, you can be assured that you have a team of highly skilled legal professionals, who will provide you with the quality representation that you deserve.