Murrays solicitors have emerged during the last decade, as one of the leading motoring offence specialists in the region.

The benefit of instructing a solicitor early in proceedings is no more apparent than in the calls we receive daily from those who have gone to court alone, relying entirely on the result of Google search. Google searches rarely give advice specific to the facts of your situation, it cannot approach the prosecution in advance before any hearing to negotiate an alternative course, or with the prosecutor in court on the day of the hearing to have the case withdrawn or reduced punishment.

Remember, you only get one chance to make the right submission or negotiate a lesser offence, and often a mistake cannot be undone easily. Many people don’t even realise that they might not even have to attend court at all, that they can in most motor offences, instruct a solicitor to attend court to deal with the cases in their absence, thereby saving the need to take a day from work or their business.

We are approached most often regarding those who have been summoned to court as they face disqualification under the so-called ‘totting up’ provisions. If you accumulate 12 penalty points on your licence (the date the totting up process takes place is the same date of the offence, not the date you attend court!), you will be disqualified for a minimum period of 6 months unless you can convince the court you will suffer exceptional hardship as a consequence.

The onus is on the totter to establish the exceptional hardship, and the test to be satisfied is a high one. We at Murrays Solicitors understand what the courts want to prove exceptional hardship. Our experience and knowledge will vastly improve your prospects of retaining your licence.

Speeding, failure to name the driver under S172 of the Road Traffic Act, special reasons for not driving with insurance, driving without due care and attention, dangerous driving and all offences we deal with daily at Murray’s.

We understand the importance and impact a disqualification can have on you and other parties affected by the loss of your driving licence.

Keeping your driving licence is not just important to you, it is probably essential. Think of getting the kids to school, yourself to work and back, your partner to work and back, doing the weekly shopping, taking the kids to football practice. Are you facing doing it all without a driving licence?

If you have a court date looming for a road traffic offence of any sort you are no doubt worrying about the penalty points you may get; you may be thinking of the driving ban you may get.

We deal with all types of motoring offences including the following:

• Speeding
• Driving without due care and attention (careless driving)
• Drink driving offences
• Failing to give a specimen in drink driving cases
• Failure to stop after an accident
• Failing to report an accident
• Dangerous driving
• No insurance
• Driving otherwise than in accordance with a license
• Driving whilst disqualified
• Causing death by dangerous driving
• Causing death by careless driving

We at Murrays Solicitors will spend the time to take your instructions, advise you and represent you effectively.