Free Traffic Legal Advice

If you plead guilty what exactly are you going to ‘fight it out in court’, the court hearing will be for sentencing only. Legal representation costing £500 plus doesn’t really look like value for money on that basis.

What you would have been sent was a Conditional Offer of a Fixed Penalty (COFP) not some other concocted title you make up. If you were sent that I’m wondering what you put in ‘mitigation’ that has suggested to them your case isn’t suitable for sentencing by the single justice, it seems unlikely they would be considering a ban if you were offered a COFP, but hard to tell.

As for comments about other cases, you are accused of committing a crime which you agreed you committed (unless the ‘mitigation’ you presented amounted to a defence) which isn’t imprisonable (so no early releases to get you a bed for the night), so doesn’t seem at all relevant unless you just wanted to rant?

Thanks, to all those who replied

Is there any Solicitor in this area? Leamington Spa, Coventry etc

Please do lemme know

D

Is there any Solicitor in this area? Leamington Spa, Coventry et

There are almost certainly solicitors in that area.
There are almost certainly bakeries in that area as well.
As regards whether or not they are any good, I have no idea why you would think that we would know.

Well, it seems you've been given good advice here. Why waste your money? Typically a motoring solicitor will be between £800-£1000, plus as you pleaded guilty there's nothing to fight as others have pointed out. Whatever you'd like to say in mitigation you can say yourself for free. Plus for the guilty plea you'll get clobbered a bit less that not guilty and being found guilty, plus prosecution costs and victim surcharge. The £100 fixed penalty is sometimes a bargain.

Is money the only reason we have to base our decisions on?

No, but part of offering people sound advice is making sure they are aware of the potential risks of any course of action, including the financial ones. For many of the people who come here seeking help, the potential that they might lose £1,000+ is a material consideration.

"Pleaded guilty with a mitigation statement but  told that it's not suitable for an SJP"

What did you actually say in mitigation? If the court gained the impression that your mitigation formed the basis of a defence to the charge, your guilty plea would not be accepted. The SJP only deals with straightforward guilty pleas so the reason why you have been asked to attend court may be to clarify your position.

So fine, can't I now plead not guilty and fight it out in court?

Yes you can. But you said you wanted to get a legal opinion. Before you spend money on a solicitor there are people on here who are qualified lawyers and others who, whilst not legally qualified, have a fair idea of the law and the court process. If you tell us what actually happened, what you've been charged with, what the police have based their charge on (you should have the evidence they intend to use to convict you) and in particular what you said in your "mitigation", you may get some free advice which might indicate whether it is worthwhile "fighting it out in court".

There's no law against driving slowly

Indeed there isn't. But similarly there is no law against driving on the wrong side of the road.

What you have probably been charged with is either Careless" or "Inconsiderate" driving.

There's no law against driving slowly

Darren

The law You have been accused  of breaking - section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 - makes careless or inconsiderate driving an offence.

Careless is defined as driving which is below the standard to be expected of a careful and competent driver. Inconsiderate is self-explanatory.

Before risking a not guilty plea, you should consider carefully whether your driving on that occasion met that test