Road Traffic Solicitors Winchester

Motoring offences means summary only offences under Part I of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and/or s89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Broadly, this means offences such as speeding or drink driving which are dealt with solely in the magistrate’s court. These offences result in mandatory sentences (such as disqualification). If you are pleading guilty; the matter is dealt with at the first court appearance.

Example Cases

Example of a simple hearing

A client was charged with drink driving. She had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty. We looked after her before her hearing by frequent email and telephone calls and represented her at the hearing where she entered her guilty plea and was sentenced. Her case lasted three months. Our costs with were £1032.00 + VAT of £207.00, making a total of £1239.00 (This is based on 3.5 hours spent on the matter.)

Example of a more complex hearing

A client was charged with driving without due care and attention.

Driving without due care and attention is a relatively straightforward charge and does not carry a prison sentence but the issue was whether the case would go to a trial or not.

Our solicitor met twice with the client and gave thorough advice on his options. He required a lot of support during the court process. He decided to plead guilty. We represented him at the hearing where he entered the plea and was sentenced.

The case lasted four months. Our fees for the whole case were £3097.50 + VAT of £619.50, totalling £3717.00 (This is based on 10.5 hours spent on the matter.)

Steps in the case

Your case is likely to follow similar steps to this:

• You are arrested and taken to the police station
• You ask for your solicitor and the police will ring us
• If you have no solicitor, the police will ring the duty solicitor and we are on the duty rota
• We will attend the police station and advise you (this is covered by the legal aid scheme so you not will to have to pay for this)
• If you admit the offence, you will be charged and usually released
• You will be notified of the date of the court hearing
• We may need to take further instructions from you
• We attend the court hearing with you and speak on your behalf. If you are pleading guilty, we will be making representations as to the sentencing options
• The court will make a sentencing decision
• We will write to you to confirm the sentence and what you have to do

Additional Payments / Costs

Timescales

Usually, your case is expected to conclude within three months if you plead not guilty. However, in our experience, it can take as long as 8 months. If you enter a guilty plea, it is likely to conclude at the first hearing. We cannot guarantee these time scales as there are many factors which can affect the way the case progresses but these are an estimate to help you plan at least at this stage.

Road Traffic Fixed Fee

We offer a 1.5 hour Fixed Fee for £350 + VAT. This can include a face to face appointment, considering any paperwork, DVLA Letters or Court Summons and a follow up letter of advice after the appointment. It would not cover the hearing itself.

The firm’s charges are calculated mainly by reference to the amount of time that is spent on a matter. The Firm’s rates are reviewed annually and we shall inform you promptly of any change. Ordinary letters out and telephone calls are charged at six minute units where the time spent does not exceed this.

The hourly rates and unit charges for members of the Road Traffic Department are:

VAT: please note that all the above will be charged to you with the addition of VAT at the current rate (to meet HMRC re-charge requirements)

Where a matter is dealt with by a legal secretary or non-fee earner to progress it a charge of £100.00 per hour will be made.

These rates reflect the many overheads which, of necessity, a firm of solicitors must incur to run its business.