Road Traffic Law
Leeds Road Traffic Solicitors
Have you recently been convicted for a road traffic offence and need a clean license for your job? Perhaps you feel you have been unfairly charged and want to get a just outcome. Whatever has happened to you on the road, our Leeds road traffic solicitors are here to help.
Road traffic law covers a vast number of offences. Let’s have a look at what we commonly deal with:
- Speeding
- Parking tickets
- Dangerous driving
- Careless driving
- Inconsiderate driving
- Death by dangerous driving
- Charges related to mobile phone use
- Drink driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- License bans
You have the right to remain silent
But you also have the right to make yourself heard. Many minor road traffic offences are not challenged. Let’s have a look at some of the things you can do to fight back.
Speeding
Many drivers who are charged with speeding will be given a Fixed Penalty Notice, resulting in license points and a fine. The majority of people fail to understand that speeding charges, like any criminal offence, can be challenged. The defences that can be used are numerous. If you were caught speeding by a mobile speed camera, you could argue that the machine was not properly calibrated, in poor working order, and the officer using the device did not receive adequate training to use the device or failed to use it in line with the operational guidelines.
Many speed cameras are of the GASTO type, which are contained in those very familiar grey boxes that litter the roadside up and down the country. Many of these cameras only take photos from the rear, meaning it is often impossible for them to identify, beyond reasonable doubt (an important principle in criminal law), the driver who was driving the car at the time of the offence.
Parking tickets
Like speeding offences, parking tickets often go unchallenged. However, if you feel the fine was unfair, you should know that you have a very good chance (more than 60%) of seeing it overturned by contesting it through a parking tribunal.
Mobile phone use
In recent years, this has become quite a politically charged offence with the result that the police are keener than ever catch offenders. Nevertheless, there are a few defences available to you. If, for example, you have to use your phone in an emergency situation (to call 999, for example) and at the time you could not possibly stop, you will have a very strong defence available to you.
If you have been convicted of a road traffic offence, get in touch with our Leeds road traffic team of solicitors to find out what we can do to help.