None for the road; beware Christmas drink-driving
When people think about drink-driving or drug-driving, it is often based on a narrative that involves a man, leaving a pub late at night, driving erratically and being stopped by the police. This scenario is sometimes the backdrop to an arrest for drink or drug driving offences. However, more often, the story is quite different.
The morning after the night before
The morning after the night before begins with a headache, followed by groans as the body and mind adjusts to the horrible thought that this is not a weekend, and work beckons.
A quick shower revives the senses and off to work you go. Traffic is heavy, drivers as intolerant as ever, and the rain contributes only to a sour mood amongst drivers. Then bang – a relatively minor shunt causing minimal damage, to really kick start the day!
But it is often this kind of minor road traffic incident, causing road chaos and attracting the attention of the police that results in roadside testing for drink and drugs.
The fact that you look great, feel fine, and are not responsible for the accident, will do nothing to mitigate the alcohol or drug levels in your body. Anyone who tells you that you can confidently predict alcohol or drug levels the morning after is not telling the truth.
What happens next?
What happens next makes the earlier headache pale into insignificance.
An arrest, charge and court appearance resulting in a minimum period of disqualification.
Will you keep your job? What will your partner say?
The safest message remains ‘none for the road’; in some cases, there are legal defences available, and we can discuss these with you. When a defence is not possible, we work hard to mitigate the sentence and get your life back on track.
Your local police force will now have in place its Christmas and New Year drink-driving campaign. Roadside testing will increase, and officers will be extra vigilant.
How can we help?
We hope that you do not need our services over the festive period. If you do, please be assured that we are here, on your side, 24 hours a day.
If you need specialist advice in relation to any driving offences, criminal investigation or prosecution, from the initial investigation through to court proceedings, please get in touch. Call John Howey on 020 7388 1658 or email jhowey@jfhlaw.co.uk. Let us help.
Please note that the information contained in this article was correct at the time of writing. There may have been updates to the law since the article was written, which may affect the information and advice given therein.
