Just been charged at the weekend. Advice please.

[dumbjoe]

Hi

I went to a friends house after the pub on saturday and decided I couldn't sleep on the floor. It had been a roughly 3 hours since my last drink and I thought I would be under the limit.

I stupidly got in my car (6am), and a minute from arriving at my house I clipped a kerb (ones that stick out on a priority road) and and ended up damaging a parked car's front tyre and breaking my own. My car has been written off due to bad wheel/wishbone damage. I simply couldn't afford to have it moved, assessed and stored and seemed to have no choice.

I blew 45 at the station and so charged dr10.

This is my first offence but would the fact I was I caused an accident increase my ban? Is it worth a early guilty plea?

Thank you

 

[Irrationality]

Try not to expend too much energy worrying about it, easier said than done I know. There is nothing much you can do but take it on the chin. I reckon you'll get 12 months but neither here nor there really. Best of luck and chin up.

 

[dumbjoe]

Thanks for the reply.

It has been a few weeks now since the incident and I have become much calmer over the situation. Court day is tomorrow morning, but as you say, it will likely be 12-14 and hopefully an opportunity to reduce with the course.

Appreciate your words, especially when i see that my situation is mostly less severe than fellow members on the forum.

 

[jsuthers7]

Let us know how you get on in court sir!

 

[dumbjoe]

Let us know how you get on in court sir!

Got there early, sat with the court regulars. There's actually a new rule in Bath magistrates that the duty solicitors won't now deal with majority of motoring/tv license and other non imprisonment charges, but I managed to get a few minutes with her. The key idea being if you are not paying to go full defense, go in and look remorseful.

Got 12 months and a £525 fine. Not sure they really took into account I lost my car and have absolutely no savings but anyway, could've been worse. Mentioned I'd take the course so 9 months it will be I think. Funnily enough the Jury lady mentioned June 02 would be my last day but she's a month out!

I didn't receive any documentation for the ban only the fine payment. I guess the DVLA will know all this.