drink driving.

[samanthaturner]

i got arrested for drink driving over the weekend. i found it really difficult to use the breath machine at the police station so i was charged with failing to supply. i do not have a solicitor and now i feel i need one but not sure how much they cost. i also need my licence for my job in care work my friend mentioned getting a letter from my manager to state this. would this help at all?

 

[signman]

unfortunately all a letter from an employer or a character reference does is help your mitigation i.e once convicted its how favourably and lenient they are with regard to the sentence. It doesn`t stop you getting charged, thats down to the evidence in your case.

i`m sure others will follow with advice, a lot of solicitors offer an intial free telephone consultation. Give that a try.

 

[SeanJoyceStephensons]

Samantha,

If you have been charged with failing to supply a specimen of breath then a disqualification is mandatory on conviction. Magistrates are encouraged to start with a ban of 24 months - as is recommended to them via their sentencing guidelines.

If you believe that it was not possible to provide breath then it would be worth instructing a specialist motoring solicitor to put forward this as a defence at Court. If you are successful at trial then no penalties would arise and you would be found not guilty of the offence with which you are charged.

We have represented people successfully where it has been possible to satisfy the Magistrates that the machine was faulty and that a person's failure to provide breath was therefore genuine and reasonable.

 

[Anothersillyfool]

Much as I don't want to be part of the ' Drink Drive Community', I am, and because I found this site so helpful, I want to put my bit in too.

Samantha, I was charged with the exact same offence. I couldn't give a full reading, I tried but it just didn't happen, and I'm sure I'd have been better off if I had.

My roadside breathtest was 61, my partial station breathtests ranged from 48-66.

I was disqualified for 12 months (with a 3 months reduction for attending course), £370 fine and I'm now a 'high risk offender' which will cost another £100 for a DVLA medical.

I hope you fare better, but as it is, I think I was "lucky".

If you can afford a specialist lawyer, then do so. Otherwise, plead guilty and be as remorseful as I'm sure you are.