Joe7
New Member
Hello guys,
I know this isn’t a drug driving forum but it’s similar to drink driving and I’m just looking for some advice.
I was pulled over October last year and I was breathalysed and blew 0. They then drug wiped me and I tested positive for cocaine and cannabis so I was arrested and I gave a blood sample.
My postal results were:
Cocaine 13 micrograms (limit 10)
Benzoylecgonine 75 micrograms (limit 50)
No cannabis was detected in my blood so therefore I wasn’t charged with cannabis.
Therefore, I was charged with two counts of drug driving. I appeared in court on 19th March.
Mitigating circumstances were:
No previous criminal record
Autism (learning disability)
First ever motoring offence
Letter of apology to the magistrates
Dressed smartly
Shown genuine remorse
Aggravating factors were:
1 passenger was in the vehicle when stopped
I was pulled over due to speeding, the prosecution said the arresting officer said my driving was an unacceptable standard. Approx 45mph in a 30mph speed limit.
The prosecution was pushing for a category 2 sentence which is a 17-28 months disqualification with a community order. I thought this was quite excessive based on my circumstances.
My solicitor fought for me and spoke a very good defence, he also said cocaine and benzoylecgonine is one drug because benzoylecgonine is a breakdown product of cocaine. The three magistrates went into the back room for a 10 minute chat to discuss on the most appropriate sentence for me.
They came back out and said I can see you show genuine remorse and we have read your letter of apology so thank you for that.
As a result, we are going to place you in category 3 but at the top end due to the aggravating factors. We are sentencing you to 16 months disqualification and £250 fines.
My DVLA online record is showing 2 x DG10 endorsements for cocaine and benzoylecgonine. Is this correct even though they are both treated as one drug?
I did call my solicitor and he said this is quite normal due to both drugs being found in your blood so therefore you were charged and convicted for both drugs but the magistrates removed the penalty for benzoylecgonine.
Also, my driving ban end date is 18 July 2025, will I be classed as a HRO or will it just be a simple licence renewal and I can reapply for my full licence 56 days before my ban expires?
56 days before my ban expires is 23 May 2025, could I send a D1 form to DVLA with £65 postal order on 22 May 2025 by next day special delivery and they will receive this the next day which would then be 56 days before my ban expires or can I not send the D1 form to them until the 56th day before which is 23 May 2025?
Any advice on all this will be much appreciated guys, thank you all so much!
I know this isn’t a drug driving forum but it’s similar to drink driving and I’m just looking for some advice.
I was pulled over October last year and I was breathalysed and blew 0. They then drug wiped me and I tested positive for cocaine and cannabis so I was arrested and I gave a blood sample.
My postal results were:
Cocaine 13 micrograms (limit 10)
Benzoylecgonine 75 micrograms (limit 50)
No cannabis was detected in my blood so therefore I wasn’t charged with cannabis.
Therefore, I was charged with two counts of drug driving. I appeared in court on 19th March.
Mitigating circumstances were:
No previous criminal record
Autism (learning disability)
First ever motoring offence
Letter of apology to the magistrates
Dressed smartly
Shown genuine remorse
Aggravating factors were:
1 passenger was in the vehicle when stopped
I was pulled over due to speeding, the prosecution said the arresting officer said my driving was an unacceptable standard. Approx 45mph in a 30mph speed limit.
The prosecution was pushing for a category 2 sentence which is a 17-28 months disqualification with a community order. I thought this was quite excessive based on my circumstances.
My solicitor fought for me and spoke a very good defence, he also said cocaine and benzoylecgonine is one drug because benzoylecgonine is a breakdown product of cocaine. The three magistrates went into the back room for a 10 minute chat to discuss on the most appropriate sentence for me.
They came back out and said I can see you show genuine remorse and we have read your letter of apology so thank you for that.
As a result, we are going to place you in category 3 but at the top end due to the aggravating factors. We are sentencing you to 16 months disqualification and £250 fines.
My DVLA online record is showing 2 x DG10 endorsements for cocaine and benzoylecgonine. Is this correct even though they are both treated as one drug?
I did call my solicitor and he said this is quite normal due to both drugs being found in your blood so therefore you were charged and convicted for both drugs but the magistrates removed the penalty for benzoylecgonine.
Also, my driving ban end date is 18 July 2025, will I be classed as a HRO or will it just be a simple licence renewal and I can reapply for my full licence 56 days before my ban expires?
56 days before my ban expires is 23 May 2025, could I send a D1 form to DVLA with £65 postal order on 22 May 2025 by next day special delivery and they will receive this the next day which would then be 56 days before my ban expires or can I not send the D1 form to them until the 56th day before which is 23 May 2025?
Any advice on all this will be much appreciated guys, thank you all so much!