Have you been summonsed to Court for a road traffic offence, such as:
Speeding
Using your mobile ‘phone while driving
Careless driving
Driving with excess alcohol (drink driving)
Or even something more serious, like causing death by careless or dangerous driving?
If so, we can help.
Bird and Co Solicitors have experienced road traffic defence Barristers and road traffic defence Solicitors offering affordable professional advice on all aspects of Road Traffic legislation.
By the Government’s own calculation, Fixed Penalty Notices are issued around once every six seconds . Our dedicated team of lawyers may help prevent your prosecution from becoming a further statistic.
We provide a nationwide service, and can arrange for representation by solicitor or barrister anywhere in England or Wales.
Our In House Counsel has represented defendants in court accused of serious or fatal motoring offences from Torquay in Devon, Norwich in Norfolk, and closer to home in Lincoln and Nottingham Crown Courts.
If you need representation or advice, use the contact details on this site or call us on 0800 389 4832*.
Further general information to help you can be found below.
Do I Need A Motoring Defence Solicitor for my Road Traffic Offence?
The majority of motoring offences carry penalty points. These can range from between three and eleven in number.
Any offence which carries mandatory endorsement with points also carries the possibility of discretionary disqualification.
An accumulation of penalty points can result in a disqualification under the “totting up” provisions.
Penalty points can be avoided in certain situations if there are “special reasons” for not endorsing.
Offences for which “special reasons” can be found include speeding, no insurance, traffic light offences, defective vehicle and many more.
Penalty points physically stay on the driving licence for four years and count towards “totting up” for three years.
If you receive 12 penalty points in any three year period you will face a disqualification for a minimum period of 6 months unless you can show “Exceptional Hardship”.
We, at Bird and Co will assist you with this argument. If you are at risk of losing your job or some other major difficulty as a result of losing your licence, call us on 0800 389 4832*.
New drivers face a different problem. If you attract 6 points upon your licence within the first two years of having passed your driving test you will revert back to a provisional licence holder and will need to take your driving test all over again.
We can provide fixed fee legal advice and assistance.
Our Fees*
Please note where VAT is chargeable this will be charged at the prevailing rate (as at 1 October 2023 this is 20%).
INITIAL TELEPHONE ADVICE – £100 plus VAT
Where we will tell you if you have a possible defence or that you are able to challenge the prosecution evidence. If you require representation we will tell you at this stage.
PLEA IN MITIGATION (WRITTEN) – £350 plus VAT
If we genuinely believe that you will be assisted with a Solicitor’s letter in Court thereby negating the necessity of personal attendance we will provide this.
PLEA IN MITIGATION (PERSONAL) – £750 plus VAT up to half day, £1,500 plus VAT for full day
It may well be that we will have to attend with you and present an argument upon your behalf, usually where you are at risk of disqualification having either accumulated 9 points or exceeded the speed limit in excess of 30mph
APPEAL TO THE CROWN COURT AGAINST SENTENCE – £1,500 plus VAT
If you happen to have inadequate representation in the Magistrates Court and find yourself disqualified from driving, we will lodge your appeal and apply to have the disqualification suspended pending the outcome of your appeal. Thereafter we will arrange for one of our retained Barristers to present your case on sentence at appeal for a small extra charge.
APPEAL TO THE CROWN COURT AGAINST CONVICTION – £2,500 plus VAT
If you believe you have been wrongly convicted in the Magistrates’ Court you may appeal to the Crown Court, where your case would be heard by a Crown Court Judge sitting with two (different) Magistrates.
We can advise you and arrange for a Barrister to represent you at your appeal hearing to try to overturn your conviction. If you are not successful in that it may nevertheless still be possible to appeal against your sentence.
TRIAL IN MAGISTRATES COURT – £2,500 plus VAT
Many of the more serious disputed cases are triable and may be covered with the assistance of a Representation Order (Legal Aid). We can advise you on how to apply for this.
For the few cases (including speeding) which are not covered by public funding we can enter into a fixed fee arrangement with you, or alternatively charge by the hour.
Where successful, we will make a claim for the return of your costs from Central Funds.
Call or email us using the details on the website, or click here to instruct us online.
*Terms and Conditions apply
Motoring Offences Fees – Magistrates Court
The following offences are Summary only motoring offences which are dealt with at a single hearing.
• Exceeding the speed limit.
• Failure to stop after an Accident
• Failure to exchange details after an accident
• Failure to provide details of driver on request – s.172 RTA 1988
• Failure to provide insurance details on request
• Failure to be in proper control of your car
• Driving over the prescribed limit of alcohol or drugs
• Using a hand held device whilst driving
• Driving without due care and attention
• Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol or drugs.
• Driving without insurance
• Driving whilst disqualified
We charge a fixed fee for a summary only motoring offence dealt with in one hearing. The fees are as follows:
For Half a Day at Court
Senior Solicitor - £450 plus VAT
Partner - £600 plus VAT
Full Day at Court
Senior Solicitor - £800 plus VAT
Partner - £1,100 plus VAT
Additional Costs include
Travel Time to Court £50 plus VAT per hour
Travel costs to Court 45p per mile by car or public transport costs
Price Includes
• Initial telephone conference to obtain instructions and preliminary advice in respect of plea
• Consideration of all Documents provided by you
• Initial communication with Police or CPS
• Thereafter preparation of plea and mitigation ahead of the hearing
• Representation at Hearing.
• Correspondence as to advice and outcome of your case
If we consider your case comes within special reasons we will seek, were possible, it be dealt with at the first hearing, however, this is beyond our control and at the hands of the Court. In the event that a second hearing is required, this will attract an additional hearing fee.
Price Does not Include
• Taking Statements from witnesses
• Instruction of experts
• Not Guilty Pleas
Time Scales
Your Court date will either be set by the police following arrest or by summons by the Court but as a general guide:
1. Initial advice / written letter of mitigation: within one month of instructions.
2. Plea in mitigation (personal): case usually concluded within 3 months.
3. Appeal to the Crown Court against sentence: the appeal would usually be concluded within 3 to 6 months.
4. Appeal to the Crown Court against conviction: the appeal would usually be concluded within 6 to 12 months. This can take longer due to huge backlogs at the Crown Court.
5. Trial in Magistrates Court: usually your trial would take place and be concluded within 6 to 12 months.
For full details of our team please look at the "Our People" section of the website.
* Calls are free of charge to this number from all consumer landlines and mobile phones.
If you are calling from a business phone, you should check with your provider whether there will be a charge for calling 0800 or 0808.