It is an offence to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle, on a public road or other public place whilst in excess of the prescribed alcohol limit.
In order to be charged with the drink driving offence the proportion of alcohol in your body must exceed the following limits:
- 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath
- 80 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood
- 107 mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine
The minimum penalty you could receive is a 12 months disqualification and a fine dependent on your financial means. Being charged with drink driving offence does not mean that you will automatically lose your licence. It is important to carefully consider the circumstances of the offence to see if a special reason can be successfully argued.
Special reasons include:
- Spiked drinks
- Short distance driven
- The reason for driving was in a response to an emergency
Arguing special reasons can be difficult, therefore is is important that you obtain advice from an expert solicitor who will help you to protect your license.
Many people do not think that having representation in court is necessary when pleading guilty to a charge of drink driving, however being represented by a experienced solicitor is essential to advise you which circumstances can be used as mitigating to ensure that you receive the lowest sentence possible.