Help and support for defending allegations of drink driving.
Being arrested or cautioned for drink driving can be a distressing experience. The consequences can be severe, ranging from fines to driving bans, to potential imprisonment.
At David W Harris, our expert team of driving offence solicitors can support you to navigate a drink driving charge, intervening at any stage to make sure your rights are protected and you have the strongest possible defence.
We will provide a personal and reassuring service, bringing our legal expertise to you in English or Welsh, making sure to address the specifics of your case. We work quickly to provide practical advice on the most effective strategy for your defence. Wherever possible, we provide a transparent estimate of our legal fees and a consideration for legal aid eligibility.
If you or someone you know has been arrested or cautioned for drink driving, please contact our dedicated team as soon as you can. The sooner we are involved, the more likely it is that we can secure a favourable outcome for your case.
Drink driving solicitor emergency contact numbers
For our Swansea 24/7 service, please call 07496 697906.
For our Rhondda Cynon Taff 24/7 service, please call 07572 746303.
Our drink driving solicitors’ expertise includes:
- Police station representation
- Gathering evidence in your case
- Advising you of your position and the options available to you
- Putting together a robust defence
- Representation at court
- Criminal appeals
Consult our drink driving solicitors in Swansea, Pontypridd or Talbot Green
You can contact your local David W Harris office in Pontypridd, Swansea or Talbot Green.
Alternatively, please use our simple online enquiry form to book a free initial chat with one of our drink driving solicitors in South Wales. We respond promptly to all enquiries.
Our experience with drink driving
Police station representation
If you are arrested on suspicion of a drink driving offence, it is vital that you have the right legal representation by your side during any police station interviews.
Our drink drive solicitors can appear at the police station on short notice, ensuring that your rights are respected and that you are supported during any questioning that may be carried out.
We will carefully guide you through what to expect while you are in police custody, ensuring that the correct procedures are carried out, protecting you from pressure or manipulation, and preventing you from saying anything that may negatively impact you in the future.
Gathering evidence in your case
In order to successfully challenge a drink driving offence, it’s crucial to collect evidence and examine it closely, including the breathalyser results, blood or urine tests, witness statements, and officer reports.
We will work with our trusted independent experts to analyse the accuracy and fairness of the test results or find any potential procedural errors.
Wherever possible, we will uncover weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and leverage them to your advantage, lessening your sentence and the damages to your reputation.
Advising you of your position and the options available to you
It’s crucial to understand your legal situation. During the stress of the accusation and test, you might struggle to know where you stand.
Our DUI lawyers will provide clear, honest advice about the evidence against you, the potential consequences you face, and the possible defences you could use.
Putting together a robust defence
Whether you were stopped without due cause, have a medical condition that may have interfered with the results, or the police have made any other type of mistake, our solicitors specialising in drink driving will build a robust defence tailored to your specific circumstances.
We’ll thoroughly explore every legal avenue, questioning the reliability and accuracy of the evidence and highlighting your positive factors or hardships. Then, we'll put together a well-structured and defendable defence.
Representation at court
If your case goes to court, it is key to have confident and experienced representation by your side. Our expert team of drunk driving lawyers and barristers can prepare your case and advocate for you professionally.
We’ll explain every step of the process to you and help you to understand your options, ensuring every decision that you make reflects your best interests.
Our goal will be to achieve acquittal or, if this is not possible, minimise the punishment for drink driving, and our advice will help you to navigate the court process in a way that best reflects your deserving of alternatives to disqualification.
Criminal appeals
It’s not too late if you have already received a conviction or sentence. We might still be able to help. We can certainly assess your situation and advise you on your options.
Our drink and drive solicitors will review the circumstances of your conviction and advise on whether there is a way to appeal, perhaps due to procedural error, the recovery of new evidence, or an unfair outcome.
Common questions about drink driving claims
What happens if you get caught drink driving in the UK?
If you’re caught drink driving in the UK, there is a chance that you could be arrested on the spot, given a breathalyser test, and questioned at a police station.
If the breathalyser test results indicate that your blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit, then you could face a court hearing, fines, a driving ban, or a prison sentence.
Is drink driving a criminal offence?
Yes. In the UK, drink driving is a criminal offence, and can result in significant fines, a criminal record, driving disqualification and, in serious cases, imprisonment.
A criminal conviction can negatively impact your insurance, job, travel ability, and reputation. Legal representation from our specialist DUI lawyers can help you protect your rights.
How long does drink driving stay on a criminal record in the UK?
A drink driving offence can remain on your driving record for 11 years and indefinitely on your criminal record. The timeframe will be impacted by the severity of your sentence.
Can you go to prison for drink driving?
Yes. Depending on the severity of your offence, and other aggravating factors such as a history of offences, extremely high alcohol levels, or harm caused to others, could lead to a custodial sentence.
Less severe offences will usually lead to penalties, fines, disqualification or community service. We will always aim to minimise the punishment for drink driving that you face.
How many points could you get for drink driving?
Drink driving usually results in a minimum twelve-month driving ban. In exceptional circumstances, you may alternatively receive points on your license.
Can you still drive until you go to court?
Yes, you can still drive until your court appearance. However, if the police issue an interim disqualification, then you may be banned from driving.
In any case, it's essential to speak to our solicitors specialising in drink driving to prepare for what lies ahead.
Consult our drink driving solicitors in Swansea, Pontypridd or Talbot Green
You can contact your local David W Harris office in Pontypridd, Swansea or Talbot Green.
Alternatively, please use our simple online enquiry form to book a free initial chat with one of our drink driving solicitors in South Wales. We respond promptly to all enquiries.