Driving Offence Solicitors

Being accused of a driving offence can have a significant impact on your daily life, your ability to work, and your independence. From penalty points and fines to potential driving disqualification or even criminal convictions, motoring allegations must be taken seriously from the outset.

At Burton Copeland, our specialist driving offence solicitors provide expert legal advice and robust representation to help protect your licence and minimise the consequences you face.

As a leading criminal defence firm with over 35 years of experience, we are recognised for our expertise in road traffic and motoring law. Our dedicated driving offence team acts for clients across England and Wales, offering immediate support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our driving offence expertise

We represent individuals facing all types of motoring allegations, from minor speeding matters through to the most serious road traffic offences. Our team regularly defends cases including:

• Speeding offences and fixed penalty notices
• Drink driving and drug driving allegations
• Dangerous driving and careless driving
• Driving without insurance or a valid licence
• Mobile phone use while driving
• Failure to provide driver information (Section 172 offences)
• Totting up bans and penalty point accumulation
• Traffic sign and road regulation breaches
• Vehicle defect and commercial driving offences

Many of these offences carry mandatory penalty points or disqualification risks, which can quickly escalate and affect employment, particularly for professional drivers and those who rely on their licence for work.

Exceptional hardship and totting-up bans

If you are facing a driving disqualification under the “totting-up” rules (where reaching 12 or more penalty points typically results in a mandatory 6-month ban) you may still have an opportunity to keep your licence through an exceptional hardship application. At Burton Copeland, we have extensive experience in preparing and presenting these applications, which involve making a detailed legal submission to the court explaining why a disqualification would cause consequences beyond those normally expected.

Exceptional hardship is not simply inconvenience or difficulty- it must demonstrate a significant and disproportionate impact, often affecting your employment, family, or others who rely on you. This could include the loss of your livelihood, the inability to care for dependants, or serious disruption to a business or employees. Our role is to carefully assess your circumstances, gather supporting evidence, and present a clear, persuasive case to the court.

We guide you through every step of the process, from preparing your statement to representing you at the hearing, ensuring your application is structured effectively and delivered with impact. With the right approach, an exceptional hardship argument can make a crucial difference, potentially allowing you to retain your driving licence and avoid disqualification.

Protecting your driving licence and your future

For many people, losing a driving licence can have life-changing consequences. It can affect employment, family responsibilities, and financial stability. Our role is to act quickly and decisively to protect your position, whether that means keeping you on the road or reducing the impact of any penalty imposed.

We also assist with licence restoration cases, totting-up bans, and appeals, helping clients regain their ability to drive as efficiently as possible.

How our driving offence solicitors can help

At Burton Copeland, we understand the stress and uncertainty that comes with facing a driving allegation. That is why we offer clear, practical advice and strong representation at every stage of the process. Whether you are under investigation or have already been charged, our experienced driving offence solicitors are here to help you navigate the legal system and achieve the best possible outcome.