Hamer Childs appreciate that times are tough and that the loss of your driving licence and consequent loss of your job could be devastating to you and your family. With this in mind Hamer Childs will do their best to help you keep your driving licence. We do this in a number of ways:-
- First, we consider whether or not you are guilty or not guilty of the offence(s) with which you are charged. If at all possible we will help secure an acquittal (a finding of not guilty) on your behalf. If successful you will keep your licence.
- Secondly, if you plead guilty or are found guilty after trial we then need to consider whether any disqualification that you face is either on an ‘obligatory’ (must be disqualified) basis or on a ‘penalty points’ basis. In the case of an obligatory or penalty points disqualification a Court does not have to disqualify you or endorse your licence (with the particulars of your offence) for an endorsable offence if it finds a ‘special reason’ for not disqualifying or endorsing.
- Thirdly, in the case of a penalty points disqualification (totting up) the Court similarly has a discretion not to impose a disqualification, or to impose a shorter period of disqualification than would otherwise be the case, where it is satisfied that there are grounds for mitigating (reducing) the normal consequences of your conviction. The most common way to do this is to argue ‘mitigating circumstances’ by way of ‘exceptional hardship’. ‘Exceptional’ means out of the ordinary and can relate to such things as loss of employment coupled with the knock on consequences of this, exceptional hardship to family members, or exceptional hardship to your employer or others.
Hamer Childs specialise particularly in drink driving and associated offences and speeding offences.
Hamer Childs provide a FREE initial consultation to discuss ways that we can help you save your driving licence, either by way of telephone or appointment.
Motoring matters are not generally matters which attract legal aid unless they are imprisonable (which most motoring matters are not). Hamer Childs therefore provide the choice between instructing us on a time/cost basis or a fixed fee basis. Please see our funding page for further details.
Call: 01905 724565
Magistrates’ Court Motoring Fees and Services
Let us be clear from the outset, if you have come to this page and are shopping on price rather than quality, experience and commitment, then you have come to the wrong place.
If, you like us, believe that quality, experience and commitment at a reasonable price are more important than the lowest price, then you have come to the right place.
Fixed Fees
Hamer Childs tend to offer fixed fees, as our clients have told us this is what they prefer. Should you wish to instruct us on a time/cost basis then please contact us so that we can discuss our hourly rate.
- Drink/ Drug driving guilty plea: £300 plus VAT.
- Other motoring matter guilty pleas: £350 plus VAT.
- Half day motoring matter trials: £1200 plus VAT.
- Full day motoring matter trials: £2000 plus VAT.
- Exceptional hardship arguments: £800 plus VAT
- Special reasons arguments: £800 plus VAT (based on less than a half day hearing).
Please note, that we have a strict policy that all fees are paid to us before your hearing date. Failing this, we will be unable to represent you. We are happy if this is done by way of stage payments as long as the full fee is paid before your hearing date.
The above fees do not include instruction of any expert witness or any other disbursements.
Services
The above fees include the following services:
- All reasonable attendances.
- All reasonable preparation.
- All reasonable advice.
- All letters and telephone calls.
- All Attendances at court (Please see below).
In relation to guilty pleas: The above fees and services are based on one court attendance. Where such cases are adjourned, a further fee will be payable which will amount to no more than a further £200 plus VAT.
In relation to trials: The above fees and services are based on one attendance at any plea hearing, which will be usually be the first hearing and one attendance at any subsequent trial. Trial dates are normally set on the day of the plea/first hearing.
Where we consider any trial to be complicated, because of, for example, non-standard arguments concerning the law or because there are a large number of witnesses then the above fee will not apply and on a case specific basis we will provide you with details of our fixed fee for this type of case. A similar principle will apply where an unforeseen complexity arises, or further work is required because you choose not to follow our advice or instruct us to do work which we consider to be unnecessary.
Who will deal with your case
Generally speaking, all motoring matters for the firm are dealt with by Gary Harper. Gary has been qualified as a solicitor since 1994 and as a solicitor – advocate (Higher Court Criminal Proceedings) since 2010 and has a particular interest in motoring matters and prides himself on the number of cases where he has been successful in saving clients’ driving licences. Gary is also the firm’s supervisor for criminal matters (which include motoring matters dealt with at the magistrates’ court).
If Gary is not available, or should you prefer it, then your case will be dealt with by Mark Turnbull who has been qualified as a solicitor since 2006 and very regularly deals with drink/drug driving and other motoring matters.
On occasion, or again, should you prefer it, your case may be dealt with by a barrister.