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Driving licence retained Following successful Exceptional Hardship Argument Lavender Hill Magistrates Court 2024

The Best Solicitors in London for Speeding Cases and Exceptional Hardship

Our client retained his driving licence retained Following Successful Exceptional Hardship Argument Lavender Hill Magistrates Court 2024

Our client was a Regional Director for a company that had 9 penalty points on his licence and acquired a further 15 points for an additional speeding offence and two offences of failing to provide information relating to the identification of a driver of a named vehicle that had committed speeding offences. 

He required his driving licence because –

  1. He is required to attend various business sites as a part of his employment. A disqualification would have resulted in the loss of his employment.
  2.  He is a joint carer for his mother requiring him to take his mother to her hospital and GP appointments. 
  3. His sister has medical issues requiring our client to assist her with the joint care of their mother.

We met our client on a private competitive fixed fee basis and provided advice on the strengths of his case establishing swiftly that his case was meritorious.

Where you obtain 12 or greater penalty points on your driving licence within three years, you could be disqualified from driving for a minimum of 6 months. In some cases, the ban you receive could be extended.

If it is not possible to dispute the court's order of 12 or more penalty points, a driving ban does not always follow. JD Spicer Zeb’s Traffic Traffic team can argue that you would suffer from ‘exceptional hardship’ if you were to receive a driving ban.

Exceptional hardship arguments go beyond highlighting the immediate difficulties facing anyone who receives a driving ban. Examples of exceptional hardship arguments include, but are not limited to:

  • If you have serious health problems that will get worse
  • Where carer for another with a serious health issue
  • If you will lose your income and job
  • Potential homelessness if you can not pay rent or mortgage when stop working

In this case, we demonstrated that our client would suffer Exceptional Hardship if  he were disqualified from driving for the following reasons:- 

  • Loss of his employment. This would also impact his ability to pay his rent and outgoings. 
  • He would not be in a position to care for his mother and take her to her hospital and GP appointments. 
  • The loss of his licence would cause his sister hardship in looking after their elderly mother. 

Our client retains his driving licence and job and was delighted with the outcome.  

If you find yourself facing a speeding case in London, it’s crucial to have expert legal representation. Speeding offenses can lead to penalties, fines, and even disqualification from driving. However, there’s a legal argument called “exceptional hardship” that can help you avoid or reduce a driving ban.

What is Exceptional Hardship?

Exceptional hardship refers to extreme inconvenience or suffering beyond what the law considers appropriate for a totting-up ban. When you accumulate 12 or more penalty points on your license, you face a mandatory disqualification. However, if you can prove exceptional hardship, the court may reduce or avoid the disqualification.

JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors

JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors is a national practice with a large team of excellent lawyers and support staff. We specialise in criminal law and have extensive experience in preparing and successfully arguing exceptional hardship applications before the Magistrates’ Court. Our track record includes helping many clients avoid mandatory totting-up disqualifications.

JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors have received multiple national awards and are recognised by independent review platforms. Their commitment to client service excellence earned us the Law Society Excellence Award in 2020.

 JD Spicer Zeb stands out as solicitors in London who can assist with speeding cases and exceptional hardship:

Exceptional Hardship: A Vital Defence

When facing a driving ban due to totting-up points, exceptional hardship can be your lifeline. It goes beyond inconvenience, addressing significant impacts on your career, family, and finances. If you’re falsely accused or need to avoid disqualification, seek expert legal advice early to maximise your chances of success.

Remember, exceptional hardship is not just everyday inconvenience; it must be truly exceptional. Evidence is crucial, and hardship claims should be supported by proof in person or in writing. JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors can guide you through this complex legal process.

Don’t let a driving ban disrupt your life—fight for exceptional hardship and stay on the road.

 

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How can we help?

Common questions

We always work with the most experienced and best leading UK barristers, KCs (Kings Counsel). We cover all criminal cases 24/7 at the police station and court. Offices in London, Birmingham, and Manchester cover cases across England and Wales. We can offer Legal Aid and affordable Private fee agreements. We can see you the same day, including virtually. Our Senior Partners supervise all of our cases.

How quickly do you respond?

We respond quickly even during out of hours. We do not get our work by paying for online adverts but based on the fact that few criminal law firms can match our 45 years of experience. Most of our cases are still from word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. We are called daily by dissatisfied clients from firms with less experience than us. We respond very quickly to new enquiries. We know what clients seek and so we update clients rapidly.

Can you get cases dropped?

Yes, read about the recent cases we've helped our clients with here.

We always keep you updated and give straightforward advice. We will get cases dropped early where the case is weak or should not be prosecuted. We will be upfront with you about where you can benefit from a good result with an early guilty plea, such as a discount on your sentence. As we work on cases across all levels with clients from all walks of life, we are excellent at giving clear, spot-on advice. As an established firm, we can allocate a whole team to your case often at short notice to secure evidence to minimise the damage to you. 

Have you won any awards?

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODY THE LAW SOCIETY AWARDED US IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD AND STATED - 

"JD Spicer Zeb demonstrated a clear commitment to client service through their work with vulnerable and diverse individuals in what can be severely traumatic circumstances".

Do you offer free consultations?

Where it is possible, we aim to provide an initial consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about  –

  • Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
  • Public and private funding benefits.
  • Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
  • An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
  • Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
  • The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
  • Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
  • Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
  • Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
  • If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
  • This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.
  • Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases –

  • If we do not intend to take the case on.
  • Road Traffic cases, drink driving, drug driving, driving bans, speeding, no insurance, mobile phone use, points etc.
  • In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
  • Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are often too complicated to assess in short consultations.
  • The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
  • The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
  • In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
  • If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
  • If you have been released under investigation and have already had a police station attendance. 
  • If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
  • If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
  • To businesses.
  • Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
  • Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
  • Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
  • Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
  • If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
  • If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.