Road Traffic and Driving Offences

Your driving licence can be one of most important things in life, a key to your independence and financial security.

If you are accused of a road traffic offence you will need representation by a specialist with unrivalled experience and an excellent knowledge of road traffic law.

Quentin has a reputation as one of the UK's premier Road Traffic lawyers and is the go-to choice for celebrities who need legal advice to keep their driving licences. He is renowned for an 'encyclopedic' knowledge of road traffic law, motoring offences and a ruthless attitude towards the cross examination of police officers and expert prosecution witnesses. His relentless pursuit of his clients' interests has helped many retain their driving licences and keep them clean of penalty points.

Now you can instruct Quentin directly without any solicitor’s intervention, thanks to Direct Access legislation. Simply contact Quentin for a free initial telephone consultation to explore your options.

Quentin has unrivalled experience of dealing with all types of road traffic case including:

 

High profile clients include:

  • Footballers: from the and other Premiership and Championship Footballers
  • Celebrities:  Pop Stars and other musicians 
  • World Champion Snooker Players

 

Professional drivers

Those who drive for a living know that keeping their licence is a top priority. Quentin realises how much a driving licence means to his professional driver clients and offers a complete service designed to help them keep their livelihood. Quentin has represented individuals such as highway maintenance drivers, taxi drivers, police officers and haulage drivers, helping them stay on the road. If you need your driving licence for work and face court proceedings contact Quentin for a no obligation conversation. 

Summary only motoring offences

Many driving offences can only be tried in the Magistrates’ Court (referred to as on a summary only basis). We provide representation covering a variety of different scenarios that may arise including, but not limited to:

  • Representation and advice at a single hearing
  • Representation and advice where a client pleads guilty, both at plea and sentence stage including legal arguments about whether a client should be disqualified from driving (including special reasons and exceptional hardship arguments)
  • Representation and advice where a client pleads not guilty, at all stages including trial and if necessary any subsequent sentence
  • Representation and advice where a client wishes to argue proceedings should not proceed for legal reasons or evidence should not be admitted for legal reasons.

In the majority of cases that go to trial, there will be an initial hearing (first hearing) followed by a trial hearing some months afterwards. Sometimes there will be a need for additional hearings depending on the nature of the case and orders made by the Court.

If a defendant pleads guilty at the first hearing, in most cases it will be possible to move straight to sentencing at the hearing. On occasions it will be necessary for a case to be adjourned for a period of 4-6 weeks for further information to be gathered, such as pre-sentence reports, psychiatric reports or other medical reports.

In all cases a payment structure can be arranged that suits both the lay client and barrister’s needs. A contract for the provision of legal services will be drafted, including provision for payment of fees and any additional fees that may arise. Payment structures can take a variety of different forms including but not limited to:

  • A fixed fee for the entire case
  • Separate payments for each hearing in a case
  • Payment on an hourly rate basis (including preparation travel, waiting as well as conference and advocacy)
  • Payment of a fee (brief fee) to accept the case with additional payments for each day in court (refreshers).

Typically, fees can range from £1,500 - £10,000 for a single hearing. There is no upper or lower limit. Each case will be discussed individually with the lay client. Mr Hunt’s hourly rate for such cases is £300 + VAT. All fees will attract and VAT.

On occasions there will be additional costs such as travel, waiting and hotel expenses. Where such costs are likely these will be identified and included within the overall discussion with the client at the outset of the case.

Sometimes, further additional costs may arise as a case progresses. These can arise for a number of different reasons, including, but not limited to:

  • The service of further evidence in a case, increasing its length and/or complexity
  • The need to consider further avenues of investigation requiring additional funding (such as the instruction of expert witnesses)
  • A change in requirements of the client
  • The case lasting longer than expected for reasons outside the control of the barrister or client (such as illness of jurors, witnesses failing to attend or a jury having to be discharged for legal reasons)

Mr Hunt will endeavour to ensure that within the contract for the provision of services between himself and the client, provision is made for any such eventuality.