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  • Drug Driving Lawyers

Drug Driving Lawyers

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If you’ve been accused of drug driving, you’ll need legal representation from experienced lawyers. Our experts are here to advise you of your options and on what you can expect, whether you choose to plead guilty or not guilty.

We understand how stressful being accused of drug driving can be for you. You’ll be concerned about your career, your freedom, and how your loved ones will be affected. Our experts have decades of experience working with people accused of drug driving. We can offer you specialists drug driving legal help.

Whether you wish to plead guilty or not guilty, our team will be by your side. If you plead guilty, we’ll work to get you the most lenient sentence possible. If you wish to plead not guilty, we’ll prepare your case for trial. We work with toxicologists who can review the drug analysis and expert barristers who will represent you in court.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation. We’ll advise you on the case against you and any available defences.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell's driving offence solicitors?

Over the decades of working on defences for drug driving offences, we’ve built strong working relationships with barristers and forensic experts. We’ll call on these people to help with your defence. Their expertise will be invaluable.

The leader of the team, Philip Somarakis, has over 25 years’ experience in the industry. He’s recognised as one of the leading names in motoring offences legal services.

We work flexibly around the UK. We’re able to come to meet you at your nearest office or organise a video or phone call. We’ll always work to best meet your needs.

Leading legal experts in drink driving charges
Over 25 years' experience in defending drink driving charges
Offices around the country
Accessible, flexible and professional service

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Loren Hills Associate Chartered Legal Executive Meet the team

More information on drug driving offences

If you’re convicted of drug driving, you'll be disqualified from driving for at least 12 months.

Depending on your case, the court can impose a longer disqualification. The court will also order you to pay a fine, or complete a community order, or you in the most serious cases, you can be sent to prison.

If you’ve previously been convicted of drug driving, drink driving, driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs, or failing to provide a specimen in the last ten years, you'll be disqualified for a minimum of three years.

If you plead guilty at the first hearing, the court should give you credit for this guilty plea. This credit will be reflected in the fine, community order or prison sentence only. It won't be reflected in the disqualification.

The law specifies the controlled drugs and the limits for the purposes of drug driving.

These are:

Controlled drug

Limit (microgrammes per litre of blood

Benzoylecgonine

50

Clonazepam

50

Cocaine

10

Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

2

Diazepam

550

Flunitrazepam

300

Ketamine

20

Lorazepam

100

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

1

Methadone

500

Methylamphetamine

10

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine

10

6-Monoacetylmorphine

5

Morphine

80

Oxazepam

300

Temazepam

1000

You can also be prosecuted for driving or attempting to drive or for being in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit.

 

Yes, if the police require you to complete a roadside breath test, an impairment test, or a preliminary drug test, and you don't comply, the police can arrest you for failing to complete the test without a reasonable excuse.

The police must prove all the elements of the offence, and we'll review your case in detail and advise you on the strength of the evidence against you. The police need to prove:

  • Driving or attempting to drive, on a road or other public place
  • That you were in a charge of vehicle on a road or other public place
  • That you had a specified control drug in your body and the amount of the controlled drug in your body exceeded the specified limit.

If the police pull you over, you may be asked to complete a preliminary drug wipe. If the results of this are positive, the police will arrest you, take you back to a police station, and ask you to provide a specimen of blood or urine.

The police will then send this specimen to a laboratory for testing. If the results confirm you are over the specified limit of a controlled drug, you'll be charged with drug driving.

The police have strict procedures which they must follow when requiring a blood or urine sample from you. The laboratory also needs to provide all the documentation relating to their analysis. The prosecution must show complete continuity from the specimen being taken from you to when it is being tested in the laboratory.

We'll forensically review your case and advise you on the challenges we can make.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth getting a solicitor for drug driving?

The procedures the police must follow in drug driving cases are complex. Even if an officer’s been in the force for a while, they might still not follow procedure. If the procedures aren’t followed, there can be mistakes, and this may lead to your acquittal.

Our experience and understanding of drug driving cases can be used to help with your case.

How much does a drug driving solicitor cost?

The cost will vary depending on the needs of your case. We might need to instruct an expert, and their expertise will be crucial to your case and can often form an important part of your defence.

Visit our costs page for more information.

How long does the process take?

Drug driving cases can take a while given the complex nature of the procedures and the court process. For that reason, we can’t give you an exact timeframe.

The police have six months to charge you from the date of the offence, and it may then be a further month or two before you can attend a first hearing. If you plead guilty, you may be sentenced on the same day. If you plead not guilty, a Trial hearing will be fixed, and this can be two-to-three months or more later.

About Irwin Mitchell

Founded in Sheffield in 1912, Irwin Mitchell has always been a bit different. Our advisers really get to know the people and business that we help.

We have offices around the UK so wherever you are, our experts can help.

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