Too take a brief or not?

[simonm]

Well my Summons has duly arrived for my 102mph at night on the M5 in July.

It's in October in Telford. I'm not sure whether to go alone or take a Brief, what's the view. I'm not sure it will make much of a difference, compared to the finacial cost of taking him from South Wales anyway.

Going on the "Ban or Points" thread, also not sure what would be preferable and is this ever an option in Court. As I'm on 6 points already.

Also how long do these proceedings normally take and are they intimidating, not beem near a court in my life and as such am a but apprehensive.

Thanks
Simon

>>> Edited by simonm on Monday 30th September 16:39

[Marcos Maniac]

quote:Well my Summons has duly arrived for my 102mph at night on the M5 in July.

It's in October in Telford. I'm not sure whether to go alone or take a Brief, what's the view. I'm not sure it will make much of a difference, compared to the finacial cost of taking him from South Wales anyway.

Going on the "Ban or Points" thread, also not sure what would be preferable and is this ever an option in Court. As I'm on 6 points already.

Also how long do these proceedings normally take and are they intimidating, not beem near a court in my life and as such am a but apprehensive.

Thanks
Simon

You are probably looking at a ban anyway.

Taking a brief is really dependant on how long you can afford to lose your licence for, a good brief can argue that it would affect your employment etc, as would a letter from your employer.

You need to think about whether the cost of paying a brief and hopefully getting off with say an 8 week ban and a couple of hundred quid fine outweighs a possible 6 month ban an same fine.

Personally I would take a brief, its worked well for me a couple of times, another possibility is to find a brief local to the court - they know how the magistrates think/work etc

IMHO

[sp60]

I didn't take a solicitor to my case. Dunno if it made
a difference or not, I just kinda grunted at the judge
'cos I didn't know how to address him!! I did have a
letter prepared by a solicitor to explain mitigating
circumstances tho. This was sent in with my original
guilty plea and was read out in court. You will have to
fill out a form detailing your weekly income and
outgoings tho. so that they can means test you for a
fine.
You cannot specify whether or not to get a ban, but you
can try to push the decision one way or another by
what you write as mitigating circumstances. Speak to a
solicitor about this and at least have them do this.
To be honest tho. with 6 points already I would say
your probably looking at a short ban unless you can
persuade the court that you really really need to be
able to drive and that it would cause undue hardship to
people other than yourself if you were to be banned

[Lucozade]

Don't know of the merits of one yet. I've had one working on my case since July 2001. It's been adjourned time and time again although I'm not getting a "feel good" factor from him at all. Other posts have suggested binning him in favour of someone else.
Oh and by the way I've paid a fortune so far for no apparent gain.

[simonm]

hmmm... that's my worry, paying for something I don't need. Sounds like there's alot to be said for going solo, and eating lots of humble pie, for ostensibly the same result.

I'll have to have a think on this one. But might have a go alone.

[sp60]

I got all my legal advice free 'cos my brothers a solicitor! All he did tho. was to basically tell me not to bother arguing as there was no point, and to write a nice letter on headed paper that simply explained that I was driving safely and that I am normally a law abiding driver, it was a one off etc...

Oh, and good luck for it whatever you decide

>> Edited by sp60 on Tuesday 1st October 16:09