To many drivers, a speeding ticket feels like a fixed administrative process: you get the letter, you pay the fine, you take the points. It feels inevitable. But in 2026, with the enforcement threshold lowered and the penalties increased, treating a speeding charge as "inevitable" is a mistake that can cost you your licence.
Speeding is a "strict liability" offence—meaning the intent doesn't matter, only the speed does. However, the outcome of the case is far from fixed. There is a vast difference between receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice (3 points and £100) and being summoned to court for a disqualification. This is where speeding offence solicitors change the equation.
We are not just processors of paperwork; we are officers of the court. We understand that while the camera provides the data, the Magistrate provides the judgment. By moving the conversation from a digital transaction to a legal argument, we can often save a licence that looked lost. Here is how professional solicitors dismantle the prosecution’s case or mitigate the damage.
- The "Disclosure" Strategy: Forcing the Police to Prove It
When you accept a Fixed Penalty, you are essentially taking the police's word for it. When you plead "Not Guilty" and instruct speeding offence solicitors, we demand the evidence.
- The Evidence Bundle:The prosecution must provide the "Initial Details of the Prosecution Case" (IDPC). Often, this bundle is incomplete.
- The Calibration Certificate:We demand the current calibration certificate for the specific device used. In 2026, with police resources stretched, we frequently find that cameras are out of date or that the officer’s training certificate has lapsed. If the device wasn’t authorized, the reading is inadmissible.
- The Dual Check:For laser devices (LTI 20.20), the officer is supposed to perform a "pre-shift" and "post-shift" check to ensure accuracy. If they forgot the post-shift check because they were rushing off duty, the evidence is unreliable. We find these errors because we know where to look.
- Avoiding the "Short Ban" Trap (Discretionary Disqualification)
If your speed was high (e.g., 90mph in a 60mph zone), the court will consider a short disqualification (7–56 days) or 6 points.
- The Risk:Many drivers think, "I'll just take the 2-week ban and get it over with."
- The Insurance Aftershock:What they don't realize is that insurance companies in 2026 view a disqualification (code SP30 with a ban) as a major risk factor. Your premiums could triple for the next five years.
- The Solicitor’s Goal:We often argue against the short ban and advocate for the points instead (provided you aren't on 9 points already). Points are often financially less damaging in the long run than a ban record. We tailor the outcome to your specific career and insurance reality.
- The "Totting Up" Defence (12 Points)
If this speeding offence takes you to 12 points, you face an automatic 6-month "totting up" ban. This is mandatory—unless you prove "Exceptional Hardship."
- The Courtroom Performance:You cannot just write a letter. You must stand in the witness box and be cross-examined by the prosecutor and the magistrates. This is terrifying for most people.
- The Preparation:Speeding offence solicitors prepare you for this. We do a mock cross-examination. We help you gather the documents (mortgage statements, business accounts, letters from dependents) that prove a ban would lead to loss of home or loss of employment for others. We turn a sob story into a legal argument that meets the strict criteria of the Sentencing Council Guidelines.
- The "Newton Hearing": Disputing the Speed
Sometimes, you admit you were speeding, but you dispute how fast.
- The Scenario:You admit doing 35mph, but the police say 45mph. The difference is 3 points vs. a court summons and potential ban.
- The Hearing:We can request a "Newton Hearing." This is a mini-trial solely to decide the facts (the speed) before sentencing. We might use dashcam footage or telematics data from your car ("black box") to prove the police equipment was faulty. If the court accepts your speed of 35mph, you are sentenced for that lower speed, saving your licence.
- New Drivers: The 6-Point Danger Zone
For drivers within their first two years, speeding is high-stakes. A single offence of doing 51mph in a 30mph zone (Band B/C) could lead to 6 points.
- Immediate Revocation:6 points means your licence is revoked by the DVLA. You are back to being a learner.
- The Solicitor’s Fix:In this specific scenario, we might actually argue for a short discretionary ban (e.g., 14 days) instead of the points. Why? Because a ban does not trigger the New Driver Revocation act. Once the 14 days are up, you get your full licence back. Only points kill the licence. This is a technical legal manoeuvre that only specialist speeding offence solicitors know how to execute.
- Why Representation Matters
In a busy Magistrates' Court, you are one of 50 cases that day.
- The Voice:If you represent yourself, you are often interrupted or misunderstood.
- The Professional:When a solicitor stands up, the court listens. We speak the legal language. We know the case law. We ensure your mitigation is heard fully before the gavel comes down.
Do not let a camera decide your fate. Contact us to review the evidence and build a defence that keeps you on the road.
