Special Reasons

Special reasons can be argued by the driver to avoid a ban for exceeding the drink drive limit in some cases where no legal defence is available. A criminal record may be avoided and your legal fees reimbursed in some cases.

Emergencies

Some drivers may feel they had no alternative but to drive whilst they were over the limit. Where this happens you may be able to argue "special reasons" as a way of avoiding a driving ban. The typical cases involve some kind of emergency.

Short distance driven

The Courts do accept arguments that a driver should keep their license where the vehicle was driven a short distance so that no real risk was posed to the public.

Spiked/ laced drinks

Where you later become aware that you drank more alcohol than you intended, we can calculate what your reading may have been without the added drink. Where this results in your alcohol level being below the legal limit, we may argue against a ban on your behalf.

This way of avoiding a driving ban applies if someone added alcohol to your drink without you being aware, you accidentally drank more than intended or you were misled or about what, or how much, you had to drink.

Medication/ medical conditions and interfering substances

Some medical conditions and medications influence the rate by which alcohol is eliminated by the body. This can mean that your alcohol reading at the police station is not an accurate reflection of the amount of alcohol consumed. Likewise inhaling fumes or coming into contact with certain substances such as liquids, sprays or inhalers can result in an unreliable reading on the breath test device.

In some circumstances we can ‘plea bargain’ with the police to allow these circumstances to be taken into account which may avoid a driving ban.

See Also: Legal Defences - Mistakes in Police Procedure - Reduction of Driving Bans