Texting While Driving - What's the Penalty?

HOW MUCH IS A TICKET IF YOU TEXT AND DRIVE?

Currently, texting on any device while driving is an offence that attracts a penalty. It is important to understand the law under which texting and driving UK guidelines fall. It is illegal for any motorist behind the wheel on any road throughout England and Wales to operate a handheld mobile device.

This means you cannot read, compose or send any text message when driving, even when you stop at any traffic lights. Even the existing exceptions to call 999 or 112 during an emergency do not apply to texting and driving.

With the current mobile phone laws coming to effect on March 1st 2017, the ticket for getting caught texting when driving is now £200, which was doubled from £100. Our motoring solicitors are supportive of campaigns to ensure motorists are safe from committing such an offence, but we can offer legal guidance to anyone charged with such an offence who may have mitigating circumstances.

HOW MANY POINTS IS TEXTING AND DRIVING?

Since texting while driving in England and Wales classes as driving while using a handheld device, you receive punishment under the new mobile phone rules. This means that if the police find it appropriate, they will issue 6 penalty points for the offence. There are other alternative measures by the police, but the issuance of 6 points on the driving licence of a driver is what the law stipulates.

Considering 6 penalty points at once is a considerable number of points, it is clear that the government finds the texting while driving UK offences to be a serious issue. We offer legal help to offenders at Caddick Davies Solicitors, but we also stress the importance of understanding and complying to the new mobile phone laws.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PENALTIES FOR TEXTING AND DRIVING?

Besides the £200 fine for texting and driving and issuance of six penalty points on your licence, there are other penalties for a serious offence in this area. You could be disqualified from driving under certain circumstances. For instance, for licence holders within their first 2 years of driving, receiving up to 6 penalty points leads to an automatic ban for driving. This group of licence holders will have to retake the same practical and theory tests they took when passing their driving before being allowed to drive again.

For other drivers, receiving up to 12 points can lead to disqualification from driving. Of course, the 6 points you receive as a penalty for texting and driving is one of the fastest ways to accumulate penalty points on your licence. Be careful not to accumulate the points up to a number that could lead to you being banned from driving. There are times when the police find it appropriate to offer awareness courses instead of a fine if they catch you driving and texting. You could consider that instead of another penalty.

DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO COURT FOR TEXTING AND DRIVING?

A texting while driving UK offence can bring many problems, including going to court. At times you may believe you have a reason to refuse the fine issued by the police. The police may also consider your offence to be severe and could issue court summons. Please remember texting offences include reading, composing and sending messages on a phone while holding it.

This means texting and driving will always be considered as using a handheld mobile device while driving. For cases with aggravating features, you may need to go to court for texting and driving. Should your case reach this particular point, you should consider finding an expert who can offer legal advice and assistance useful in court. If you need our reliable team of motoring solicitors at Caddick Davies, you can contact us today.

As leading motoring solicitors at Caddick Davies, we do not condone texting and driving, but instead take great efforts to raise awareness about this offence. We take time to look at the researches done and we have realised that texting and driving related accidents have been increasing. While we do not condone texting and driving offences, we offer reliable legal help for those who we believe may be able to defend their charge.

HOW DO YOU FIND LEGAL HELP IF YOU HAVE MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES?

If you believe you have mitigating circumstances when you are faced with a texting and driving UK charge, you may need expert help. To be able to find the right solicitor to help you, it is important that you involve an expert in the area. For texting while driving, and other motoring offences, you will require qualified motoring solicitors to advise and represent you in court if the need arises.

Caddick Davies Solicitors specialise solely in motoring offences. We have experience in representing clients in motoring courts across England and Wales. Our highly-qualified lawyers possess an in-depth knowledge of the driving and texting offence, as well as the key defences. We utilise any mitigating circumstances, with our expertise offering the best chance of a favourable outcome. Contact us if you’re issued with a court summons.

Call us on 03334 432 366 or use our website to email or request a callback. We will have a motoring law expert respond swiftly and offer the best legal advice for your case.