Motoring Law – Could you be caught out?

Most people associate breaking the law in your car with the most common offences: speeding, drink driving and dangerous driving but did you know you can be prosecuted for a wide range of unique, yet still serious offences. Here’s a list of 10 motoring offences you didn’t know were true:

Leaving snow on your car’s roof

Leaving snow on the roof of your car isn’t strictly against the law, but if the snow suddenly moves forward to block your view or backwards to land on another car, you could be charged with driving without due consideration or driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition. You could be facing 3 points on your licence and a fine of £60.

Unclear numberplate

If your number plate is covered in dirt or snow, or your numberplate light isn’t working, making it unreadable; you can be penalised with a fine of up to £1,000 under the Road Vehicles Regulations 2001.

Sleeping in your car whilst intoxicated

This is a controversial law which has seen countless number of drivers get prosecuted for. If you’ve had a drink and (correctly) decide not to drive home, even if you fall asleep in your car; you can be caught foul of being ‘in charge’ of a motor vehicle whilst intoxicated.

Splashing people

You may feel this is harmless and just a bit of fun, but this can be a ground for prosecution on the basis of driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This can typically see you being issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice, but could amount to more serious proceedings if the case went to Court.

Parking on the wrong side of the road at night

Although this may seem like a trivial offence, it can pose serious risks to other road users by the dazzle of the headlights (even when turned off), also rear reflectors won’t be visible for oncoming traffic. You can receive a Penalty Charge Notice for this.

Driving with pets

It can be dangerous to travel with an unsecured pet in your car. This can be a basis for prosecution of ‘distracting driving’, such as using your mobile phone or eating whilst driving. This would usually only amount to a £100 fixed penalty fine and 3 points but a Court could dramatically increase this to a fine of up to £5,000 and 9 penalty points.

Driving with poor vision

Some drivers have information codes on the back of their licence which states they are unable to drive without wearing glasses. Although this is quite rare and common sense should prevail to drivers, you could get a fine of £100 or if the Court was involved they could increase this to £1,000 and up to 6 points. Don’t risk it.

Parking within 10 metres of a junction

Parking too close to the exit of a main junction can be hazardous to both road users and pedestrians depending on the circumstances. This is in contrary to the Highway Code which can carry penalties from 3 points on your licence depending on the seriousness and persistence of the offence.

Using an unsecured sat-nav

This could potentially be categorised as using a mobile phone whilst driving which can lead to very serious consequences, currently an automatic 6 points on your licence and a £200 on the spot fine. If this was to go to Court, the fine could rise to £1,000. Ensure your sat-nav is fixed, in a safe position, in your windscreen to avoid this predicament.

Sounding your horn

Even though sometimes we consider it simply necessary, and certainly convenient to sound your horn to get the traffic flowing, it is, in fact, illegal to do so; unless your alerting another user to a danger and can justify your actions. It’s also an offence to sound the horn on a street-lit road with a 30mph limit between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7 am – so avoid waking up your neighbours!

We can talk you through your options and help you achieve the best result if you’ve been charged with the most trivial of motoring law offences, to the most serious, by contacting our expert team of criminal defence specialists today on 01924 379 078 or email criminal@chadlaw.co.uk.