Driving offences

Pip and the Monk Lawyers team regularly represent clients who are charged with driving offences. Driving offences can range from using a mobile phone whilst driving through to dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous driving and in some circumstances manslaughter or even murder. Most driving offences are dealt with in the Magistrates Court - drink driving, drug driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without a licence, causing death by negligent driving and evading police are some examples. Some offences carry mandatory periods of disqualification, meaning you’ll be off the road for months or years. Depending on your circumstances and prior convictions, sentences for driving offences in the Magistrates Court can result not only in loss of your drivers licence, but serious penalties such as large fines, home detention orders and imprisonment.

In the Supreme Court, driving offences are likely to result in you receiving a significant sentence, such as imprisonment or home detention, as well as long periods of disqualification. That is because the Court is dealing with offences such as dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous driving, or manslaughter. It is really important to have a lawyer representing you in these circumstances, because the right advice and advocacy can have a drastic impact on the sentencing outcome.

In 2022, Pip represented TN who was charged with dangerous driving. There were a number of factors that led to this act of dangerous driving, and medical evidence was tendered during the proceedings which Pip had sought when it became clear that this evidence would be necessary. Because of these factors, TN did not receive a term of imprisonment of any type, and was instead ordered to perform some community service (along with mandatory driving disqualifications). Read more about this case.