Cumbernauld was built around a road network, and the M80 that now runs past it carries a very large share of the traffic between Glasgow and Stirling. It is enforced accordingly, and the town's own distributor roads and roundabouts generate their own steady flow of careless driving charges. For a town where the distribution and manufacturing employers depend on drivers, and where a great many residents commute out each day, a disqualification is a serious matter. Charles Ferguson Solicitors defend motoring charges across North Lanarkshire from our Hamilton office at 1 Barrack Street, Hamilton ML3 0DG. Call 01698 285 885, or 0141 345 5735 in Glasgow.
Airdrie Sheriff Court — Road Traffic Cases
Motoring prosecutions arising in Cumbernauld are heard at Airdrie Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, Sheriff Court House, Graham Street, Airdrie ML6 6EE, in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway — not in Cumbernauld, and not in Glasgow. Routine summary motoring business — speeding, careless driving, insurance and licence offences — is generally taken in the Justice of the Peace Court, while drink driving, dangerous driving and cases prosecuted on indictment call before a sheriff. Where a collision has caused a death, the charge of causing death by dangerous driving is prosecuted in the High Court of Justiciary.
Motoring Offences We Defend in Cumbernauld
Drink Driving and Drug Driving — Scotland's limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood is the lowest in the United Kingdom, and shift patterns at the town's manufacturing and distribution sites put a great many drivers on the road early the following morning. We examine Intoximeter calibration and maintenance records, the procedure followed at the police station, and whether the hip flask defence is open on the facts. Dangerous Driving — conviction brings disqualification for at least 12 months and a compulsory extended retest, so whether the driving was dangerous or merely careless is frequently the whole case. Careless Driving — a question of degree, and one that comes up often on the town's roundabouts and slip roads. Speeding — the M80, the A80, the A8011, the A73 and the A806 are all routinely enforced; we check device type approval and calibration and whether a Notice of Intended Prosecution was served within 14 days. Totting Up and Exceptional Hardship — at 12 penalty points the court must disqualify for at least 6 months unless exceptional hardship is proved on evidence. Driving Without Insurance — 6 to 8 penalty points or discretionary disqualification. Mobile Phone Offences — 6 penalty points. Driving While Disqualified — a charge carrying a real risk of custody.
Distribution Work and the Commute Out
Cumbernauld's economy leans heavily on distribution, food and drink manufacturing and logistics, and those sites at Wardpark and around the M80 run on drivers with clean vocational licences. For them a disqualification means a Traffic Commissioner referral alongside the court outcome, and the two need to be handled together. Beyond that, the town was designed on the assumption that people would drive: the rail service at Cumbernauld and Croy is useful for the Glasgow and Edinburgh commute but does nothing for a shift finishing at three in the morning or for a trades business covering the central belt from a van. Where a ban would cost you your employment, the court needs that in evidence — licence category, rota, contract terms and figures. Call 01698 285 885 and ask about Legal Aid.
Areas Served Across North Lanarkshire
We act for drivers charged anywhere in North Lanarkshire, including Cumbernauld, Condorrat, Abronhill, Kildrum, Seafar, Carbrain, Balloch, Kilsyth, Croy, Queenzieburn, Banton, Moodiesburn, Chryston, Muirhead, Airdrie and Coatbridge. Charges commonly arise on the M80, the A80, the A8011, the A73 and the A806. Call 01698 285 885 or 0141 345 5735.