Falkirk sits at a motorway crossroads. The M9 runs past the town on its way between Edinburgh and Stirling, the M876 cuts across to join the M80 for Glasgow, and the A9 and A803 carry local traffic through the middle of it. Very few places in Scotland put a driver within half an hour of both cities, and that convenience is exactly why so many motoring charges arise here — fast roads at either end of an ordinary commute. The fine is rarely the difficulty. Penalty points, the premium that follows and a disqualification that makes the journey impossible are. Charles Ferguson Solicitors defend motoring charges across the Falkirk district from our Glasgow office at 20-23 Woodside Place, G3 7QL. Call 0141 345 5735.
Falkirk Sheriff Court — Road Traffic Cases
Motoring prosecutions arising in Falkirk are dealt with at Falkirk Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, Sheriff Court House, Main Street, Camelon, Falkirk FK1 4AR, in the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife. The court is in Camelon rather than the town centre, which catches out Falkirk residents as often as visitors, so allow for that when you travel. Routine summary 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 Falkirk
Drink Driving and Drug Driving — Scotland's limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood is the lowest in the United Kingdom, and it catches a great many drivers the morning after rather than the night before. 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 often the correct charge, particularly at the town's roundabouts and the motorway slip roads. Speeding — the M9, the M876, the A9, the A803 and the A883 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.
Commuting in Two Directions, and Shift Work
The reason a disqualification bites hard in Falkirk is that the town works in two directions at once. A large share of its residents commute west to Glasgow or east to Edinburgh, and while the rail service covers the standard working day it does not cover shift patterns. Forth Valley Royal Hospital at Larbert is among the district's biggest employers and runs around the clock; so do the distribution sites along the M9 and the plants at Grangemouth. Add the trades and contracting businesses that cannot operate without a van, and the loss of a licence is frequently the loss of the job rather than an inconvenience. That argument only works in court if it is evidenced — rotas, contracts, journey times and figures, not a general statement of hardship. We prepare exceptional hardship applications on that basis, and we say honestly when one is unlikely to succeed. Call 0141 345 5735.
Areas Served Across the Falkirk District
We act for drivers charged anywhere in the Falkirk district, including Falkirk, Camelon, Bainsford, Grahamston, Carron, Carronshore, Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Denny, Dunipace, Bonnybridge, Polmont, Laurieston, Redding, Brightons, Maddiston, Slamannan, Airth, Grangemouth and Bo'ness. Charges commonly arise on the M9, the M876, the A9, the A803, the A883 and the A904. Call 0141 345 5735.