
Paisley Sheriff Court — Road Traffic Cases
Motoring prosecutions arising in Johnstone are heard at Paisley Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, St James Street, Paisley PA3 2HW, in the Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde. 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. Paisley is a busy court, and motoring cases there benefit from being prepared rather than simply attended.
Motoring Offences We Defend in Johnstone
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. We examine Intoximeter calibration and maintenance records, the procedure followed at the police station, and whether the hip flask defence is available on the facts. Dangerous Driving — conviction carries disqualification for at least 12 months and a compulsory extended retest, so whether the driving was dangerous or merely careless is very often the decisive question. Careless Driving — a matter of degree, and frequently the correct charge where the Crown has pitched it too high. Speeding — the A737 through and past the town, the A761, the A8 corridor and the M8 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.
