Clydesdale is the most rural part of Lanarkshire, and the roads reflect it. The M74 runs down the western edge, but most local driving happens on the A70, the A72, the A73 and the A702 — single carriageway, often slow-moving behind farm traffic, and exactly where an overtake becomes a careless or dangerous driving charge. Away from the motorway there is very little alternative to driving at all, which is what makes a disqualification here so much heavier than the fine attached to it. Charles Ferguson Solicitors defend motoring charges throughout Clydesdale from our Hamilton office at 1 Barrack Street, ML3 0DG. Call 01698 285 885.
Lanark Sheriff Court — Road Traffic Cases
Motoring prosecutions arising in Lanark are dealt with at Lanark Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, Sheriff Court House, 24 Hope Street, Lanark ML11 7NE, in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway. The courthouse was refurbished over a period of two years and reopened in 2004, and the Justice of the Peace Court has sat there since February 2010. 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 Lanark
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; on the rural roads through Clydesdale that argument almost always turns on a single overtaking manoeuvre, and whether it was genuinely dangerous or merely careless is worth contesting properly. Careless Driving — a question of degree, and frequently the correct charge. Speeding — the M74, the A70, the A72, the A73 and the A702 are all 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.
Rural Roads, Farm Businesses and Getting to Work
Clydesdale has the thinnest public transport of anywhere we cover. From Carnwath, Douglas, Forth or Abington the loss of a licence is not an inconvenience but the end of a working arrangement, and courts hear that submission often enough to be sceptical of it unless it is properly evidenced. Farming and agricultural contracting add a further layer, because the licence frequently carries the business rather than just the driver, and the consequences reach employees too. Towing and vocational entitlement, seasonal work, livestock movements and long single-carriageway journeys all belong in an exceptional hardship application, supported by contracts, timetables and figures. We prepare them on that footing, and we tell you honestly when the case is thin. Call 01698 285 885.
Areas Served Across Clydesdale
We act for drivers charged anywhere in Clydesdale and South Lanarkshire, including Lanark, New Lanark, Kirkfieldbank, Carluke, Law, Forth, Carnwath, Crossford, Lesmahagow, Coalburn, Douglas, Rigside, Biggar, Symington, Abington and Leadhills. Charges commonly arise on the M74, the A70, the A72, the A73 and the A702. Call 01698 285 885, or our Glasgow office on 0141 345 5735.