
Paisley Sheriff Court — Road Traffic Cases
Motoring prosecutions arising in Renfrew 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 reward proper preparation.
Motoring Offences We Defend in Renfrew
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 workers heading in early are caught by it as often as anyone leaving a pub. 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 the boundary with careless driving is very often the whole case. Careless Driving — a question of degree, and one worth testing. Speeding — the M8 through Renfrewshire, the A8, the A726 and the A741 and the airport approach roads are all heavily 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.
