Will I Lose My Licence if I Have Been Arrested for Drink Driving?

So you left the pub and you had been drinking before you left. You didn’t think you were over the limit, but you got pulled over and now you have been arrested for drink driving. So many things are now running through your mind.

The biggest question you have now is, “Will I lose my licence now that I have been arrested for drink driving?” The answer is not a simple yes or no. Rather, there are multiple possibilities of what can happen, depending upon the drink driving offence you are facing.

If you are found to have been in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit, you could get 3 months in prison, up to a 2,500 fine, or a driving ban.

If you are found to have been driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit, you could get 6 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or a driving ban for a minimum of one year.

If you are charged with refusing to provide a specimen for analysis (breath, blood or urine), you may face 6 months of prison, an unlimited fine, or a ban from driving for at least one year.

If you are charged with causing death by careless driving when you were under the influence of a drink you could be facing 14 years of a prison term, an unlimited fine, a ban from driving for at least two years, and/or an extended driving test before being able to get your licence again. 

So, in answer to your question of whether you will lose your licence due to a drink driving charge, it all depends upon what drink driving charge you are facing and what the court decides is the best route to go. In order to get the best legal advice regarding your personal circumstances and to get the least penalty possible, it is best to talk to your drink driving solicitor now.