A 38-year-old man from Monkton was sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on July 26 for a speeding offence committed in December. He had pleaded guilty to the offence on July 6.
The offence left the defendant with 12 points on his licence, which would normally trigger a mandatory driving ban of at least 6 months, in line with totting up rules. However, the defence submitted an application of exceptional hardship, indicating that a driving ban would cause the defendant to lose his job.
On December 20, 2025, the defendant was driving an Audi A4 on the A40 close to Nantyci Showground in Carmarthen. At 11:15 am, his speed was recorded as 83mph by a laser speed detection device – 13 mph above the speed limit.
At sentencing, the magistrates considered the defendant’s application of exceptional hardship. Accepting the argument that a driving ban would have a disproportionate effect on the defendant and those dependent upon him, they instead gave three licence points, and imposed a fine of £416, costs of £85 and a surcharge of £166.
Exceptional hardship arguments can be difficult to present, and courts can be very reluctant to accept them. If you are looking to avoid a driving ban caused by totting up, solicitors at Auriga Advocates have the experience and expertise to advise you on whether an exceptional hardship argument may be appropriate. Your driving licence is important to you, so contact us now and let’s talk through your options.