Not In Proper Control of your Vehicle
Auriga Advocates specialise in all motoring offences you can call one of our legal team for free initial advice on any offence including not being in proper control.
If you are facing this offence you will be probably be wondering why, particularly if your driving was not affected by what you were doing.
This offence is, in fact, the first limb of the Mobile Phone Offence section. It relates to a driver not being in a position which does not give proper control and includes not having a full view of the road and traffic ahead. It also includes; causing or permitting a driver not to be in proper control.
The penalty for this offence is;
- Level 4 Fine £2,500 (if vehicle designed to carry more than 8 passengers ie mini buses etc)
- Level 3 for all others £1,000 and 3 points with a discretionary disqualification.
There is no definition of “proper control” and this is an area of much legal debate.
The more general view is that a driver could only be deemed to not be in a position to be in proper control if there is some evidence of poor driving such as swerving or weaving, but this has yet to tested in the higher courts as most drivers are fearful of the costs.
Examples of not being proper control are:-
- Eating apples, bananas, sweets, chocolate, fish and chips
- Putting makeup on
- Reading maps/papers
- Drinking coffee/tea/pop
- Using a phone, other than for a call or texting
The police will normally issue fixed penalties as they are usually not disputed. Clients have told us that the police have told them it is an offence to eat something whilst driving, this is not the case. It is all a question of degree in each case. As there is no definition it is each case on its merits and success will depend on the quality of your representation, which is why you should instruct a specialist solicitor.
In our view the prosecution should show that you could not have been in proper control which is extremely difficult to prove unless there was evidence of weaving or swerving or near collision.
Police officers will often use this offence if they have stopped you for using a mobile phone when in fact they cannot prove that you were using the phone but can show you had it in your hand.
- Reviewing the strength of the prosecution’s case against you
- Finding the weaknesses in the prosecution case
- Collating evidence in your defence
- Attacking the prosecution case relentlessly on your behalf
- Taking the pressure and anxiety off you
- Being there to answer all your questions
- Provide specialist representation in court