Road transport lawyer and traffic commissioner public inquiry
Transport solicitors and DVSA investigations? Has your truck or load been seized by the UK authorities? Securing the return of your vehicle or load will involve complex legal wrangling. Strict time limits apply and, if the truck isn’t recovered, the authorities can legally sell or destroy the vehicle. At Smith Bowyer Clarke, our transport lawyers specialise in reclaiming vehicles and loads seized and impounded by the UK Border Force, HMRC, Police and DVSA. You can find some of our recent vehicle and load recovery cases here. The procedure for reclaiming a seized vehicle or load will depend on the reasons for the seizure and which UK enforcement agency seized your vehicle.
If you are invited to attend an interview under caution or placed under “caution” during an encounter or inspection then immediate legal advice is essential. You are fully entitled to ask that the interview is postponed or stopped to enable you to obtain legal advice. Even if you think that you have done nothing wrong, receiving good legal advice before answering any questions will always be in your interests: too many people have admitted offences in interview which were not part of the investigation. Importantly, you have the right to have representation at any interview and to refuse to answer questions where the DVSA or police fail to allow you access to your lawyers.
Expert team of Barristers and Solicitors with years of experience in providing advice and representation in Road Transport Law.Road Transport Lawyers for HGV and PSV Operators and Drivers in the UK and around Europe. For a no-obligation, free initial consultation or rapid answer to a simple query just get in touch. We know how busy you are, and can attend at your operating centre, home or place of business at a time to suit you – we provide a truly national service. Read extra details at O licence application.
The reality is that nobody’s business is perfectly compliant but some are better than others. In your heart you will know where on the scale your business lies. The worse it is the more that you need to do. Before the visit check that you have your paperwork in the right places and ensure that it is up to date. If you know that compliance has slipped badly then be proactive. Start to take steps to fix it. If necessary engage a competent Transport Consultant to overhaul your systems and ensure that you are using the right paperwork. And don’t hide it from the DVSA! If you have an unsatisfactory visit from the DVSA then this is your wake-up call. Act on their recommendations. You will have a far better time in front of the Traffic Commissioner if you treat this as your wake-up call rather than the call-in letter 28 days before the Public Inquiry. Yes, it may be expensive but it might save your business.
Why Smith Bowyer Clarke? Tachograph offences are a highly technical area of law. They are treated very seriously by both the criminal courts and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner. Smith Bowyer Clarke is a specialist transport law firm. All our solicitors and barristers are experts in all aspects of tachograph prosecutions and infringements. We have access to some of the best tachograph experts in the country to assist your case. We can also arrange for an independent audit of your tachograph analysis systems and advise on what you should be doing to stay lawful. We offer fixed fees and free initial consultations. Call or email us today for more information. See extra details at Transport Solicitors.
