Is this fee normal??

mariok

Hi,

Some help please!! I received a court summons for not having my L plates on display on my car. As i have a college exam on the same day, I will therefore need a solicitor. He has quoted me €305. Is this a normal fee or could i find cheaper? I have never been in any type of legal trouble before so some assistance would be great on this.

Thanks,

M

RandolphEsq

mariok wrote: »

Hi,

Some help please!! I received a court summons for not having my L plates on display on my car. As i have a college exam on the same day, I will therefore need a solicitor. He has quoted me €305. Is this a normal fee or could i find cheaper? I have never been in any type of legal trouble before so some assistance would be great on this.

Thanks,

M

Go to other solicitors and see.

ResearchWill

mariok wrote: »

Hi,

Some help please!! I received a court summons for not having my L plates on display on my car. As i have a college exam on the same day, I will therefore need a solicitor. He has quoted me €305. Is this a normal fee or could i find cheaper? I have never been in any type of legal trouble before so some assistance would be great on this.

Thanks,

M

€305 is €250 plus Vat, in reality he could be there all day then it's good value or he could be out of court in half an hour, also if it is a figure including adjourned dates then he may have to go another day.

Solicitors tend to have a set a fee for DC road traffic work, for some clients this can work out really cheap others not so.

krd

You don't need a solicitor for this.

Call the court. I'm not sure who it is, I think the court usher - they tell the judge you can't be there because you have an exam. But if you call the court they'll explain what you need to do.

It's a minor traffic "offence". You're not up for murder.

Solicitors, like picking up easy jam from naive people on stuff like this. Your solicitor won't even be in court - he'll be spending the fee on a round of golf and lunch at the K Club.

You can even call the guards station who nabbed you - ask to speak to the guard. The truth is, you may not even get a fine out of this.

Personally, I think L plates are dangerous. Ye'll have every fat Fine Gael voting right-wing pig, who thinks he's some kind of race car driver trying to dangerously over take you at every blind bend.

ResearchWill

Average fine €133.50 from here http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0518/1224316282526.html

nuac

Court Usher? There is no such official in the District Court

If you dont want to use a solicitor to get the adjournment I suggest

1. You write to District Court Clerk giving details of summons, written confirmation of the exam and ask it can be adjourned.

2. Copy to the prosecuting .Garda

For the case itself - you can of course always defend yourself

However a clean licence is a valuable asset. Every RTA prosecution should be taken seriously. Suggest you talk to a solicitor practisng in that court

mariok

Thanks for your help on this guys. Also, if I receive a fine for either or both offences (no L plates or driving licence in my possession) will this mean that I have a criminal record?

I am worried it will effect my Garda vetting for a course i plan on doing.

Thanks!

M

Condatis

Take nuac's advice on this. In your letter to the Court be sure to say when you will be able to attend so as to avoid another clash with an exam or some such obligation.

When you get the adjournment go along and represent yourself. A reasoned explanation and apology for the misdemeanor is likely to produce the same result with a solicitor as without – provided that you do not have previous convictions.

Condatis

It would actually be a good idea to bring your letter, in advance of the hearing, to the District Court Office. You will find the staff to be helpful and could well be able to agree to a new hearing date on the spot.

December2012

Fee could be normal depending on the list, location of court, etc.

It's up to you - you want this dealt with, is it worth it to you to pay 250 plus VAT?

Presumably though your solicitor will be applying for an adjournment?

Are you pleading guilty?

dublin daz

mariok wrote: »

Thanks for your help on this guys. Also, if I receive a fine for either or both offences (no L plates or driving licence in my possession) will this mean that I have a criminal record?

I am worried it will effect my Garda vetting for a course i plan on doing.

Thanks!

M

If the Judge records a conviction it will show on the vetting reports. Tell him or her on the day about the course and he or she might avoid recording a conviction. Its important you clarify that there and then otherwise you will have to appeal.

jasonpat

According to me this fee of this processor is good for me.

Victor

mariok wrote: »

Some help please!! I received a court summons for not having my L plates on display on my car. As i have a college exam on the same day, I will therefore need a solicitor. He has quoted me €305. Is this a normal fee or could i find cheaper? I have never been in any type of legal trouble before so some assistance would be great on this

Is this his usual court or is it something that he will have to go out of his way to do? Getting one of the solicitors that usually attends that court may be cheaper.