Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs

Honest John Back Room » Legal matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sun 25 Oct 2009 09:50
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - Hamsafar
Thanks, my name's probably on the 'red list' now.
This is surely the legal precursor for some other terrible change which they have foreseen will lead to a big increase in court cases for motoring issues.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Oct 2009 11:12
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - RichardS
I've just signed up.

It always amazes me that we (collective we) trust any government (of whatever hue) with so much of our money.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Oct 2009 11:42
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - gordonbennet
Done, worth doing.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Oct 2009 11:57
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - Ben 10
Ditto
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Oct 2009 13:07
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - Optimist
If I'm reading the petition correctly, the proposal is to re-imburse a win for the defendant in a Magistrates Court only at legal aid rates which means finding a lawyer who will work at that rate or paying more but not getting it all back.

So one of the implications, I'd have thought, is that lawyers briefed by well-paid comedians or somesuch, won't wind up being paid out of your and my pocket when they get their client off on a technicality.

And representation in court isn't available on a fair basis in this country anyway. If you aren't eligible for legal aid you have to pay. But how much can any of us afford to pay out on a return only if we win?

Maybe one of the legals who post on here could comment.




Edited by Optimist on 25/10/2009 at 13:07

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Oct 2009 12:55
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - CGNorwich
where can I find details of exactly what is being proposed?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Oct 2009 13:08
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - v0n
Am I right to think that what they are proposing is actually only relevant to extortionate legal costs over official roster - ie. if you bring platoon of highly paid ambulance chasers with you to court to wiggle out of speeding fine on technicality either you will be expected to pay their hundreds per hour fee yourself, or they will be expected to accept going official fee for court appearance ("only" around £60 per hour).


Edit: Optimist was faster

Edited by v0n on 25/10/2009 at 13:08

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 25 Oct 2009 18:48
Petition Against Not Guilty Legal Costs - Manatee
CGN, there's an explanation linked to the petition sign up page.

My take was that on the one hand, the celeb clients of Mr Loophole who get off will not be able to recover their costs from the public purse; on the other, many more innocent motorists ineligible for legal aid will just pay a fixed penalty, knowing it will be the cheapest option even if they win.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link