Offence
Drive motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit
How often this offence appears in the published court listings for England and Wales, which courts list it most and where to read the official sentencing guideline.
- Hearings listed
- 9,820
- Upcoming hearings
- 158
- Next listed date
- Mon, 26 October 2026
- Courts listing it
- 142
- Heard in
- Magistrates' Court (9,820)
- Sentencing guideline
- Excess Alcohol (drive/attempt to drive) (Revised 2017)
- Official offence code
- RT88007
- The law
- Contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
- Can lead to prison
- Yes
Courts that list it most
- Manchester Magistrates' Court (252 hearings)
- Ipswich Magistrates' Court (178 hearings)
- Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates' Court (177 hearings)
- Leicester Magistrates' Court (163 hearings)
- Sheffield Magistrates' Court (161 hearings)
- Northampton Magistrates' Court (157 hearings)
- Bristol Magistrates' Court (149 hearings)
- Leeds District Magistrates' Court (144 hearings)
- Staines Magistrates' Court (141 hearings)
- Uxbridge Magistrates' Court (140 hearings)
- Southampton (West Hampshire) Magistrates' Court (134 hearings)
- Cannock Magistrates' Court (129 hearings)
- Cheltenham Magistrates' Court (128 hearings)
- Croydon Magistrates' Court (126 hearings)
- Nottingham Magistrates' Court (121 hearings)
Related offences
- In charge of motor vehicle - alcohol level above limit
- Drive motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit
- In charge of a motor vehicle with proportion of specified controlled drug above specified limit
- Use a motor vehicle on a road when there was insufficient transmission of light through the vehicle glass
- Drive a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence - endorsable offence
- Drive a motor vehicle dangerously
- Drive on a road a motor vehicle whilst not wearing a seat belt
- Drive a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence - non-endorsable offence