Committing or being involved in a driving offence can be both worrying and stressful. The legalities of motoring offences, penalty points, fines and convictions can be bewildering and daunting, especially for novice drivers. No Penalty Points is designed to guide the motorist through the entire process. Information and advice is available on the many different types of motoring offences, Corresponding Penalty Points and the actual consequences for the driver who may have committed the offence.

What Constitutes a Driving Offence?

It is important that drivers are well aware of the many different traffic offences that can lead to licence penalty points. Having Minor Vehicle Defects alone is enough for drivers to receive penalty points on their licence, whereas the innocent act of Eating While Driving can lead to Careless Driving, which may result in up to nine penalty points being applied to a licence. A driver only needs to acquire 12 penalty points on a licence within a three-year period for an Instant Disqualification to be applied.

Young Drivers and the Risk of Motoring Offences

Young drivers are viewed as one of the highest risks when it comes to motoring offences. New drivers are under a probationary period under the New Driver’s Act. This means drivers who accumulate six or more points within two years of gaining their licence will face an automatic driving ban. The new driver will then be required to sit and pass both the theory and practical test before they gain regain their driving licence. Obtaining a licence ban at an early age will also Increase Insurance Premiums, and young drivers will already be in the high insurance premiums bracket before a driving ban.

Understand the Penalty Points System

The penalty points system can seem complicated, especially to new drivers, so No Penalty Points provides information on the number of penalty points that may be applied to specific driving offences. There are many serious driving offences such as Speeding, Drink Driving and Dangerous Driving that can actually lead to instant disqualifications. This site provides up to date Information on fines, driving bans and even Prison Sentences that can be applied to certain driving offences.

Steer Clear of Motoring Offences

It’s not only in the UK that drivers can have penalty points applied to their licence; this can happen just as easily when Driving Abroad. Find out here what constitutes a driving offence abroad. Illegal Parking in the UK is a common problem and can lead to drivers ending up clamped or paying out hefty fines. No Penalty Points includes helpful articles on How To Avoid Parking Tickets, How To Appeal Against Parking Tickets and the possibility of winning an appeal. Read up on The Powers Of Traffic Wardens and How To Avoid Them.

Vehicle Defects are Motoring Offences

Many drivers are unaware that certain vehicle defects can lead to penalty points and fines. Defects To Lights can lead to Fixed Penalty Notices, which come with a minimum £30 fine. Driving a car with two Faulty Tyres can result in six penalty points being applied to a licence and a fine of up to £5,000. Drivers without Insurance, MOT or Tax can be hit with fines of up to £5,000, have six to eight penalty points applied to their licence and can have their vehicle seized. Driving with vehicle defects is a serious hazard to both the driver and other road users and could result in charges of dangerous driving.

Speeding Offences and Defences

Speeding is a common driving offence and drivers who incur a speeding ticket can usually either expect penalty points and a fine, but it is not always a clear cut case. Driving bans can be applied depending on the seriousness of the speeding offence, and prison sentences have been applied for drivers using Excessive Speed. Under certain circumstances, however, it may be possible to Challenge A Speeding Ticket and mitigating circumstances can sometimes be used to decrease sentences.

Drink Driving Motoring Offences

Drink Driving is one of the most serious motoring offences in the UK, and each year there are around 80,000 prosecutions. Drink driving offences are not to be taken lightly and convictions do lead to mandatory disqualification for a first offence, as well as fines of up to £5,000 and/or 5 months in prison. Many motorists have also been fined and disqualified for Refusing To Give A Breath Specimen when stopped under suspicion of drink driving. As with many other motoring offences, there may be mitigating circumstances and special defences that can be used to limit sentences and even avoid a disqualification.

Driving Jobs and Motoring Offences

Motorists who drive for a living are on the road longer and are therefore more susceptible to driving offences. There are many motoring offences that apply to Taxi Drivers, for example, that do not apply to other road users. Offences such as Smoking In Vehicles comes with a fixed penalty notice fine of £50, while taxi companies that refuse to carry disabled passengers can find themselves paying fines of up to £1,000.

Consequences of Motoring Convictions

A fine or penalty points can be the result of a motoring offence but the financial reality of a driving ban can be far reaching. Consequences can include:

• Most insurers will increase premiums for drivers who have been convicted of a motoring offence.
• Many insurers will simply refuse to insure drivers who have been convicted of motoring offences, such as drink driving.
• Obtaining a disqualification can lead to loss of employment, which can bring severe hardship.
• Anyone who is employed in a driving capacity will not be able to drive for the length of a disqualification and, in some cases, an employer will terminate employment.
• Disqualified drivers may be liable to sit and pay for an extended driving test before regaining their licence.

Obtaining Legal Representation

As with all criminal offences it is vital that legal advice, and in some cases representation, is obtained. Legal Representation might not be required for minor traffic offences but seeking legal advice should still be a prerequisite. No Penalty Points provides details of when legal representation will be required, the costs involved, and points to remember when choosing legal representation. If a motoring offence leads to a Court Appearance, being fully informed on the best defences and mitigating circumstances is crucial. Having a legal expert who can negotiate with the courts is another important part of the court process.

Reclaiming a Driving Licence Early

Although driving disqualification periods are set by the courts there are ways to regain a licence. For drivers who have been convicted of drink driving there are Drink Driving Rehabilitation Courses available that can help to reduce the length of a disqualification. Drivers can also complete a Speed Awareness Course that can help to avoid fines and penalty points being applied to a licence.

No Penalty Points has been designed to make drivers aware of the many offences that can be committed, whether they are minor or more serious offences. Having knowledge of the laws and being aware of drivers' rights is one of the best ways to keep a clean driving licence. The rules on driving offences and penalty points do change from time to time, so we hope you return to No Penalty Points to keep abreast of these changes and stay within the law.