Penalty Point Endorsement Guide & Offence Codes

A Penalty Points & Offence Codes Table is provided below however ALWAYS ask a lawyer if you are unsure about any of the advice and information provided here.

Driving licence endorsements are not always simple and straight forward.

Driving licence endorsements, disqualifications, convictions and acceptance of fixed penalties payments in respect of driving offences are notified to DVLA by the courts. The details are entered on to the driver’s record and the licence returned to the driver to show penalty points and date of conviction.

In Scotland you will not be disqualified in your absences but penalty points can be endorsed on your licence in your absence. Therefore you can deal with certain road traffic cases by letter and avoid the necessity of attending court. The copy complaint or citation that you receive can seem a little confusing as it suggests, even in cases where disqualification can be expected that you can send in a letter pleading guilty. You can send in the letter but where the court considers that a personal appearance is necessary they will defer sentence and write to you requiring your attendance. If you have tendered a guilty plea by letter and received a letter requesting your attendance then you would be wise to consult with a solicitor as it is likely that the court wish to consider disqualification.

In addition to paying a fine or a fixed penalty the drivers licence will be endorsed with a penalty ranging from 3-11 points or a period of disqualification will be imposed, depending on the seriousness of the offence. Any driver who incurs 12 or more penalty points within a 3-year period faces automatic disqualification under the under “totting -up” system. Clients often ask us to consider delaying their case to wait for their current penalty points to come off their licence.As far as “Totting up” goes please note that the points on your licence run from “offence date to offence date” therefore there is no point in causing any delay. On the contrary there are often many good reasons to deal with a case promptly wherever possible.

Information on a driver’s entitlement and endorsements are sent to courts and police on request. We have more informaiton on the penalty points that apply in Scotland.

Endorsements must remain on a licence for 11 years from date of conviction if the offence is : They are relevant to the court disposal for 10 years eg. If convicted of a second drink drive offence within 10 years of the first then court MUST impose a ban lasting AT LEAST 3 years.

  • drinking/drugs and driving (shown on the licence as DR10, DR20, DR30 and DR80).
  • causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink/drugs (shown on the licence as CD40,CD50 and CD60).
  • causing death by careless driving, then failing to provide a specimen for analysis (shown on the licence as CD70).

or, 4 years from date of conviction if the offence is as listed below :

  • reckless/dangerous driving (shown on the licence as DD40,DD60 and DD80),
  • offences resulting in disqualification.
  • disqualified from holding a full licence until a driving test has been passed.

or 4 years from the date of offence in all other cases however as far as “Totting up” procedures go the relevant period is 3 years from date of offence to date of offence.

Code

Penalty
Points

Accident Offences
AC10

Failing to stop after an accident……….

5-10

AC20

Failing to give particulars or to report an
accident within 24 hours……….

5-10

AC30

Undefined accident offences……….

4-9

Disqualified Driver

BA10

Driving whilst disqualified by order of
court……….

6

BA30

Attempting to drive while disqualified
by order of court……….

6

Careless Driving

CD10

Driving without due care and
attention……….

3-9

CD20

Driving without reasonable consideration for
other road users……….

3-9

CD30

Driving without due care and attention
or without reasonable consideration
for other road users……….

3-9

CD40

Causing death through careless driving when
unfit through drink……….

3-11

CD50

Causing death by careless driving when unfit
through drugs……….

3-11

CD60

Causing death by careless driving with
alcohol level
above the limit……….

3-11

CD70

Causing death by careless driving
then failing to supply a specimen for
analysis……….

3-11

Construction & Use Offences

CU10

Using a vehicle with defective
brakes……….

3

CU20

Causing or likely to cause danger by reason
of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a
vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding
brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous
condition……….

3

CU30

Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s)……….

3

CU40

Using a vehicle with defective
steering……….

3

CU50

Causing or likely to cause danger by reason
of load or passengers……….

3

Insurance Offences

IN10

Using a vehicle uninsured against third
party risks……….

6-8

Licence Offences

LC20

Driving otherwise than in accordance with a
licence……….

3-6

LC30

Driving after making a false declaration
about fitness when applying for a
licence……….

3-6

LC40

Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a
disability……….

3-6

LC50

Driving after a licence has been revoked
or refused on medical grounds……….

3-6

Miscellaneous Offences

MS10

Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous
position……….

3

MS20

Unlawful pillion riding……….

3

MS30

Play street offences……….

2

MS40

Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight
or refusing to submit to a
test……….

3

MS50

Motor racing on the highway……….

3-11

MS60

Offences not covered by other
codes……….

As Appropriate

MS70

Driving with uncorrected defective
eyesight……….

3

MS80

Refusing to submit to an eyesight
test……….

3

MS90

Failure to give information as to identity
of driver etc……….

6

Motorway Offences

MW10

Contravention of Special Roads Regulations
(excluding speed limits)……….

3

Pedestrian Crossings

PC10

Undefined Contravention of Pedestrian
Crossing Regulations……….

3

PC20

Contravention of Pedestrian Crossing
Regulations with moving
vehicle……….

3

PC30

Contravention of Pedestrian Crossing
Regulations with stationary
vehicle……….

3

Speed Limits

SP10

Exceeding goods vehicle speed
limits……….

3-6

SP20

Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle
(excluding goods or passenger
vehicles)……….

3-6

SP30

Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public
road……….

3-6

SP40

Exceeding passenger vehicle speed
limit……….

3-6

SP50

Exceeding speed limit on a
motorway……….

3-6

SP60

Undefined speed limit offence……….

3-6

Traffic Direction and Signs

TS10

Failing to comply with traffic light
signals……….

3

TS20

Failing to comply with double white
lines……….

3

TS30

Failing to comply with “Stop” sign……….

3

TS40

Failing to comply with direction of a
constable/warden……….

3

TS50

Failing to comply with traffic sign
(excluding – stop -signs, traffic lights or
double white lines)……….

3

TS60

Failing to comply with a school crossing
patrol sign……….

3

TS70

Undefined failure to comply with a traffic
direction sign……….

3

Special Code

TT99

To
signify a disqualification under totting-up
procedure. If the total of penalty points
reaches 12 or more within 3 years,
the driver is liable to be
disqualified……….

Theft or Unauthorised Taking

UT50

Aggravated taking of a vehicle……….

3-11