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
|