Fixed Penalty Points On Drivers Licence
 

Hi, I am currently a trainee pilot and have recently received fixed penalty points on my driver's licence.

I am really worried that this could have an impact on my employability. Could someone please advise me if this will be a problem?
Thanks.

No... absolutely 100% NOT. I assume it's a fixed penalty 3 points and 60 quid?!

Unless you challenge it (which is not always a bad option), and then go to court and get ''charged'' with excess speed, which would be a different scenario, and i suppose would show up on a CRB check.

But 3 points and 60 quid.... stop panicking!
And worry something else, like your IR :)

good luck

Your biggest problem will be getting insurance to drive your own car again.

A conviction (points on licence) for no insurance would have to be declared when applying for insurance and you may find companies unwilling to insure you, or if they do the premium could be very high.

ahh.,.... well that changes a few things.
So it must have gone to court.....
And you must have been ''charged'' for driving without insurance? Or in accordance with your licence?

?

well thats the best way it could ever be :)

no worries. The only people who will know will be you and your licence. But yea, the insurance will be a beast to handle.

atleast you'll have loads of money when you grad. (yeah right)

I cant understand how the Police could have dealt with this matter by means of a fixed penalty and points, as its a reportable offence which is beyond Police powers. The Police dont have the authority to put points on licenses, nor do they have the authority to hand out fines of £200. Sounds very strange to me.

Yes they can - It came into effect in 2003 (or thereabouts). 200 pound and 6 points is the 'norm' for this offence when issued with a FP.

Equally the chap who lent him the vehicle is also subject to a fine and points for 'allowing' it.
Well - and of the course the Police and DVLA will know etc.

DVLA Reminds Motorists of New Motor Insurance Law

yea i agree ! :) The courts normally would decide the fine depending on the situation and get 6-8 points.

But it isnt a FIXED penalty like speeding SP30 is.

Indeed, it is very strange.

Ah....just re read where the OP's from. Its completely different here north of the border.

Just read through, i didn't know there were new regulations on the insurance thing.

Anyway with 6 points i doubt it'll make much difference. On the form they'll ask if you have a clean license, it doesn't matter if you have 1 point or 12.

I think the nature of the endorsements however do matter, for example i doubt an airline will employ someone convicted of dangerous driving or drink driving, that kind of thing.

Driving without insurance though you might be walking down a rocky road. It all depends on the form and whether they require you to disclose the full details. In my experience in employment they usually just ask if you have a full driving license as opposed to a clean one unless your applying for a driving job.

I haven't (yet) worked for an airline though so i can't really help there. I've found though FTO's running schemes often ask for and require a clean driving license, Multiflight (West Atlantic) springs to mind. If your paying your way through modular or something similar i don't think they care.

Road Traffic law is the same either side of the border.

A straight no insurance, provided there are no other offences disclosed, may be dealt with by a conditional offer of fixed penalty of £200 and 6 points. It is exactly the same as a speeding offence which carries 3 points and a £60. There are a numberof other fixed penalty offences that can, but are rarely used, such as failing to comply with the requirements of Section 172 of the RTA 1988.

It is rarely used however, as you very rarely have a straight no insurance offence. There's usually a licence offence or a cause/permit offence which are usually reported together as a summons.

It is not a conviction, as you have not been to court and convicted of the offence.

A foolish, but not a serious offence, and certainly not one that will affect a career. Unless you're a cop that is...

"Unless you challenge it (which is not always a bad option), and then go to court and get ''charged'' with excess speed, which would be a different scenario, and i suppose would show up on a CRB check."

Incorrect. Been there done it. It is a civil offence, not a criminal. it will NOT be picked up b y anyone unless they see your paper counter-part. points are 'reset' after 3 years, and evidence (i.e. endorsment on paper) 'wiped' after 4 years.

Driving without insurance is a criminal offence - albeit a traffic offence. It is by no means 'civil'. Hence why such cases are tried in criminal courts, when circumstances dictate.

The power to record offences (as in Criminal Records) is defined by the National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000. There are also certain convictions which become 'spent' under terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, so that even older, more serious convictions won't show up.

As far as I'm aware, driving without insurance (S143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) is not a recordable offence, and will not show up on PNC, and any subsequent CRB check or Disclosure check. Unless of course, the OP was charged at the same time with a recordable offence (any offence punishable by imprisonment, or as stated in the schedule of the above regulations), in which both offences would be recorded.

Personally, I don't think you've much to worry about, but if you wish to be sure for your own peace of mind, most Police forces will have a 'subject access' form which you can submit to your local force, and they will return any details of offences that are recorded on PNC about you. If resident in Scotland, this will show CHS check results as well. There is usually a small charge for this, about £10, and it can take a few weeks.

The points on your licence will stop 'totting up' after three years, and you can apply to have them removed after four.

For informations sake - you can see which common traffic offences are 'punishable by imprisonment' (and thus, recorded offences) using this table here:
Penalties : Directgov - Travel and transport

Hope that helps.

My appologies - I was referring to speeding NOT driving without insurance...

Speeding is also criminal...

Thanks for the replies. I emailed the Criminal Records Bureau and this was their reply.

"This would depend upon the nature of the offence committed and the way in which the points were issued.

If you were convicted by a court then this is would be considered a
conviction and would show up on a CRB check. If you received a fixed
penalty and did not contest it, then it is unlikely that it would be
disclosed on a CRB check."

You have your answer I think so I am closing the thread before it attracts those with nothing better to amuse them.

HWB