A 12 Points Ban Explained In Language Anyone Can Understand

A 12 points ban on your driving license lasts for three years in the United Kingdom. The ban is placed by the court system once a driver is given that a total of 12 penalties on his or her license within a three year period on the road. It is the duty of the police force, or the fixed penalty office, to note if a citizen is eligible for the suspension, and pursue it.

Not every single traffic violation leads to license marks that count towards a ban, as penalties are based on the seriousness of an offense. There are fifteen kinds of violations that can lead to a ban, and to get to the total of 12 marks, a driver must be involved in at least two incidents.

The most frequently violated traffic rule that leads to points on a license is speeding, which counts for 3 marks. More serious offenses include being in an accident which you don’t report within 24 hours, which causes a penalty of between 5 and 10 strokes on your license. Most severe is the penalty for causing a death while driving drunk, which can put 11 strokes on your license.

Even if one is eligible for a 12 points ban, it is possible to appeal the ban through the United Kingdom court system, with the aid of a solicitor. If a citizen can demonstrate that it will cause an extreme or exceptional hardship to lose the right to drive, the ban may be removed.

Once you’ve served the three year sentence, you may find yourself a victim of a second or third license suspension, because some of the penalties that contributed to your ban may continue to stay on your license. If you become banned again because of these penalties, it is called totting up. The good news is that a second or third ban based partially on incidents you’ve already been banned for will be for a shorter period than your initial punishment.

The first problem to be solved before returning to the road is that of obtaining a replacement driving license. A few months before the suspension ends, the government will automatically issue the citizen application paperwork, to be filled out and sent back along with a fee. Once the person in question receives, completes, and returns the application, he or she will receive a legal driving permit.

Equally vital is to get insurance before you start driving again. This can be costly to obtain, because insurance companies will see a driver as a risk after he or she has had a 12 points ban, which means higher monthly premiums.

12 points driving ban The most common offense is driving faster than the posted legal speed limit, resulting in 3 strokes against a driver. Exceeding the speed limit, which is the most common violation, causes 3 penalties per incident. If you become banned again because of these penalties, it is called totting up.