Speeding Points

Endorsement of Penalty Points on the licence is obviously one of the usual penalties for speeding offences. However, the number of speeding points varies depending upon the severity of the alleged speeding contravention and whether you are offered a fixed penalty. So whilst you may have a Speeding Fine and charged with exceeding a 30 mile per hour speed limit, if you admit the offence or the prosecution prove it against you beyond reasonable doubt, you could receive 3 Penalty Points but may instead receive, say, 6 Penalty Points or even a ban for that one offence. The Magistrates Court takes its guidance as to what is the appropriate level of speeding points to impose from its sentencing guidelines.

Of course, even if the offence itself is not serious enough to justify a ban, it is well known that if your points for speeding reach 12 within any three year period, the court has no option but to impose a minimum 6 month disqualification unless you can argue that you would suffer 'exceptional hardship'. This is not a simple argument to run, can be rejected by the Magistrates and requires specialist skill, care and knowledge in terms of preparation and presentation. What this means is that even a minor offence attracting say 3 points may result in a ban simply because of the number of Penalty Points already on your licence, unless you can persuade a court to depart from this position as previously stated.