3 years ago, on Christmas day, I picked up two SP30's. On the same f****ing road (A47)!.

The worst thing was I was travelling from Mansfield to my home town of Norwich for Christmas dinner with my family. Before I had made 20 miles, it became apparent that the offside rear wheel handbrake was partially stuck on. The rest of the journey was driven at 45mph, which limited the effects of the stuck brake. 45mph on open roads, with no traffic and and deadline to meet - the journey passed very slowly. Couldn't bbreak a limit if I wanted to.

5 bloody miles from destination, flash-flash. Had dinner, left, 6 miles later, flash-flash.

Since that day I have driven like an old dear, petrified of aquiring more.

Christmas day this year heralded the 3 year anniversary of the points. Am I clear? Will my insurance care anymore? Can I hire a van/car again? How much longer do I have to wait before they are invalid?

Sorry about the boring story, I am still bitter and will tell anyone who listens.

Thanks, David.

The way I understand it works is as follows :


For totting up of 12 points, and getting a ban if you exceed that level, the three year period is valid.

For any subsequent offences, the court can 'take into account' convictions over the last four years.

Most insurance companies want to know your history over 5 years.

So, you are not exactly out of the woods yet, but at least you have a clean slate for banning purposes.

atb

steve


[Edited on 27/12/05 by steve_gus]

Spot on Steve.

But you can argue against it if you are facing a ban under "exceptional hardship" rules.

Did you get 3 or 6 this xmas???

Pat...

You can have more than 12 points under "mitigating circumstances". I had 15 points and kept my licence, because people's jobs relied on me having one.

This was a few years ago now and my solicitor (don't under estimate a good one) has retired

Shit happens, points are a hazard you have to face. Enjoy the roads before we are electronically governed to 29mph.

Recently sold my GSXR because I didn't want all that poo with the licence again

Yep, and the DVLA and Court will only allow you to plead exceptional hardship (with mitigating circumstances) once in your lifetime as this stays on your DVLA record for the life of your licence.

Pat...

are you sure it was you and not some boy racer with the same type of car and a clone of your number plate ?

anyone can get copies of your plate made up and drive around picking up points for you

ask for the photo, if you arnt visable, wheres the proof it was you ~?

the police have to prove your guilt, unless you admit to it, not on the pic wheres the proof ?

if theres only a photo of the back of your car (face not visable) which someone has cloned your number plate wheres the proof to convict you ?

[Edited on 27/12/05 by graememk]

quote:

---

Originally posted by graememk
...
the police have to prove your guilt, unless you admit to it, not on the pic wheres the proof ?

[Edited on 27/12/05 by graememk]

---

Send your license to DVLA asking them to reisssue with offences removed, you can probably get a photo license at the same time. Then hire companies don't see the offences neither to the bill when they stop you or give you a producer, even though they are not supposed to open your license they often do and will judge what action to takebased on your record!

Caber

ive got two sp30,s which i thought should come off after three years but after phoning dvla i was told they stay on your license for four years now

Points are valid for 3 years for "totting up".

They can only be removed from your licence for 4 years (always been the case AFAIK).

Insurance companies usualy want to know about any convictions within the last 5 years.

so technically i now have a clean license. every time this has happened before i get some fresh points straight away

i think its april this year til im 4 years away from my last 6 points! Its been a constant struggle keeping it clean since then

In January, Im five year free - which has to be a bloody miracle with northants police. My new xmas pressie - a tomtom one with speed cam locations installed looks quite useful. It seems to know where all the fixed cams and lurking positions for the mobiles are in my area. Ive set it to give a loud 'bong' when im 400m from any of them.

atb

steve

Thanks for all your advice and sympathy, it has been a long (and slow) 3 years.

At least I should be able to hire a van now.

David

I hired a van without probs when I hadnt passed 4 years on an sp30 and a ms90(80?) failure to provide driver info........


Also never had probs with USA and European car hire with 'fresh' ones on the license - in fact I dont even think they check...


there cant be many people without at least one sp30 to their name - unless they only do 3ft or so a year in the car.......

atb

steve


[Edited on 27/12/05 by steve_gus]