I've just got my new photo licence back as it was 10 years old and the photo needed updating.

The only endorsement showing on my counterpart is an SP30 FPN from July 2007, which will be right as although points only count for 3 years, I understand they remain on the licence for 4 years.

However, I was disqualified (for 7 days) back in May 2004 for speeding on the M6 and I thought that disqualifications were permanently recorded on the licence so was expecting to see it still there.

Have they changed the rules or have disqualifications always expired in the same way as routine speeding penalties? Is there an exception for drink drive DQs?

 

Thought I might actually read the bumph that came with licence () and sure enough, disqualifications relating to drink, drugs or careless driving remain on the licence for 11 years after the date of the offence. All other disqualifications disappear after 4 years.

 

It's a con; you have to PAY to have the speeding ones removed.

Thought one of mine would disappear when I had my address updated but it didn't.

F uck 'em; I'll treat the SPs as a sort of badge of honour instead - bit like fighter pilots with 'hit' symbols on the cockpit!

 

Speeding isn't a "criminal" offence. I'm sure some lawyer type will correct me but DD is a criminal offence and therefore stays on 11 years (ie 1 year offence and 10 years subsequence or somesuch thing)

Speeding dqn is a civil matter or whatever. So still remains under that rule.

But it's all bollocks as insurers only as for the last 5 years. So Criminal matters get ignored after 5 years for all intents and purposes.

I'm not so sure where you stand on it being "spent" if an insurer asks about a speeding offence that happened 4.5 years ago say.

 

This was a routine 10 yr photo update which cost me £20. When I was moving around down south, I used to wait before notifying the DVLA of my change of address if it meant one or more speeding offences would drop off.

Pre photo licences, there was no cost for a new licence if advising a change of address. Not sure if it's still the case with photo licences ...

 

That's not wholly accurate..

Certain DD offences are removed after 4 years such as DD40 (Dangerous Driving) and DD80 (Causing death by Dangerous Driving.

The latter of the two in particular is highly questionable imo as a DR10 (Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit) Could have a person caught just getting into a car pissed and turning the ignition key and having their collar felt and yet this will remain on their license for 11 years whereas killing someone by driving like a pillock is off their license after 4 and the way the courts seem to function these days a person succesfully prosecuted of DD80 would no doubt only get a light sentencing and be back on the roads in no time.

btw, I'm certainly not defending the DR10 here. Any idiot who drinks and drives should lose their license for life imo.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Drive...ons/DG_10022425

 

You've contradicted yourself slightly there;

It's the being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle that is Pythonesque; I know someone who was in effect disqualified for being drunk in charge of a fish n'chip shop whilst having a bone dome & a set of keys on him.

There is indeed a world of difference between that and driving because too pissed to walk.