Totting up — What is it?
Totting up is another way of referring to
the driving licence points system, whereby driving-related offences are
recorded as driving licence endorsements, with those endorsements carrying
points according to the severity of the offence. If you accumulate 12 points
within the same 3-year period, you could be given a driving disqualification
(typically for 6 months). If, though, you have only had your driving licence
for 2 years, you only need to accumulate 6 points and you will see your driving
licence withdrawn.
How many points will I get on my licence?
By far the most common motoring offence on
UK roads is speeding, and in most cases this will incur the minimum fine of £100
and 3 points on your driving licence.Another common offence is not in fact to
do with driving, but road worthiness. If, for example, your car has a cracked
windscreen, missing side mirror or faulty light, you could be awarded 3 points.
This is also true if you have a bald tire – but if you were to hhardship bald
tires, that would be 3 points times by 4. That’s 12 points and a potential
driving ban.
Naturally, more serious offences – careless
driving, dangerous driving or drink driving, for example – will carry a larger
fine and more penalty points, and possibly even an instant ban.
How do I avoid a driving ban? What is “exceptional hardship"?
If you have been convicted of a driving
offence, such as drink driving, that might result in a driving ban, or if you
are in danger of being disqualified through the totting up system, you will
need experienced motor
lawyers who have a proven track record and are familiar with the criteria
that courts refer to in order to apply a ban.
Often, those motor lawyers will attempt to
reduce or avoid a ban by arguing a case of exceptional hardship. This means
that they will aim to convince the court that a ban from driving would cause so
much difficulty for you, the offender, or for your local community, that such a
punishment would in fact be too severe. Perhaps it would ruin your business and
jobs would be lost, or maybe there are local residents or businesses that rely
on your being able to drive in order to fulfil an important service. If the
courts accept that argument, there’s a strong chance that any punishment they
impose will not be as severe as first feared.
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