Average speed camera – A type of speed camera which measures the speed of a vehicle between two points on a road.
CAMIC – An approved device at police stations for measuring the level of alcohol in a motorist’s breath.
Careless driving – An offence carrying 3 to 9 penalty points or a disqualification from driving. Please click on the heading “The Law” for further details.
Dangerous driving – An offence carrying a minimum disqualification from driving of one year and up to 2 years imprisonment. Please click on the heading “The Law” for further details.
Defective brakes – An offence carrying 3 penalty points or a disqualification from driving.
Defective lights – An offence which can lead to the imposition of up to a £2500 fine.
Defective steering – An offence carrying 3 penalty points or a disqualification from driving.
Defective tyres – An offence carrying 3 penalty points or a disqualification from driving.
Disqualification – A punishment which can be imposed by a court forbidding you from driving. A disqualification can be given for any offence where points can be imposed. Also, a disqualification must be given (subject to successfully arguing exceptional hardship, see below) if you reach 12 penalty points on your licence.
Driving offences – The general term for offences alleged to have been committed while driving.
Driving without due care and attention - An offence carrying 3 to 9 penalty points or a disqualification from driving. Please click on the heading “The Law” for further details.
Exceptional hardship – A loophole to avoid an automatic 6 months disqualification for having 12 or more penalty points on your licence.
Failing to provide – The general term for the various offences of failing to provide a roadside breath sample, a breath sample at the police station, a sample of blood or urine at the police station or refusing to consent to a sample of blood or urine to be analysed. These offences can carry an automatic 12 months disqualification. Please click on the heading “The Law” for further details.
Fixed Penalty Notice – An offer by the police to accept a guilty plea by post to an alleged offence. An acceptance by the motorist does not have to be accepted by the court and therefore a court hearing may still be necessary. The number of penalty points and level of fine varies for different offences.
GATSO – A Home Office-approved speed camera which photographs a vehicle from behind.
Inconsiderate driving - An offence carrying 3 to 9 penalty points or a disqualification from driving. Please click on the heading “The Law” for further details.
Intoxyliser – An approved device at police stations for measuring the level of alcohol in a motorist’s breath.
Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations – The law which creates offences such as defective brakes, defective steering, defective tyres and exceeding plate weight.
Motoring offences – The general term for offences alleged to have been committed while driving.
National speed limit – The speed limit which applies unless a lower speed limit is indicated. It is 70mph on motorways and dual carriageways, and 60mph on single carriageways.
Notice of Intended Prosecution – A notice to the registered keeper of a vehicle that must be sent to them within 14 days of some alleged offences. The rules on this are complex and legal advice should be obtained. A failure by the police to comply with the rules will lead to an allegation being dropped.
Penalty points – Points that are endorsed on a driving licence following a conviction for most motoring offences, unless a disqualification is imposed instead. Penalty points remain live on your driving licence for 3 years from the date of the offence for the purposes of totting up (see “Totting up”, below). They remain on the face of the licence for 4 years, for administrative purposes.
Red light offence - An offence carrying 3 penalty points or a disqualification from driving.
Revocation – A decision by the DVLA to revoke a driving licence. This is not a disqualification because the motorist must apply for their licence as if they are a new driver. They must pass both the theory and practical driving tests again before being allowed to drive unsupervised.
Road Traffic Act 1988 – The Act of Parliament which creates most driving offences.
Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 – The law which requires the DVLA to revoke a motorist’s driving licence if they have 6 live penalty points on their licence within two years of passing their practical test.
Road Traffic Offences Act 1988 – The Act of Parliament which governs the sentencing of most driving offences.
Road traffic offences – The common term used by lawyers for driving offences.
Roadside breath test – Commonly known as the breathalyser. A failure to provide a breath sample upon request is an offence (see “Failing to provide”, above) if done without reasonable excuse.
Section 172 notice – A form sent by the police to the registered keeper of a vehicle asking them to name the driver of that vehicle at a specific time and location. The form is then used as evidence during a prosecution for the alleged offence. A failure to complete the form is an offence that carries 6 penalty points or disqualification. Please click on the heading “The Law” for further details.
Special reasons – A loophole argument that can be put forward to a court that the motorist, although they have committed an offence, should not be automatically disqualified or receive mandatory penalty points. Legal advice should be obtained regarding this technique.
SPECS – A Home Office-approved system of average speed cameras.
Speed camera – A device used to measure the speed of a vehicle and produce photographic evidence which can be used in court. Common examples include GATSOs, SPECS and average speed cameras.
Speed gun- the commonly used term for a laser device which measures the speed of a vehicle.
Speeding – An offence carrying 3 to 6 penalty points or a disqualification from driving. Please click on the heading “The Law” for further details.
Speeding ticket – The common term for a Fixed Penalty Notice issued by the Police. These can be accepted by the motorist, the consequence being that 3 penalty points and a £60 fine will be imposed. Alternatively, they can be declined, which will lead to a summons (see below) being issued.
Summons – A document served upon a defendant informing that person that legal proceedings have commenced against them. It will require the defendant to either attend a court hearing or respond in writing.
Tachograph – A device to record a vehicle’s speed and the duration that the vehicle is moving or stationary. Tachographs are required by law on some vehicles and it is an offence to use those vehicles without one.
Totting up – The common term for the law which imposes an automatic six months ban on a motorist who accumulates 12 live points on their licence. The automatic six months ban will be avoided if an exceptional hardship (see “Exceptional hardship”, above) argument is successful.
VOSA – The Vehicle and Operators Service Agency. The government body which, in addition to the police, enforce offences such as the breach of tachograph requirements and defective vehicles.