Penalty points and disqualification
If you’re convicted of a motoring offence the courts can fine you and endorse your driving licence with penalty points.
North
A Fixed Penalty Notice is a fine for a motoring offence.
Police officers (in uniform) are able to issue Endorsable Fixed Penalty Notices (EFPNs) for a variety of road traffic offences. The offences range from stopping on a motorway to defective tyres. Parking attendants will be able to issue EFPNs for offences related to pelican and zebra crossings only. The most common ones are excess speed, using a handheld mobile phone and driver failing to wear a seatbelt.
Endorsable Fixed Penalty Notices differ from non-endorsable fixed penalty notices. They involve the endorsement of penalty points on a driving licence and they carry a heavier fine currently £60.
Police officers in uniform in addition to parking attendants currently issue Non-Endorsable Fixed Penalties. There are over 130 offences associated with a non-endorsable notice which carry a £30 fine but no penalty points are added (endorsed) to your licence.
South
Penalty points are essentially a formal reprimand by the Gardai endorsed on your driving licence record that shows you are guilty of a specific driving offence.
Penalty point offences are recorded on your driving licence record if:
- you are convicted of a driving offence that attracts penalty points, or
- you are served with a fixed charge notice for an alleged offence that attracts penalty points and you opt to pay the fine rather than having the matter referred to the courts
On accumulating 12 penalty points within any given three-year period you will be automatically disqualified from driving for six months. A lower threshold applies to some drivers.
Cross-border issues
Source: RSA.ie
Ireland and the UK have a mutual agreement where drivers disqualified in one country are recognised as disqualified in the other.
If you have accumulated penalty points you will not be liable to disqualification under the mutual agreement. However, you may be disqualified if you commit any of the following traffic offences:
reckless or dangerous driving.
- failure to meet the obligations placed on drivers after being involved in road collisions.
- driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
- refusal to submit to alcohol and drug tests.
- driving a vehicle faster than the permitted speed.
- driving a vehicle whilst disqualified.
For further information please see RSA.ie – mutual recognition
See also
- nidirect.gov.uk – endorsements and penalty points
- citizensinformation.ie – penalty points for driving offences
Page last checked: 23 February 2024
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