Motoring Offences

What does disqualification under the "totting-up" system mean?

For many motoring offences, an individual may be disqualified from driving or have their licence endorsed with penalty points in addition to receiving a sentence. In fact certain minor road traffic offences are dealt with purely by penalty points and fixed penalty notices rather than any substantive criminal proceedings being necessary. Points stay on a licence for a certain amount of time depending on the nature of the offence for which they were imposed.
Where someone accumulates 12 penalty points on their licence within a three year period this will result in a disqualification. This is known as “totting up”. Where someone reaches 12 points they will automatically be disqualified unless they can show to the satisfaction of a court that this would cause "exceptional hardship".

Is there a time limit for appealing against sentence of a driving offence?

Driving offences, like any other criminal offence, have a right of appeal. From the Magistrates' Court any appeal must be lodged within 21 days from the date of sentence. From the Crown Court, there is generally 28 days from sentence within which to lodge an appeal.

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