Driving Licence Offences & Codes

The following information concerns Traffic Offences and Codes which appear on a driver’s licence if a driving offence has been committed. It is vital that employers check their employee's driving licence record regularly. The table below indicates the number of penalty points a driver may expect to receive for committing the offence, as well as any disqualification or custodial sentence, but there is no indication of the level of fine as this is set by a judge on the day.

There is, in most cases a basic level of fine structured against most offences, but it must be recognised that it may be the case, if attending court, that mitigation may see the level of fine reduced or increased by the court subject to the individual's actions/responses whilst committing the offence.

Endorsement Codes and Penalty Points

Each endorsement has a special code and is given ‘penalty points’ on a scale from 1 to 11. More points are awarded for more serious offences.

The table below shows the offence codes that can be put on a driving record. It also shows how many penalty points may be awarded. Some offences may also involve disqualification.

Offence codes and penalty points must stay on a driving record for 4 or 11 years depending on the offence.

ACCIDENT OFFENCES

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
AC10	Failing to stop after an accident	5 to 10
AC20	Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours	5 to 10
AC30	Undefined accident offences	4 to 9

DISQUALIFIED DRIVER

Codes BA10 and BA30 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
BA10	Driving while disqualified by order of a court	6
BA30	Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of a court	6

Codes BA40 and BA60 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
BA40	Causing death by driving while disqualified	3 to 11
BA60	Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified	3 to 11

CARELESS DRIVING

Codes CD10 to CD30 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
CD10	Driving without due care and attention	3 to 9
CD20	Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users	3 to 9
CD30	Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users	3 to 9

Codes CD40 to CD70 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
CD40	Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink	3 to 11
CD50	Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs	3 to 11
CD60	Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit	3 to 11
CD70	Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol analysis	3 to 11

Codes CD80 and CD90 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
CD80	Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving	3 to 11
CD90	Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers	3 to 11

CONSTRUCTION & USE OFFENCES

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
CU10	Using a vehicle with defective brakes	3
CU20	Causing or likely to cause danger because of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition	3
CU30	Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s)	3
CU40	Using a vehicle with defective steering	3
CU50	Causing or likely to cause danger because of load or passengers	3
CU80	Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone	3 to 6

RECKLESS / DANGEROUS DRIVING

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
DD10	Causing serious injury by dangerous driving	3 to 11
DD40	Dangerous driving	3 to 11
DD60	Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle	3 to 11
DD80	Causing death by dangerous driving	3 to 11
DD90	Furious driving	3 to 9

DRINK

Codes DR10 to DR61 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
DR10	Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit	3 to 11
DR20	Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink	3 to 11
DR30	Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis	3 to 11
DR31	Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to permit analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity	3 to 11
DR61	Refusing to permit analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive	10

Codes DR40 to DR70 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence or 4 years from the date of conviction where disqualification is imposed.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
DR40	In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit	10
DR50	In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink	10
DR60	Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive	10
DR70	Failing to provide a specimen for a breath test	4

DRUGS

These codes must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
DG10	Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit	3 to 11
DG60	Causing death by careless driving with drug level above the limit	3 to 11
DR80	Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs	3 to 11

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence or 4 years from the date of conviction where disqualification is imposed.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
DG40	In charge of a vehicle while drug level above a specified limit	10
DR90	In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs	10

INSURANCE OFFENCES

Code IN10 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
IN10	Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks	6 to 8

LICENCE OFFENCES

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
LC20	Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence	3 to 6
LC30	Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence	3 to 6
LC40	Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability	3 to 6
LC50	Driving after a licence has been cancelled (revoked) or refused on medical grounds	3 to 6

MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
MS10	Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position	3
MS20	Unlawful pillion riding	3
MS30	Play street offences	2
MS50	Motor racing on the highway	3 to 11
MS60	Offences not covered by other codes (including offences relating to the breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle)	3
MS70	Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight	3
MS80	Refusing to submit to an eyesight test	3
MS90	Failure to give information as to the identity of driver etc	6

MOTORWAY OFFENCES

Code MW10 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
MW10	Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits)	3

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
PC10	Undefined contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations	3
PC20	Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with moving vehicle	3
PC30	Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with a stationary vehicle	3

SPEED LIMITS

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
SP10	Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits	3 to 6
SP20	Exceeding the speed limit for the type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)	3 to 6
SP30	Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road	3 to 6
SP40	Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit	3 to 6
SP50	Exceeding the speed limit on a motorway	3 to 6

TRAFFIC DIRECTION & SIGNS

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
TS10	Failing to comply with traffic light signals	3
TS20	Failing to comply with double white lines	3
TS30	Failing to comply with ‘stop’ sign	3
TS40	Failing to comply with the direction of a constable/warden	3
TS50	Failing to comply with traffic sign (excluding ‘stop’ signs, traffic lights or double white lines)	3
TS60	Failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign	3
TS70	Undefined failure to comply with a traffic direction sign	3

SPECIAL CODE

Code TT99 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of conviction. It shows disqualification under ‘totting-up’ i.e. if the total of penalty points reaches 12 or more within 3 years, the driver can be disqualified.

THEFT OR UNAUTHORISED TAKING

Code UT50 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
UT50	Aggravated taking of a vehicle	3 to 11

‘MUTUAL RECOGNITION’ CODES

A driver will receive an ‘MR’ code on their driving record if disqualified while driving in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man. The disqualification period will also be valid in GB and will stay on the record for 4 years from the date of conviction.

Code	Offence
MR09	Reckless or dangerous driving (whether or not resulting in death, injury or serious risk)
MR19	Willful failure to carry out the obligation placed on the driver after being involved in a road accident (hit or run)
MR29	Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substance affecting or diminishing the mental and physical abilities of a driver
MR39	Driving a vehicle faster than the permitted speed
MR49	Driving a vehicle whilst disqualified
MR59	Other conduct constituting an offence for which a driving disqualification has been imposed by the State of Offence

AIDING, ABETTING, COUNSELLING OR PROCURING OFFENCES

For these offences, the codes are similar, but with the number 0 on the code changed to 2.

For example, code LC20 (driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence) becomes code LC22 on a driving record if a driver has helped someone to do this.

CAUSING OR PERMITTING OFFENCES

For these offences, the codes are similar, but with the number 0 on the code changed to 4.

For example, LC20 (driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence) becomes LC24 on a driving record if a driver has caused or permitted someone to do this.

INCITING OFFENCES

For these offences, the codes are similar, but with the number 0 on the code changed to 6.

For example, DD40 (dangerous driving) becomes DD46 on a driving record if the driver has incited someone to do this.

For further information about licence offences, points etc. please visit the following link

https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements