Guide to Penalty Points/Endorsement offence codes

Penalty Points System

Penalty points can only be added to your licence where allowed by statute. The most common example nowadays is penalty points for speeding, which range from 3 to 6. The general rule is that the penalty points remain active for 3 years. The DVLA approach requires the record of points to be kept on the licence for at least 4 years. After that you can apply to the DVLA to have those points removed.

There are some exceptions to the general rule, the main one being drink driving convictions, which remain active on your licence for 10 years. It is also important to remember that the Court can legitimately look at your entire driving history when punishing you for any road traffic offence no matter how old the conviction is! That is why it is important to always fight any allegation where possible.

Penalty Points UK

Points can only be added to a UK licence or to a licence for a country where there is a reciprocal arrangement. New laws are being introduced to expand this, but at the moment most foreign driving licences cannot have points added to them.

Totting

Traditionally this was a system whereby consistently bad drivers would end up disqualified from driving. Should you accumulate 12 penalty points or more on your licence over any 3 year period then you can be disqualified from driving (usually for 6 months). People falling into this category are generally known as "totters". The ban is not mandatory, so it is possible to argue you should not be disqualified despite having 12 or more points. It can also sometimes be better to accept a short ban for an offence than have the points and be disqualified under the totting-up procedure. This can be a risky strategy and we do not recommend you try it without proper legal advice.

The Guide

The following is a guide to the main motoring offence codes and number of motoring offence penalty points a court may impose for offences, but does not reflect the fact that some offences may incur a disqualification.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
Accident offences
AC10	Failing to stop after an accident	5-10
AC20	Failing to give particulars or to report an accident within 24 hours	5-10
Disqualified driver
BA10	Driving whilst disqualified by order of court	6
BA30	Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court	6
Careless driving
CD10	Driving without due care and attention	3-9
CD20	Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users	3-9
CD30	Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users	3-9
CD40	Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink	3-11
CD50	Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs	3-11
CD60	Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit	3-11
CD70	Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for analysis	3-11
CD71	Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for drug analysis	3-11
Construction & use offences
CU10	Using a vehicle with defective brakes	3
CU20	Causing or likely to cause danger by reason 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 by reason of load or passengers	3
Dangerous/Reckless driving
DD40	Dangerous Driving	3-11
DD60	Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle	3-11
DD80	Causing death by dangerous driving	3-11
Drink or Drugs
DR10	Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit	3-11
DR20	Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink	3-11
DR30	Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis	3-11
DR31	Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for drug analysis	3-11
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
DR61	Failure to supply a specimen for drug analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive	10
DR70	Failing to provide specimen for breath test	4
DR80	Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs	3-11
DR90	In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs	10
Insurance offences
IN10	Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks.	6-8
Licence offences
LC20	Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence	3-6
LC40	Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability	3-6
Miscellaneous offences
MS10	Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position	3
MS20	Unlawful pillion riding	3
MS50	Motor racing on the highway	3-11
MS70	Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight	3
MS90	Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc (pre-24 September 2007)	3
MS90	Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc (24 September 2007 onwards)	6
Motorway offences
MW10	Contravention of Special Roads Regulations (excluding speed limits)	3
Pedestrian crossings
PC20	Contravention of Pedestrian Crossing Regulations with moving vehicle	3
PC30	Contravention of Pedestrian Crossing Regulations with stationary vehicle	3
Speed limits
SP10	Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits	3-6
SP20	Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)	3-6
SP30	Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road	3-6
SP40	Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit	3-6
SP50	Exceeding speed limit on a motorway	3-6
Traffic direction and signs
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 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
Special Code
TT99	To signify a disqualification under totting-up procedure. If the total of penalty points reaches 12 or more within three years, the driver is liable to be disqualified
Theft or unauthorised taking
UT50	Aggravated taking of a vehicle	3-11
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring an offence - Offences as coded, but with the end 0 changed to 2
Causing or permitting an offence to occur - Offences as coded, but with the end 0 changed to 4
Inciting an offence - Offences as coded, but with the end 0 changed to 6