A disqualification from driving can range from one year to ten years depending on the severity of the offence. There are also cases where a judge will rule that the offender should serve a lifetime disqualification to avoid putting the lives of others at risk.
There is also something called a Short Period Disqualification (SPD ) which means you are banned from driving for less than 56 days, during which time the court will have custody of your driving license, but it will not be surrendered. This penalty is usually given for less severe offences, and you can start driving once it has expired, without taking your test again
When a full license disqualification has been given and completed, you are able to apply for a license again, using forms available at the post office and online. If you do this you will be issued with a provisional licence and then need take the theory, hazard and practical tests in order to regain a full licence.
The endorsements of a disqualification will remain on a licence unless otherwise instructed by a magistrate for which you will need to appear and present your case for removal.
In some cases of extended bans, you may not be banned for the whole period, as the court sometimes allow a driver to serve half their disqualification if they have taken steps to ensure that after the disqualification period they can be a safer driver, such as a drink driving rehabilitation course. A ban may also be reduced if the court take into account the motorists personal circumstances and deem that the impact of the ban would be detrimental to the motorists family life or job.
For bans longer than 2 years you can apply after half the proposed disqualification period, for example for a ban of 6 years you can apply after 3. If you made other offences, driving or otherwise, since your disqualification the court will immediately dismiss your application. If you are caught driving whilst banned you will face a custodial sentence and a hefty fine.
For more information on a drink driving offence and other motoring offences, see oliver & Co’s site, where their driving offence lawyer keeps the site up to date with legal news.
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