Totting Up Ban at 12 Penalty Points

Totting Up Ban / 12 Penalty Points


What is the definition of totting up?

Totting up is the accumulation of 12 or more penalty points for driving offences committed within the same 3 year period, which would normally lead to a licence disqualification of 6 months or more.

How does the totting up procedure work?

Any driver who commits an offence that would potentially result in them reaching 12 penalty points, will be referred to Court to decide whether a 6 month driving disqualification should be imposed. Although a totting up ban is recommended for reaching 12 points, it can be avoided in certain circumstances. The driver will need to attend Court in person so that the Justices can consider the appropriate penalty.

How do I avoid a totting up ban?

Any driver reaching 12 penalty points and facing a totting up ban can present an exceptional hardship submission, which, if accepted, will prevent a ban. To succeed, you will need to satisfy the Court that your reliance upon the licence is so significant, that a ban would go so far beyond inconvenience, that it would be practically impossible to cope with.

Exceptional Hardship

How long does a totting up ban last for?

The recommended mandatory period of disqualification for a totting up ban is 6 months. Some Courts do exercise discretion if there are particularly unusual circumstances but in theory, if you reach 12 points and cannot convince the Court that you should be allowed to keep your licence, you are off the road for 6 months.

Can a totting up disqualification be longer than 6 months?

Yes. The rules state that a disqualification should be for "at least" 6 months. It is extremely unlikely the Court will feel the need to go beyond the minimum duration, although if you have faced a previous totting up disqualification within 3 years, and accumulated 12 or more points again, the minimum disqualification is 12 months, if your exceptional hardship submission is unsuccessful.

Am I at risk of totting up?

Your risk of a totting up disqualification will depend upon the number of points on your licence at the time the offence was committed, the type of offence alleged and the severity of the incident. All motoring offences carry penalty points but for some offences the endorsement is fixed where as for others, there is a range of points. For example, if you had 3 penalty points, but were prosecuted for driving without due care and attention (which carries between 3 and 9 points) you would face a totting up ban if the maximum penalty was imposed. However, if you had 8 points already, but were prosecuted for failing to comply with a red traffic light, which carries a penalty point endorsement fixed at 3 points, you would not be at risk of a totting up ban. If you have 9 penalty points, any offence committed will trigger a potential totting up ban.

Risk of Totting Up Ban
Offence Alleged Penalty Points on Licence * / Risk
Points 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+
Careless Driving (Driving Without Due Care) 3-9
Failing to Stop / Report Accident 5-10
No Insurance 6-8
Mobile Phone (Using) 6
Failing to Identify Driver 6
Speeding 3-6
Licence Offences 3-6
Traffic Light 3
Pedestrian / Level Crossing 3
Failing to comply with Road Sign 3
Construction & Use 3

* Penalty points on driving licence at the time of the alleged offence

Can I reduce the potential number of penalty points to avoid a totting up ban?

If there is a range of points for the offence committed, you can potentially minimise the number of points subject to the circumstance of the offence and the mitigation presented. The mere fact that the maximum punishment would trigger totting up, does not mean that you will automatically receive the maximum number of points. If you have been given the option to plead guilty by post / online, tactically, it makes sense to use that as an option to minimise the penalty and if successful, you will not face totting up. If your letter is rejected, a hearing date will be allocated for you to attend, at which you can again mitigate the number of points, or if necessary, present an exceptional hardship submission to avoid a totting up ban, should the penalty reach a total of 12 or more points.

Mitigation

How long do penalty points/offences remain on my driving licence?

Points are valid for 3 years from the date of the offence but cannot be removed from your licence until their fourth anniversary. If you amass 12 penalty points in any 3 year period, you face a totting up disqualification.

Some of my points expire before my Court appearance. Will I still face a totting up ban?

Yes. The Court will consider the number of points that you had at the time of the offence. Even if points expire before the Court hearing, they will be relevant if they were valid on the day the offence was committed.

My points were due to expire shortly after the most recent offence was committed. Will the Court take this into account?

In theory, no. However, if the appropriate exceptional hardship submission is put forward, most Courts will take on board the dates of the offences when considering whether to exercise discretion. The Court needs to consider the complete history as well as the implications. What emphasis the Court puts on that information is entirely discretionary.

Can I be banned from driving under the Fixed Penalty Notice System?

If the number of points imposed by a Fixed Penalty will take you to 12 or more, you will not be able to resolve matters via the Fixed Penalty Process. Even if you attempt to accept a Fixed Penalty, the conditional offer will be withdrawn and your case referred to Court.

Why have I received a Fixed Penalty Notice if I cannot accept it?

The Fixed Penalty Notice is issued by a Process Section. At that stage, no check is carried out to clarify the number of points on your driving licence. That check is only undertaken if you attempt to accept a Fixed Penalty. If it is then apparent that acceptance will trigger totting up, the offer will be withdrawn and the case referred to Court.

What happens if I am at risk of totting up, but accept the Fixed Penalty Notice anyway?

In theory, the staff in the Process Section should spot that you do not meet the criteria, reject your acceptance and refer the case to Court. In those circumstances, both your payment and your licence should be returned. However, in the unlikely event that the Process Unit fail to appreciate that you do not meet the criteria and process your acceptance, your licence will be returned with the additional points added, taking you to a total of 12 or more. Consequently, as a totting up ban can only be applied by the Court, not the Process Unit, but no disqualification has been imposed by the Court, you are entitled to continue driving. However, if it is still possible that when the DVLA are advised of the penalty, they will notify the Police of the Process Unit who will then refer matters to Court.

Can I appeal a totting up ban?

Yes. If your exceptional hardship submission is rejected in the Magistrates' Court, you have 21 days from the date of the hearing to lodge an appeal to the Crown Court. You can also apply for your licence to be reinstated so you can continue driving even though on 12 points, whilst the appeal date is awaited.

How to Appeal

What are the rules for new drivers?

Although new drivers would still be subject to a totting up ban when reaching 12 penalty points, additionally the licence is also revoked for reaching 6 penalty points within the first 2 years of passing the driving test. Consequently, in extreme circumstances, a new driver could both be banned under the totting up system and have their licence revoked, meaning that once the ban is served, they would still have to take the test again.

New Drivers Act