Mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between the United Kingdom and Ireland entered force 28 January 2010.
This is being done under the framework of the European Convention on Driving Disqualifications of 17 June 1998 (“the Convention”).
The UK and Ireland recognise that, in the interests of road safety, drivers who commit serious driving offences outside their country of residence should not escape the consequences of their actions.
If a driver resident in the UK is disqualified from driving in Ireland, the disqualification will also apply in the UK. The driver will be informed of any remaining period of disqualification due to be served in the UK; the driving licence must be surrendered until the disqualification period has been served in full and it will be an offence to drive in the UK during that period. Likewise, if a driver resident in Ireland is disqualified in the UK, the disqualification will also be applied in Ireland by the Irish authorities.
The offence must have resulted from conduct defined in the Convention. The arrangements cover 6 categories of driver behaviour or conduct.
· Dangerous or reckless driving
· Hit and run driving
· Driving while under the influence of alcohol/drugs (and refusal to submit to a test
· Speeding
· Driving whilst disqualified
· Other road traffic offences resulting in a disqualification period of 6 months or more
Conduct which gives rise to the disqualification may be covered by the Convention and therefore by the arrangements, even if the offence committed is not an offence in the UK.
Disqualifications as a result of accumulating penalty points (“totting up”) are not included in the arrangements, for the time being, as this gives rise to additional complications and would require further primary legislation.
