Drink driving conviction codes are comprised of two letters (DR) and two numbers (ranging 10 – 70). The purpose of a conviction code is to indicate:
- Type of offence
- Severity of offence
Each drink driving code is linked to a starting point in terms of the recommended disciplinary action (for the consideration of the Courts).
Drink Driving Conviction Codes – Licence Points
The Courts will instruct the DVLA to revoke the licence of any motorist who reaches or exceeds the 12 point maximum within a three year period (new drivers must not exceed 6 points within two years of passing the driving test). Points will remain active on the driver’s licence for three years for the purposes of totting up but the endorsement and points will remain visible on the the driver record for four years.
Drink driving codes are split into two distinct categories. Each category is defined by the number of years that any endorsement points (or penalty points) will remain active on the convicted motorist’s licence. We will now look at each category in turn.
Drink Driving Code – Points On Licence For 4 Years
The following four drink driving codes relate to less severe drink driving offences. These offences are noteworthy because the motorist must only be deemed to have been in charge of the vehicle (to have it within their control) – as opposed to it having been proven that they were in the act of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle.
The endorsement to which these drink driving codes relate will likely remain active on the motorist’s driving licence for a period of 4 years.
| Drink Driving Code | Licence Points | Drink Driving Offence (Description) |
|---|---|---|
| DR40 | 10 | The DR40 drink driving code indicates that a motorist has been found in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit for breath, blood or urine. |
| DR50 | 10 | The DR50 code indicates that a motorist was in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink (the car may have been stationary). |
| DR60 | 10 | The DR60 drink driving code indicates that a motorist has failed to provide a specimen for analysis having been in charge of a vehicle (i.e. the motorist was not necessarily driving or attempting to drive the vehicle). |
| DR70 | 4 | The DR70 drink driving code specifically relates to a scenario in which a motorist fails to provide a preliminary breath test when asked to do so by police. |
The above offences carry with them penalty points but it is worth noting that the Court has a discretionary power to disqualify a driver when considered appropriate due to the circumstances relating to the offence (or those of the motorist).
Drink Driving Code – Endorsement on Licence For 11 Years
The following five drink driving codes relate to more serious drink driving offences, where it has been proven that the offender was driving a motor vehicle. The endorsement to which these drink driving codes relate will likely remain active on the motorist’s driving licence for a period of 11 years.
| Drink Driving Code | Licence Points/ Disq | Drink Driving Offence (Description) |
|---|---|---|
| DR10 | Disqualification of at least 12 months | The DR10 drink driving code indicates that a motorist was found to have been driving (or attempting to drive) whilst over the legal limit for breath, blood or urine. |
| DR20 | Disqualification of at least 12 months | The DR20 code indicates that a motorist was discovered to have been driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drink. |
| DR30 | Disqualification of at least 12 months | The DR30 drink driving code indicates that a motorist has failed to provide a specimen for analysis when asked by police after having been driving a vehicle. |
| DR31 | Disqualification of at least 12 months | The DR31 drink driving code outlines a scenario in which a motorist has been found driving or attempting to drive and has subsequently refused to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without the motorist’s consent (due to incapacity). |
| DR61 | Disqualification of least 12 months | The DR61 drink driving code indicates that a motorist has denied permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent, specifically under circumstances other than operating or attempting to operate a motor vehicle. |
For all of the above offences, the Court has the power not to disqualify or to endorse the driver with points where special reasons relating to the offence (such as an emergency or spiked drinks) apply.
