NEW: What happens if you get 12 penalty points?

Be alert here...

Disqualification for 6 months.

This is automatic.

Its important that you understand this because I get panicked calls from people every week.

Last week alone I got 4 calls, all from motorists who had paid notices and then got letters telling them they were off the road for 6 months.

"The only circumstances that I could see an appeal

being possible would be if the FCPN came to your

home and someone signed the form and

paid it on your behalf, unknown to you.

How often does that happen?

It doesn’t.

I’ve never heard of it happening"

If you pay a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice (FCPN) and the points associated with that road traffic offence will push you to 12 or more points, you will be disqualified.

You need to understand that.

Here’s something else you need to understand: you cant appeal that.

In other words, if you get put off the road because of points, its not appealable.

Why can’t you appeal?

Appeal what?

When you paid the FCPN that was an admission by you that you had committed the offence.

An appeal is not possible in these circumstances.

The only circumstances that I could see an appeal being possible would be if the FCPN came to your home and someone signed the form and paid it on your behalf, unknown to you.

How often does that happen?

It doesn’t.

I’ve never heard of it happening.

So, if you pay that FCPN for speeding and you hit 12 points you will receive a notice in a few weeks.

That notice will advise you that as you have hit 12 points you will be disqualified from driving for 6 months from a specific date.

And there’s no appealing it.

There are other potential mechanisms to stay on the road, but if you pay that FCPN and hit 12, you’re going off for 6 months.

How do you find out how many points you have?

The National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) will tell you.

They are very helpful.

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So, if you get a FCPN make sure you know how many points you have before you pay it.

It might make the difference between going off the road and driving home.