Overview

This bill makes changes to how driving licences are surrendered and produced in relation to traffic offences in England, Wales, and Scotland. It streamlines processes, clarifies requirements for identification, and updates existing legislation to improve efficiency and consistency.

Description

The bill amends the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 and the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995. Key changes include:

• Revised Licence Production: Clarifies when drivers must produce their licences in court (during prosecution or conviction involving disqualification).
• Mandatory Licence Surrender: Introduces a requirement for drivers to surrender their licence to the Secretary of State after court disqualification, with penalties for non-compliance.
• Fixed Penalty Notices and Conditional Offers: Removes the requirement to surrender a licence when a fixed penalty notice or conditional offer is issued but introduces mandatory identification information requirements (name, date of birth, licence number) for these processes.
• New Driver Provisions: Updates rules for new drivers regarding the surrender of licences and test certificates following an offence.
• Minor Amendments: Makes various minor and consequential amendments to related legislation to ensure consistency and clarity.

Government Spending

The bill is unlikely to have a significant direct impact on government spending. Any costs associated with implementing the changes are expected to be offset by improved efficiency and reduced administrative burden.

Groups Affected

• Drivers: Drivers who are prosecuted for or convicted of driving offences will be directly affected by the changes in licence surrender and production procedures. Failure to comply could lead to further penalties.
• Courts: Courts will need to adapt their procedures to reflect the new requirements for licence production.
• Secretary of State: The Secretary of State will be responsible for receiving surrendered licences and managing the associated administrative processes.
• Police and enforcement officials: Police and other enforcement officials will be involved in implementing the revised procedures regarding identification information and licence surrender.

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