All learner and novice drivers subject to 7 point limit

Swaine

Thought I'd start a thread on this mainly to warn folks who have held a learner permit since before 2014.

I passed my driving test last Friday week and got my licence in the post one week later. Also, I got a registered letter from the RSA on the same day warning me that I am now subject to a 7 penalty point limit despite me getting my first learner permit before the 7 point law came into affect in 2014. 2005 to be exact.

The inital rule was all learner permits issued after this date were subject to a 7 point limit, those issued before this date were subject to 12 points.

Obviously me appyling for my full licence triggered something in their system so they decide to tell me about this pretty big development only now.

Fantastic.


Link to source https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b9406-statement-on-the-penalty-point-threshold-for-learner-and-novice-driver-licences/

Instead of the standard 12 points disqualification threshold, this was changed to a 7 point threshold for “..a person who at the time such points are endorsed is a learner driver or a novice driver”.

con747

On the RSA website it states in section (B).

How does the system work?
Penalty point offences are recorded on your driving licence record if:

You are convicted of a driving offence that attracts penalty points, or
You are served with a fixed charge notice for an alleged offence that attracts penalty points and you opt to pay the fine rather than having the matter referred to the courts
Any driver accumulating 12 penalty points within any given three-year period will be automatically disqualified from driving for six months.

A lower threshold of seven penalty points leading to disqualification will apply to any driver who is granted their first learner permit on or after 1 August 2014 while they drive under a learner permit, and subsequently during the first two years while they drive under their first driving licence.

Where a driver held a learner permit before 1 August 2014 and obtained a first full licence on or after that date they will then be disqualified from driving either-

(a) on accumulating 12 penalty points in any three year period, or
(b) on accumulating seven penalty points where all seven points were accumulated after 1 August 2014 and within the first two years of holding a valid driving licence.
https://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Licensed-Drivers/Penalty-points/How-it-works-why-it-matters/#:~:text=A%20lower%20threshold%20of%20seven,under%20their%20first%20driving%20licence.

Swaine

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/all-learner-and-novice-drivers-who-receive-seven-penalty-points-will-be-disqualified-1.4565505

This is all I could find online about it.

Swaine

con747 wrote: »

On the RSA website it states in section (B).


(b) on accumulating seven penalty points where all seven points were accumulated after 1 August 2014 and within the first two years of holding a valid driving licence.
https://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Licensed-Drivers/Penalty-points/How-it-works-why-it-matters/#:~:text=A%20lower%20threshold%20of%20seven,under%20their%20first%20driving%20licence.

Okay, I see. But it wasn't always this way, it was changed.

They did apologise in the letter for not informing me of this change.

con747

Maybe the RSA need to update their systems like the HSE to reflect the new changes but this is Ireland...

Swaine

con747 wrote: »

Maybe the RSA need to update their systems like the HSE to reflect the new changes but this is Ireland...

Couldn't believe it to be honest.

0.1% of drivers it affects and they couldn't manage to let them know?

A solicitor would have a field day in a court if someone challenged a disqualification under these circumstances.

biko

Link added in OP.