New driving licence service

The DVLA is shortly due to stop issuing the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence. As of the 8th June 2015 it will be no more.

If as a business or organisation you need to check someone’s driving record you can do so using Share Driving Licence.

There are 2 steps to this new service.

1. The driver licence holder will need to log on to the View Driving Licence service and click on Share Driving Licence. This will generate a unique one-time use access code that the driver will need to share with you, along with the last 8 digits of their driving licence number. Here the driving licence holder will also have the option to download a summary of their driving licence information and access code.
2. Once in receipt of the access code you may use this in conjunction with the last 8 digits of the driving licence number to view the latest driving licence information from the DVLA. This free, 24/7 service will be available at www.gov.uk.

Drivers with old style paper driving licences issued before 1998 can also use the Share Driving Licence service.

For more information on these changes and the abolition of the counterpart visit www.gov.uk/dvla/nomorecounterpart.

Bad driving in Europe could be punished in UK courts

British motorists caught speeding in their own vehicles on the Continent could have fines sent to their home addresses and be pursued in UK courts, under new plans to let European Union states access our motoring records for the first time.

Currently, British motorists who commit driving offences in other EU countries can be fined only if stopped by a police officer at the roadside. Those whose offences in their own vehicles are caught on camera tend to escape without punishment, while drivers of hire cars are often traced through their rental companies.

But this week the European Parliament will vote on a range of measures that will give national police forces the power to send out fines across Europe – and pursue offenders through the courts of their home countries.

Under the new rules, If a driver commits an offence in another country, that state may use their car’s registration number to access their personal data to send out a letter in the driver’s own language, demanding payment and threatening court action if they do not pay the fine.

The new Bill will be the first time that all 28 EU countries take part in cross-border information exchanges. Under the law, British police will also be able to pursue foreign motorists for traffic and speeding fines if they have left the UK.

An earlier law, which Britain had opted out of, was struck down by the European Court of Justice on an administrative technicality. However, the new directive, which was proposed by the European Commission in May, does not allow for Britain to use its opt-out.

Read the Full story by the Independent here

Driver caught speeding at 95mph on M6 toll road 'was late for speed awareness course'

A driver caught travelling at nearly 100mph Last Wednesday told police he was late... for his speed awareness course.

The man was stopped by officers who were conducting speed checks on the M6 Toll between Lichfield and Burntwood in Staffordshire after clocked him doing nearly 95mph in his Nissan Pathfinder 

The man in his 50s has been reported for summons. Another driver was also stopped who was clocking up nearly 128mph. 

Speed awareness courses are offered as an alternative to a speeding fine and penalty points.

The course, usually of four hours duration, aims to help drivers to gain a fuller understanding of why people drive above the speed limit and the potential consequences of speeding.