(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, a person who by an order of a court is disqualified may apply to the court by which the order was made to remove the disqualification, and on any such application the court may, as it thinks proper, having regard to the character of the person disqualified and his conduct subsequent to the order, the nature of the offence, and any other circumstances of the case, either by order remove the disqualification as from such date as may be specified in the order or refuse the application.
(2)No application shall be made under subsection (1) above for the removal of a disqualification before the expiration of whichever is relevant of the following periods from the date of the order by which the disqualification was imposed, that is to say—
(a)two years, if the disqualification is for less than four years,
(b)one half of the period of the disqualification, if it is for less than ten years but not less than four years,
(c)five years in any other case;
and in determining the expiration of the period after which under this subsection a person may apply for the removal of a disqualification, any time after the conviction during which the disqualification was suspended or he was not disqualified shall be disregarded.
(3)Where an application under subsection (1) above is refused, a further application thereunder shall not be entertained if made within three months after the date of the refusal.
(4)If under this section a court orders a disqualification to be removed, the court shall cause particulars of the order to be endorsed on the licence, if any, previously held by the applicant and the court shall in any case have power to order the applicant to pay the whole or any part of the costs of the application.
(5)The foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply where the disqualification was imposed by order under section 93(7) of this Act, section 5(7) of the [1962 c. 69.] Road Traffic Act 1962 or section 104(3) of the [1960 c. 16.] Road Traffic Act 1960.