The Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

Disqualification for certain offences

35.—(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence involving obligatory disqualification, the court must order him to be disqualified for such period not less than 12 months as the court thinks fit unless the court for special reasons thinks fit to order him to be disqualified for a shorter period or not to order him to be disqualified.

(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence involving discretionary disqualification, and either—

(a) the penalty points to be taken into account on that occasion number fewer than 12, or

(b) the offence is not one involving obligatory endorsement,

the court may order him to be disqualified for such period as the court thinks fit.

(3) Where a person convicted of an offence under any of the following provisions of the Order of 1995, that is—

(a) Article 14 (causing death, or grievous bodily injury, by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs),

(b) Article 15(1) (driving or attempting to drive while unfit),

(c) Article 16(1)(a) (driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol),

(d) Article 18(7) (failing to provide a specimen), where that is an offence involving obligatory disqualification,

has within the 10 years immediately preceding the commission of the offence been convicted of any such offence, paragraph (1) shall apply in relation to him as if the reference to 12 months were a reference to 3 years.

This paragraph is subject to Article 96.

(4) Subject to paragraph (3), paragraph (1) shall apply as if the reference to 12 months were a reference to 2 years, in relation to—

(a) a person convicted of—

(i) manslaughter, or

(ii) an offence under Article 9 of the Order of 1995 (causing death, or grievous bodily injury, by dangerous driving), or

(iii) an offence under Article 14 of that Order (causing death, or grievous bodily injury, by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs), and

(b) a person on whom more than one disqualification for a fixed period of 56 days or more has been imposed within the 3 years immediately preceding the commission of the offence.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b) there shall be disregarded any disqualification imposed under Article 28 of this Order or Article 8 of the [1980 NI 6.] Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 (offences committed using a motor vehicle) and any disqualification imposed in respect of an offence of stealing a motor vehicle, an offence under section 12 or 24 of the [1969 c. 16 (N.I.).] Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, an offence under Article 172 of the Order of 1981, or an attempt to commit such an offence.

(6) The preceding provisions of this Article shall apply in relation to a conviction of an offence committed by aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring, or inciting to the commission of, an offence involving obligatory disqualification as if the offence were an offence involving discretionary disqualification.

(7) This Article is subject to Article 53.