Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008

30 Disqualification for driving

(1) In section 40B of the Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48) (disqualification from driving), for the heading and subsection (1) substitute—

“40B Disqualification for holding or obtaining driving licence

(A1) The Commission may apply to the court for an order disqualifying a person for holding or obtaining a driving licence where—

(a) it has sought to recover an amount from the person by means of taking enforcement action by virtue of section 35 or 38, or by means of a third party debt order or a charging order by virtue of section 36;

(b) the whole or any part of the amount remains unpaid; and

(c) the Commission is of the opinion that there has been wilful refusal or culpable neglect on the part of the person from whom it has sought to recover the amount (“the liable person”).

(A2) Disqualification by an order under subsection (A1) (a “disqualification order”) shall be for such period not exceeding two years as the court may specify in the order.

(A3) For the purposes of subsection (A1)(a), the Commission is to be taken to have sought to recover an amount by means of a charging order if an interim charging order has been made, whether or not any further steps have been taken to recover the amount.

(A4) On an application under subsection (A1) the court shall (in the presence of the liable person) inquire as to—

(a) whether the liable person needs a driving licence to earn a living;

(b) the liable person’s means; and

(c) whether there has been wilful refusal or culpable neglect on the part of the liable person.

(A5) On an application under subsection (A1) the court shall not question—

(a) the liability order by reference to which the Commission acted as mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection; or

(b) the maintenance calculation by reference to which that liability order was made.

(1) If, but only if, the court is of the opinion that there has been wilful refusal or culpable neglect on the part of the liable person, it may—

(a) make a disqualification order against the liable person; or

(b) make such an order but suspend its operation until such time and on such conditions (if any) as it thinks just.”

(2) For subsection (10) of that section, substitute—

“(10) On making a disqualification order, the court may order the liable person to be searched.

(10A) Any money found on such a search shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be applied towards payment of the amount due; and the balance (if any) shall be returned to the person searched.

(10B) The court shall not allow the application under subsection (10A) of money found on a search under subsection (10) if it is satisfied that the money does not belong to the person searched.

(10C) The court may exercise the powers conferred on it by subsection (5) without the need for an application where money found on a search under subsection (10) is applied towards payment of the amount due.”