Criminal Justice and Courts Bill — New Clause 22 — Increase Maximum Penalty for Driving While Disqualified to Two Years Imprisonment — 12 May 2014 at 18:30

The majority of MPs rejected a proposal to increase the maximum penalty for driving while disqualified from six months imprisonment to two years imprisonment.

In order to make the longer sentence available the rejected proposal included provisions to enable a charge of driving while disqualified to be tried in the Crown Court (triable either way).

An explanation of the intent of the amendment rejected in this vote was given as:

• Makes the offence of driving while disqualified triable either way, with a maximum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment for conviction on indictment.

The proposed new clause rejected in this vote was:

• Penalty for driving while disqualified
• ‘(1) In Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (prosecution and punishment of offences under the Traffic Acts) in the entry relating to the offence of obtaining licence, or driving, while disqualified, section 103(1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988—
• (a) in column 3 leave out “6 months” and insert “12 months”;
• (b) in column 2 below “(c) On indictment, in Scotland”, insert “(d) On indictment, in England and Wales”; and
• (c) in column 3 below “(c) 12 months or a fine or both” insert “(d) 2 years or a fine or both”.
• (2) In relation to an offence committed before section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference to 12 months is to be read as reference to six months.
• (3) The amendment made by this section applies only in relation to an offence committed on or after the day on which it comes into force.’.

Debate in Parliament | Source |