Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

Reduced penalty for course completion

8.—(1) The Offenders Order is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph (2) of Article 59 (provision that may be included in an order prescribing the amount of fixed penalty for a fixed penalty offence), insert—

“(2A) In relation to an offence which is specified in an order underArticle 57(2) as a fixed penalty offence, paragraph (2) shall be read as if the circumstances mentioned there include (in particular) also whether, by the relevant date, the offender satisfactorily completes an approved course specified in the fixed penalty notice or conditional offer in question.”.

(3) After paragraph (3) of that Article, add—

“(4) In paragraph (2A)—

“an approved course” means a course approved by the Department for the purposes of Article 36 in relation to offences under the same statutory provision as the offence in question;

“conditional offer” means a notice under Article 80;

“the relevant date” means such date, not later than 6 months after the day on which the fixed penalty notice or conditional offer for the offence in question is given to the offender, as is specified in the notice or offer.”.

(4) In paragraph (1) of Article 64A (effect of endorsement of driving record without hearing: penalty points attributable on conviction also attributable as fixed penalty), at the beginning insert “Subject to Article 64B,”.

(5) After that Article, insert—

“64B.    Qualification of Articles 64A(1) and 82A(7): reduced penalty points for course completion

(1) In relation to an offence which is specified in an order underArticle 57(2) as a fixed penalty offence, Article 30(3B) shall be read as if the circumstances mentioned there include (in particular) also whether, by the relevant date, the offender satisfactorily completes an approved course specified in the fixed penalty notice or conditional offer in question.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), “an approved course”,“conditional offer” and “the relevant date” each has the same meaning as in Article 59(4).”.

(6) In paragraph (7) of Article 82A (effect of endorsement of driving record where fixed penalty under conditional offer paid: penalty points attributable on conviction also attributable as fixed penalty), at the beginning insert “Subject to Article 64B,”.