(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings into operation on the 28th June 2021 the provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 specified in the Schedule.
Paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 amends Article 36 (reduced disqualification period for attendance on courses) of the Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 to make referral of offenders to the Course for Drink Drive Offenders automatic, at the time of conviction, whilst still allowing the court discretion (for ‘special reasons’) to not issue a referral order if that is deemed inappropriate.