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Section 301: Fine defaulters: driving disqualification

Criminal Justice Act 2003 · 2003 c. 44View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 12: Sentencing — Chapter 8: Other provisions about sentencing

Subsection (2) applies in any case where a magistrates' court—

has power under Part 3 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43) to issue a warrant of commitment for default in paying a sum adjudged to be paid by a conviction (other than a sum ordered to be paid under section 6 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)), or
would, but for section 227 of the Sentencing Code (restrictions on custodial sentences for persons under 18), have power to issue such a warrant for such default.

The magistrates' court may, instead of issuing a warrant of commitment or, as the case may be, proceeding under section 81 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (enforcement of fines imposed on young offenders), order the person in default to be disqualified, for such period not exceeding twelve months as it thinks fit, for holding or obtaining a driving licence.

Where an order has been made under subsection (2) for default in paying any sum—

on payment of the whole sum to any person authorised to receive it, the order shall cease to have effect, and
on payment of part of the sum to any such person, the total number of weeks or months to which the order relates is to be taken to be reduced by a proportion corresponding to that which the part paid bears to the whole sum.

In calculating any reduction required by subsection (3)(b) any fraction of a week or month is to be disregarded.

The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (2) by substituting, for the period there specified, such other period as may be specified in the order.

A court which makes an order under this section disqualifying a person for holding or obtaining a driving licence shall require him to produce—

any such licence held by him ...; or
in the case where he holds a Community licence (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)), his Community licence ....

In this section—

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.