Road Traffic Act, 1968

Operation of disqualification order.

20.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 30:

“Operation of disqualification order.

30. (1) A person in respect of whom a consequential, ancillary or special disqualification order is made shall stand disqualified in accordance with the order for holding a driving licence, and a driving licence held by him at the date of the order shall stand suspended correspondingly.

(2) Where a disqualification is removed under section 29 of this Act, subsection (1) of this section shall cease to have effect as and from the date from which the disqualification is so removed.

(3) (a) Save as provided by paragraphs (b) to (e) of this subsection—

(i) a special disqualification order shall come into operation immediately it is made and a consequential or ancillary disqualification order shall come into operation on the fifteenth day after it is made,

(ii) the operation of a special, ancillary or consequential disqualification order shall not be suspended or postponed.

(b) Where an appeal is being brought against a special disqualification order, the court making the order may direct the suspension of the operation of the order pending the appeal.

(c) Where a consequential or ancillary disqualification order (or, where the order is related to a conviction, that conviction) is the subject of an appeal, notice of which is lodged within fourteen days of the making of the order, and the convicted person has duly entered into a recognisance to prosecute the appeal, the operation of the order shall stand suspended pending the appeal.

(d) When making, confirming or varying a consequential or ancillary disqualification order the court may, at its discretion but subject to paragraph (e) of this subsection, postpone the operation of the order for a period not exceeding six months.

(e) A Court shall not postpone under paragraph (d) of this subsection the operation of a consequential or ancillary disqualification order unless it is satisfied that a special reason (which it shall specify when postponing the operation of the order) relating to his personal circumstances (including the nature of his employment) has been proved by the convicted person to exist in his particular case.

(4) Where—

(a) a notice of appeal has been lodged in a case in which a consequential, ancillary or special disqualification order has been made,

(b) the operation of the order stands suspended pending the appeal, and

(c) the appellant has given notification in writing that he wishes to withdraw the appeal,

the suspension of the operation of the order shall be regarded as having terminated immediately before the day on which the notification was given and the period of disqualification shall begin on that day.

(5) Where—

(a) a consequential or ancillary disqualification order (or, where the order is related to a conviction, that conviction) is the subject of an appeal,

(b) the operation of the order stands suspended pending the appeal, and

(c) the appeal is not prosecuted or the order is confirmed or varied by the appellate court,

the period of disqualification shall begin on the day on which the appropriate order of the appellate court is made, save in a case where the operation of the consequential or ancillary disqualification order is postponed under paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of this section.

(6) Where—

(a) a consequential, ancillary or special disqualification order operates until the person concerned produces to the appropriate licensing authority a certificate of competency or fitness, and

(b) such person produces to that authority such certificate,

the authority shall, where appropriate, note the production of such certificate on the relevant driving licence.”