Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, section 46

Combination of disqualification and endorsement with probation orders and orders for discharge

Part II Sentence

(1)F325Notwithstanding anything in [F324section 82(4) of the Sentencing CodeF324] (conviction of offender . . . discharged to be disregarded for the purposes of enactments relating to disqualification), a court in England and Wales which on convicting a person of an offence involving obligatory or discretionary disqualification makes—

F326 (a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)an order discharging him absolutely or conditionally,

may on that occasion also exercise any power conferred, and must also discharge any duty imposed, on the court by sections 34, 35, 36 [F327, 44 or 44AF327] of this Act.

(2)A conviction—

(a)in respect of which a court in England and Wales has ordered a person to be disqualified, or

(b)F328of which particulars have been endorsed on ... [F329 his driving recordF329] ,

F331 is to be taken into account, notwithstanding anything in [F330section 82(2) of the Sentencing CodeF330] (conviction of offender . . . discharged to be disregarded for the purpose of subsequent proceedings), in determining his liability to punishment or disqualification for any offence involving obligatory or discretionary disqualification committed subsequently.

(3)Where—

(a)a person is charged in Scotland with an offence involving obligatory or discretionary disqualification, and

(b)the court makes an order in respect of the offence under [F332section 228 (probation) or 246(2) or (3) (absolute discharge) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995F332]

then, for the purposes of sections 34, 35, 36, 44 F333[F334... and 45AF334] of this Act, he shall be treated as if he had been convicted of an offence of the kind in question and [F335section 247 of that Act shall not applyF335] .

Definitions used in section 46 3

disqualification

“disqualified” means disqualified for holding or obtaining a licence and “disqualification” is to be construed accordingly,

Defined in s.98(1) · see it in the full Act
disqualified

“disqualified” means disqualified for holding or obtaining a licence and “disqualification” is to be construed accordingly,

Defined in s.98(1) · see it in the full Act
driving record

(1) In this Act “driving record”, in relation to a person, means a record in relation to the person maintained by the Secretary of State and designed to be endorsed with particulars relating to offences committed by the person under the Traffic Acts.

Defined in s.97A(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 46 3

R v Varma

[2012] UKSC 42 · 10 October 2012Limits

The provision expressly permits or requires driving disqualification despite a discharge. It concerns disqualifications or disabilities and did not materially advance the construction of the confiscation regime (see paras [36]-[38]; [41]-[42]).

Regina v. Longworth (Appellant) (On Appeal from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division))

[2006] UKHL 1 · 26 January 2006

The provision illustrated Parliament's practice of expressly preserving road traffic disqualification powers despite section 14(3) of the sentencing legislation. The absence of an equivalent exclusion in the 1997 Act supported the appellant's construction. (see para [20]) The provision illustrated an express direction that a prior conviction be considered despite section 14(1). The absence of comparable wording in the 1997 Act supported the application of section 14(1). (see para [20])

Clarke v R.

[2009] EWCA Crim 1074 · 12 June 2009Interprets

The provision illustrated Parliament's use of express language permitting disqualification despite an absolute or conditional discharge. The comparison supported the conclusion that no equivalent permission existed for confiscation. (see paras [26]; [51]-[53])

What each judgment says about section 46 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

14 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F325Words in s. 46(1) repealed (E.W.) (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, 39:1), ss. 100, 101(2), Sch. 11 para. 38(1), Sch. 13; S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2
  2. F324Words in s. 46(1) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 105(2) (with Sch. 24 para. 447, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  3. F326S. 46(1)(a) repealed (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 32 para. 54, Sch. 37 Pt. 7; S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 paras. 42(22), 44(4)(h) (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))
  4. F327Words in s. 46(1) substituted (1.4.2009) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), s. 61(1)(10), Sch. 2 para. 11(2); S.I. 2008/3164, art. 4(b)
  5. F328Words in s. 46(2)(b) repealed (8.6.2015) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), s. 61(1)(10), Sch. 3 para. 43, Sch. 7(4); S.I. 2015/560, art. 3 (with arts. 4-9)
  6. F329Words in s. 46(2)(b) inserted (1.4.2009) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), s. 61(1)(10), Sch. 2 para. 11(3); S.I. 2008/3164, art. 4(b)
  7. F331Words in s. 46(2) repealed (E.W.) (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), ss. 100, 101(2), Sch. 11 para. 38(2), Sch. 13; S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2
  8. F330Words in s. 46(2) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 105(3) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
  9. F332Words in s. 46(3)(b) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, s. 5, Sch. 4 para. 71(7)(a)
  10. F333Word in s. 46(3) omitted (8.6.2015) by virtue of The Road Safety Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/583), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 3(c)
  11. F334Words in s. 46(3) substituted (1.4.2009) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), s. 61(1)(10), Sch. 2 para. 11(4); S.I. 2008/3164, art. 4(b)
  12. F335Words in s. 46 substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, s. 5, Sch. 4 para. 71(7)(b)

Modifications

  1. C72S. 46: power to exclude or modify conferred (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52, SIF 107:1), s. 193A(2)(b)(inserted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 46(2); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2, Sch.).

Extent

  1. E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only.