I REFER to the letter ‘Penalty Questioned’ and will try to explain the apparent anomaly of someone being given penalty points on a licence when they don’t have a driver's licence.

The courts can fine and ‘endorse’ your driving record with penalty points if you’re convicted of a motoring offence. Your driving record is held by the DVLA.

Endorsements must stay on your driving record for a certain period of time, depending on the offence. Should that person apply for a licence during that time, any licence will show the points they have accumulated.

Your driving record at DVLA shows the history of your driving behaviour, just as a criminal record shows the history of criminal behaviour.

I hope that helps to explain it.

There is a small team of magistrates at Bolton (Magistrates in the Community) who will come out and give talks and presentations to community groups and organisations to explain how the courts work and how volunteer magistrates administer justice on behalf of the community. Enquires can be directed to the Magistrates Court in Bolton.

Peter Sloan JP

Westhoughton