Do Traffic Tickets Go On Your Criminal Record? 

Did you get a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and are unsure about what to do next? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Each month, over 130,000 people seek our help to understand fines and parking tickets.

We know that receiving a PCN can be a stressful experience. You might be feeling annoyed and unsure about the whole process. To help you, this guide will explain:

• What a traffic ticket is and why you might have one.
• If you should pay your ticket straight away.
• How you can fight back if you think the ticket is wrong.
• When you might not have to pay your ticket at all.
• What could happen if you decide not to pay your ticket.

We understand your situation and are here to guide you through each step. So, let’s start by clearing up some common worries.

Is a Parking Ticket Classed as a Conviction?

Via forums.moneysavingexpert.com

No. Parking penalties are not treated as criminal offences and will not show on your criminal record.

Most parking restrictions are considered civil rather than criminal offences.

They are usually enforced using Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).

PCNs are not criminal convictions.

However, if you don’t pay the fine or appeal the PCN within the timeframe given, you are considered to have a civil debt and may be pursued by the county court or bailiffs.

It is also worth mentioning here that Penalty Charge Notices are different from Parking Charge Notices.

Parking Charge Notices are issued when you don’t pay properly when parking on private land.

You aren’t legally required to pay these types of notices until the court has demanded that you do so.

In fact, in many circumstances, parking tickets from private companies, such as Parking Eye, are not actually enforceable until there’s a court order.

Does a Speeding Ticket Count as a Conviction?

A speeding ticket is not equivalent to a criminal conviction.

The ticket itself is just to let you know that you have been cited for a speeding offence.

However, this doesn’t mean that it won’t result in a criminal conviction.

If you receive a speeding ticket but you don’t deal with it appropriately, it is possible that the offence will appear on your criminal record.

It’s essential that you respond to the ticket within 28 days of receiving it.

Is a Driving Ban a Criminal Conviction?

No. A driving ban doesn’t equate to a criminal conviction.

If you receive a driving ban, you don’t need to worry about it appearing on your criminal record.

However, it is possible to receive a driving ban as a consequence of a motoring conviction.  

Do You Have To Disclose Driving Convictions?

You must disclose any unspent convictions when you take out an insurance policy if you are asked.

Generally, insurance companies demand that you declare all driving convictions from the past five years.

If you choose not to disclose your convictions, you could be acting illegally.

If your insurer finds out that you have lied, your insurance could be cancelled.

You aren’t really protected by your insurance if you haven’t disclosed your convictions.

How Long Does a Driving Offence Stay on Your Criminal Record?

Major driving offences may not stay on your criminal record forever.

In fact, these convictions work similarly to getting points on your licence.

Depending on the offence, after a specified amount of time, your offence can be reset, or ‘spent’.

According to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, once a crime is ‘spent’, it will no longer be present on your criminal record.

The time it takes for your conviction to be considered ‘spent’ will mainly depend on the severity of the offence.

What impact will a traffic ticket have on my insurance?

Motor insurance companies base premiums on ‘claims statistics’, so if you’ve got a traffic ticket, you could be viewed as higher risk.

As such, you’ll likely have to pay a higher insurance premium.

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What Driving Offences Show On a DBS check?

DBS checks reveal major motoring offences.

As such, minor motoring offences, such as those penalised with an FPN, will not show up on a regular DBS check.

However, more serious motoring offences, such as drunk driving, persistent disregard for speed limits, or driving without insurance, will show up on a DBS check.

If your driving offence is on your criminal record, it will appear on a DBS check.

When it comes to DBS checks, honesty is the best policy.

If you are applying for a job that demands a lot of driving, it is important to be upfront with any motoring offences that you have committed, and their current status.

Understanding penalty points

The more penalty points you get on a driving licence, the higher the risk of losing your licence.

Even with 3 penalty points, you may find that you have to pay a higher insurance premium.

Plus, points can remain on your licence for several years which means paying more for insurance until they expire.

Could I be offered a speed awareness course?

You could be offered a speed awareness course instead of a fine and penalty points, but it depends on the seriousness of an offence.

Plus, it’s up to the authorities as to whether you’d be given this option. In short, it’s at their discretion.