applying for licence after ban

[picklepants]

My partner was banned from driving for 3 years and he was told that he could apply for a new licence after 2 years (he did a rehabilitation course which should help his case) Apparently we have to go throug the courts to get his licence back but not sure how to go about it. Do we just ring up or do we have to contact the original solicitor (he saw a duty solicitor at the time and can't remember his name)? Thanks

[JudgeJ]

If your partner was disqualified for excess alcohol he may have been offered the �Drink Drivers� Rehabilitation Course�. If he was, and if he accepted the offer, paid for and and completed the course, he will automatically have been entitled to a 25% reduction in his ban (9 months). This may not have been offered to him if the level of alcohol was exceptionally high or if it was a second or subsequent offence. (I have an idea that one of these two may apply in view of the length of the disqualification he received).

Beware that he may have been ordered to undertake a rehabilitation course as part of his sentence. This would not be the same course and would not have qualified him for a reduction in his ban.

In general, drivers who are disqualified for any reason for a lengthy period (see below) can apply to the court at any time to have the length of the ban reviewed. This will involve appearing before magistrates and explaining why they should consider reducing the period of disqualification. Valid reasons may be a change in circumstances which now means the ban causes exceptional hardship, or a change in behaviour which led to the imposition of the ban.

The court will not normally consider the issue until at least two thirds of the period has elapsed. Further, this is a difficult matter to put properly and a solicitor�s services would be advisable. However, you can put the case yourself and your local magistrates� court will advise you of the procedure. I cannot remember without looking it up, but I believe �lengthy bans� are considered those of three years or more, but it may be �more than three years� (in which case this would not apply in your partner�s case). Again, your local court will advise you.

Your partner should make absolutely certain that his period of disqualification has ended and that he has a new licence before driving.