DR10 drink/driving conviction

[Outtheway]

Can anyone explain the reason why a DR10 conviction (non-custodial) is only "spent" according to law 5yrs after the date of conviction, yet, your licence remains endorsed for 11yrs after the date of conviction? what purpose does this serve?
Many thanks in advance.

[ChuckFickens]

it's valid for 10years but can't be removed from your license for 11years and if you get caught again in this time then you will get a much harsher penalty.

The 5years is just what insurance companies normally ask regarding have you had any convictions in the last......

[kempie]

Convictions and endorsements serve different purposes.

A drink driver's licence is endorsed for 11 years because there are additional penalties for re-offending within a period of 10 years. The court must impose a minimum three-year disqualification if there is a repeat drink-drive offence in that period. The endorsement allows a court to see easily when this rule applies. The endorsement remains for an extra year to allow for cases where the new offence was within 10 years, but the case only comes to court in the next year. Drink-drivers who re-offend within ten years also have to have a medical assessment before recovering their licence.

[Outtheway]

many thanks ChuckFickens & kempie i can finally make sense of it!