Convicted Driver Still Road Legal on 54 Points
Most of the time, if you asked me if I believed in the concept of luck, chances are that I would say no. However, there are occasions that most definitely question this belief of mine. And my latest news nugget from the United Kingdom is one of these very occasions. Due to a series of monumental misunderstand and lack of communication, a man from Kent (UK), despite having 54 points on his driving license, is still legally allowed to drive on the road. Not only is this an eye-watering figure, it also smashes the previous record of a man in Liverpool who had 45 points on his license.
Keith Baldock from Kent, had a long history of convictions from drink driving bans, driving without insurance and stealing petrol from other cars. When taken to court, he was handed a 30 point punishment (5 per conviction) by the judge. However, Baldock managed to convince the judge to let him remain able to drive, using the reasoning that he needed his car for his profession as a mobile tyre fitter.
Keith Baldock. Image Credit: Facebook
The problem came when the court realised after the sentencing that Baldock had already collected 24 points from previous convictions, but due to a lack of communication between the courts and the DVLA (Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency), this fact had passed unnoticed. Furthermore, the law states that any change in the ‘substance of a sentence’ must be done within 56 days. This time had passed, which meant Mr Baldock had gotten away with it.
When I first heard this, not only was I outrageously shocked, but I was overcome with the dark cloud of confusion. I just do not understand how anyone could have committed that many driving offences and still, under any construction, still be deemed able to drive on the roads with law-abiding drivers. Furthermore, how can one person be so catastrophically bad and immoral when it comes to driving that they amass 54 points. I will let that number sink in some more. 54. There are a large range of offences that will get you ‘Penalty Points’ on your record. The most common offence is most probably going to be speeding, which will gain you a whole 3 points.
Now obviously the procedure of handing out points is a long and complex issue, so I have helpfully provided the above link to explain how it all works. But, to keep it nice and simple, lets say that to gain yourself 54 points, you would have to commit 18 speeding offences. It takes a special kind of moronic idiot to manage that. Clearly in this case of this guy, I have found this special kind of moronic idiot. This explains the high levels of shock I am experience. But what about the confusion.
The other side of my reaction is total and utter confusion. Once I had managed to process the fact that someone had managed to amass such a number, I was then struck with another thought. How has the driving authorities managed to still grant this guy the legal right to be able to drive on our roads? On my roads? I too am a resident of Kent, so chances are I have to share the roads with this guy. Maybe I have come into contact with him before. It is a worrying thought. I don’t often feel unsafe on the road but knowing that the courts and the driving authorities that be are allowing people like this on the road, it does unsettle me slightly.
Let’s examine the facts here…
- The law states that you can be disqualified from driving if you collect 12 or more penalty points
- This rule applies in the time period of 3 years
- Points remain on your license for anything from 4 to 11 years
- Points on your license significantly increase your insurance premium
First of all, we have the question of disqualification. If 12 is indeed the usual limit for disqualification, how did Baldock manage to persuade a judge that 30 was still acceptable to have while driving on the road. In most cases, drivers cannot be banned if they rely on their car for their job. In less extreme cases, this is a perfectly acceptable statement to make. But to be handed 30 points in one ruling must surely be an isolated circumstance that can overrule this. Especially as the conviction included counts of theft, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. This is not the kind of person that should be allowed on the road.
I have known people to have received 6 points on their license and had their insurance premiums jump up rather dramatically. Similarly, I would therefore imagine that trying to get insurance following a ban would have you paying through the roof. So what would happen when you try and get insurance when you have 54 points and have previously been banned? But then again, this would clearly not be a problem for him considering he was driving without insurance anyway. This is clearly a sound strategy, and will not in any way get him in yet more trouble in the future. Clever one this one is.
But there is one issue with this whole debacle that bothers me more than anything else. In what universe did BOTH the courts and the DVLA not manage to realise that this guy already had 24 points on his license. That is double the number of points that would constitute a disqualification. And they managed to forget this? All that was needed was a simple bit of communication between the two. Surely it cannot be that hard, all the courts had to do was look into his driving record. And considering the severity of the situation, why did they not go directly to the DVLA and work together in finding the best punishment for this erm… gentleman. Due to this very basic and downright embarrassing mistake, this man managed to retain the right to drive, when personally I would have permanently removed his driving license. It is not even like it was a single offence, but Baldock is a REPEAT offender.
Keith Baldock, you are one of the luckiest men I have ever had the displeasure of hearing about. Yet, you have managed to make me believe in luck. To you sir I say congratulations, for being a colossal moron yet still managing to get away with it (mostly).
I would love to hear your views on the matter!
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Keep Driving!
Peace and Love!
Level 2, 9 Help Street