What an SP30 Driving Offence Means for Your Licence

Speeding offences in the UK are categorised under specific driving offence codes, which indicate the type of road or vehicle involved. An SP30 code applies when a driver is found exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road that is not a motorway.

For many drivers, an SP30 offence results in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) with three penalty points on their licence and a £100 fine. However, this is the minimum penalty. Where a motorist is travelling well above the statutory speed limit - for example, 50mph in a 30mph zone - the court can impose tougher sanctions, which may include higher fines, additional points or a driving disqualification.

Because SP30 points stay on your licence for four years and count towards the totting-up system, even a single endorsement can bring you closer to the threshold for a ban if further offences are committed.

The motoring offence solicitors at JMW set out what an SP30 endorsement involves, how penalties are determined and what legal steps you can take if you are facing allegations of speeding on a public road.

What Are the Penalties for an SP30 Speeding Offence?

If you are caught speeding by a speed camera or stopped by the police, the registered keeper of the vehicle will usually receive a notice of intended prosecution (NIP). This must be returned to identify the driver at the time of the offence.

Once confirmed, the driver will typically receive an FPN. This gives you the choice of accepting a fine and penalty points on your driving record, or rejecting the notice and taking the matter to court. In some cases, you may be offered a speed awareness course instead of penalty points, although this is at the discretion of the police and is not guaranteed. A course will usually only be offered if your speed was within a certain threshold above the limit and you have not attended one in the past three years. If neither of these options is available, or if the circumstances are considered too serious for an FPN, you may be required to attend court, where penalties can be considerably higher if you are found guilty.

How many penalty points can you get for an SP30 offence?

An SP30 offence usually comes with between three and six penalty points on your licence. The exact number is determined by how far above the statutory speed limit you were driving and whether you decide to contest the matter in court. Higher speeds attract more points, and the court can impose the maximum of six if aggravating factors are present, such as careless driving or creating a risk to pedestrians.

Totting-Up Disqualification Rules

Penalty points remain on your licence for four years from the date of the offence, but for the purposes of totting-up disqualification they are only active for three years. If you accumulate 12 or more points within that three-year period, the court is required to impose a disqualification under the totting-up rules. The minimum period of disqualification is six months, rising to 12 months if you have a previous disqualification within the last three years, and two years if you have two or more. The only exception is if the court accepts an argument of exceptional hardship, which can reduce or avoid the ban, but this is assessed on a case-by-case basis and requires strong supporting evidence.

For new drivers, the rules are stricter. Accumulating six points within two years of passing your test will result in your licence being revoked. You would need to apply for a provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical driving tests again.

Courts will also consider mitigating factors such as a previously clean driving record, or evidence that you were responding to a genuine medical emergency. A strong defence solicitor can present these factors on your behalf, to reduce the penalty imposed.

What fines and financial penalties apply?

The minimum penalty for an SP30 offence is a FPN with a £100 fine. If the case goes to court, fines are calculated as a percentage of your weekly income in line with the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines. The court applies a sliding scale:

• Band A: 25-75% of weekly income, for speeds just over the limit.
• Band B: 75-125% of weekly income, for higher levels of excess speed.
• Band C: 125-175% of weekly income, for the most serious cases.

The court will also add a victim surcharge and may order you to pay prosecution costs.

The maximum fine for an SP30 offence is £1,000, compared with £2,500 for motorway speeding (which is called an SP50 offence). Where speeding creates a clear risk to other road users, the court can also impose additional sanctions such as penalty points or a driving ban.

Can You Be Banned From Driving for an SP30 Offence?

Courts have the discretion to impose a driving disqualification for an SP30 offence where the speed is considered serious enough, or if the offence also involves reckless or dangerous driving. In these circumstances, magistrates can apply a discretionary ban under the sentencing guidelines.Disqualification periods can range from as little as seven days to several months, depending on the level of excess speed and any aggravating factors.

More commonly, drivers face a ban under the totting-up rules. An SP30 endorsement carries three to six points, and if this takes the total to 12 or more within three years, the court must impose a minimum six-month disqualification. This makes totting-up the scenario in which most drivers lose their licence as a result of an SP30 conviction.

Impact of an SP30 on Your Driving Licence and Employment

An SP30 endorsement is recorded on your driving licence and forms part of your driving record. While the endorsement itself is not one of the most severe offences, it can still affect how your licence is viewed by authorities and employers. Having points recorded can lead to closer scrutiny if you commit further motoring offences, and repeated offences may increase the likelihood of a court imposing harsher penalties.

For those whose work involves driving, an SP30 can restrict employment opportunities. Many employers set requirements for staff to hold a clean licence, particularly in industries such as logistics, passenger transport and delivery services. Even outside professional driving roles, some employers carry out licence checks for roles where driving is an occasional but necessary duty. An SP30 endorsement may therefore affect career progression or eligibility for certain positions until the points are removed from your record.

When Might an SP30 Lead to More Serious Charges?

An SP30 relates specifically to exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road, but the circumstances of the incident can sometimes result in more serious allegations. This can happen where the speed involved creates a particular danger, or where the driver has also breached other traffic laws.

In these cases, prosecutors may pursue charges beyond a straightforward speeding offence. Examples include:

• Careless driving, where the standard of driving fell below that expected of a competent driver, or where there was a lack of reasonable consideration for other road users.
• Reckless or dangerous driving, where the conduct created a serious risk of harm.
• Failing to comply with traffic light signals, school crossing patrol signs or pedestrian crossing regulations.
• Using a defective or unsuitable vehicle, such as one with faulty tyres or steering.
• Driving a vehicle uninsured, which carries its own penalties in addition to any speeding endorsement.
• Mobile phone offences, where using a device impaired concentration and contributed to the manner of driving.

If speeding leads to an accident or causes injury, the offence is treated far more seriously. In these circumstances, penalties can extend well beyond fines and points to long-term disqualification or a custodial sentence.