Countingthe cost

For the least serious offences youare likely to receive just a fine. If you are caught not wearing a seatbelt ortalking on a mobile phone while driving, for example, you may receive a one-offfine called a fixed penalty notice, usually ?30.

More serious offences such asspeeding usually result in a ?60 fine, or more, and you may get penalty pointson your licence. The points system operates on a sliding scale depending on howserious the offence is. Make sure you get for your car.

If you accumulate 12 or more pointswithin a three-year period, you will be disqualified from driving for a minimumof six months - although it can be longer if you have been disqualified before.

For any drink-related misdemeanorsyou will be disqualified immediately for a year, regardless of whether you haveaccumulated any other points or not. This disqualification can be much longerif you have already been found guilty of a similar offence previously.

In addition to the points system,more serious driving offences can also result in imprisonment. The court alsohas the power to disqualify you before you accumulate 12 points if it thinks anoffence on its own merits disqualification.

For new drivers the rules are evenstricter. If you accumulate six or more points within two years of passing yourtest, your licence will be revoked and you will then have to apply for anotherprovisional licence and pass both a theory and practical test again.