IB.
Yep, an endorsement on our licence is something NOT to have in the UK.
We get points. Three points and sixty ukp (120 US Dollars) fine for speeding. Four of those and your license goes for a period of time set by the courts normally six months.
See below. Is it as bad Stateside?
Totting Up Driving Ban
12 Penalty Points
The penalty points system was introduced in an attempt to provide the Courts with another method of punishing motorists apart from the original fine and driving ban option. In this way, the Court could endorse a person's driving licence with the number of points it felt appropriate, given the severity of the offence. It also allowed the introduction of a system that was able to monitor the effect the punishments were having, resulting in the potential to ban motorists who continued to commit driving offences on a regular basis.
How does the totting up procedure work?
The number of penalty points varies on the nature of the motoring offence. The more serious the driving offence, the higher the number of points. The minimum number of points for the most minor offences is 2 points, whilst offences such as failing to comply with a traffic light carry a non–discretionary 3 points and other offences have a range of points which allows the Magistrates to vary the punishment depending on the severity of the incident. For example, speeding ranges from 3 to 6 points. Speeding offences dealt with by Fixed Penalty Notices will have a standard 3 points whereas more serious speeding cases which are dealt with at Court can result in up to 6 points being endorsed on the convicted driver's licence. Another common offence, driving without due care, carries a range of 3–9 points, again dependent on the circumstances of the case.
Should a driver reach 12 points in a 3 year period, the Court guidelines are an automatic disqualification of 6 months should be imposed.
Totting up disqualifications can arise where:
A party has been convicted of several offences over the course of a 3 year period (or has committed the offences within a 3 year period); or
Where 2 or more offences have been committed at the same time and upon conviction the number of points endorsed on the licence amount to 12 or more. Consequently, a driver with a clean licence who commits 2 offences that both carry 6 or more points could face a totting up disqualification if convicted of both offences.
How long does a totting up ban last for?
The mandatory period of disqualification for a totting up ban is 6 months. Some Courts do exercise discretion and there are examples of 3 months being imposed but in theory, if you reach 12 points, and cannot convince the Court that you should be allowed to keep your licence, you are off the road for 6 months.
How long do penalty points/offences remain on my driving licence?
Points are valid for 3 years from the date of conviction but cannot be removed from your licence until their fourth anniversary. If you amass 12 points in any 3 year period, you face disqualification.