Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a High Risk Offender Scheme for Convicted Drug Drivers?
There is currently no high-risk offender scheme for drivers convicted of drug-driving offences. However, suspected drug drivers who fail to provide a specimen for analysis will be classed as high-risk offenders.
Section 74 of The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 sets out the circumstances where drivers convicted of certain offences are to be classified as high risk offenders requiring medical investigation.
Medical investigations are conducted via the DVLA in order to assess a persons fitness to drive before a driving licence will be issued to them.
High risk offender classification applies to any person that:
- has been disqualified by an order of a court by reason that the proportion of alcohol in his body equalled or exceeded 87.5 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, or 200 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, or 267.5 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine, or
- has been disqualified for failing, without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for analysis contrary to section 7 of The Road Traffic Act 1988, or
- has been disqualified by order of a court by reason of failure, without reasonable excuse, to give permission for a laboratory test of a specimen of blood taken from a person that was incapable of consenting contrary to section 7A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, or
- has been disqualified by order of a court two or more times within any 10 year period for exceeding the legal alcohol limit or while unfit through drink.
Is There a Drug Driving Rehabilitation Course?
There is no national drug driving rehabilitation course available for convicted drug drivers. Although a drug driving rehabilitation course is currently being piloted in Teeside by TTC for drivers convicted of driving under the influence of drugs.
This pilot drug driving course is only available in the Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland areas, at a later stage the pilot will be evaluated in order to develop a syllabus with the potential for rolling out a national drug driving rehabilitation course.
Unlike drink driving, where convicted drink drivers may be given the opportunity to take and complete a drink driving rehabilitation course, benefitting from a driving disqualification reduction of up to 25%.