31 Point Driver Let Off

31 points is almost enough to save you from relegation from the Premiership – Mick McCarthy would certainly be wishing he had that many points, but for most drivers, amassing that amount of points would normally spell disaster. Not for 60 year old Jeffrey Englander it would seem, who was a relieved man yesterday after a court allowed him to keep his license despite having 31 points.

CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR SAY - SHOULD MR ENGLANDER STILL BE ON THE ROAD?

A usual ban is imposed when drivers hit the 12 point mark, but Englander, who was expected to move up to the 39 point mark, argued that a ban would cause ‘exceptional hardship’ to his family. He argued that taking him off the road would put his new business at risk.

Subsequently, the additional charge of having no insurance was dropped because of an administration error and Salford magistrates let him off with a last warning instead of a ban.

Englander reached the 31 point mark following a hearing in 2003 but received his latest court summons for not presenting insurance documents last November.

Englander’s solicitor, Jeanette Miller, said: “We said the insurance offence, committed before the 2003 appearance, should have been dealt with at the same time as other matters. That did not happen owing to an administrative error. This was not his fault. He would have received another eight points but the court accepted our argument.”

Mr Englander said: “I’m driving very carefully now.”

Road safety campaigners expressed their concern at the decision to let Mr Englander off, questioning how Mr Englander had been allowed to amass so many points without being banned in the first place.

Click here for more on Geoffrey Miller Solicitors.