Section 56 of the Road Traffic 2010 amends the definition of "driving licence" to include a foreign driving licence. This section was commenced on the 1st June 2011. The next stage in the process will be to commence Parts 3 and 5 of the Road Traffic Act 2010.
The sections contained in those Parts, when commenced, will provide the legal mechanisms for endorsing penalty points on the ‘entry' held by the Department's National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) in respect of those drivers holding non-Irish driving licences. In addition, the sections will also provide the legal basis to amalgamate such entries with pre-existing entries, thereby allowing for the accumulation of points and the subsequent disqualification (on reaching 12 points) of such licence holders for holding a licence in this country for a period of 6 months.
Following the commencement of the sections, where a foreign licence holder accumulates 12 points, they will be treated in the same manner as a holder of an Irish licence and will be disqualified from driving in this country for 6 months and if detected driving while so disqualified, can be prosecuted for doing so.
