Fred James

If you go really over the limit - like 1.2 or something like that - they can put you in prison. The law changed earlier this year. It also applies to serious speeding.

Same Difference

You make it sound something to be proud of.........if that was me who got banned I would be too ashamed to let the whole world know!

And as for driving in another country when you are banned in the Uk well that has totally stunned me.......you shouldn't be allowed to post crap like that!!

andyrich666

JDR, No offence but you assume too much, I said I was Disqaulified but it was not for drink driving, I never said that.

Im posting the Law, you are only banned from the UK not from anywhere else. Any solicitor will confirm this

Same Difference

Firstly, there is a slight difference between JDR and myself!
Secondly, I never mentioned drink driving in my reply, but as this thread is about drink driving, it would be a reasonable assumption.
And thirdly, re "posting the law", are you "quoting" UK law or world wide? I only ask as "Any solicitor" would be very highly regarded if he was so well versed as to know about being banned from "anywhere else" and being able to confirm the same.
I would love to see you trying to explain this to the Guardia!

andyrich666

It would not be a problem as you have your licence. You would only lose it again if the Guardia took it from you but you are entitled to drive anywhere other than the UK.

UK law only applies in the UK so it does not cover Spain or Germany or anywhere else, the same vice versa as posh has allready stated, if your banned in Spain your not here although they are trying to convict you of offences abroad here but im not wholey sure if driving comes into this, I think its just sex offences.

Also sorry, My browser is running expat forum very slow and It did when I read it say JDR Posted, sorry for that, lol

Same Difference

The information that you have posted relates to a foreign national in the UK, and therefore I think that you have misinterpreted it. I read that as saying that the ban on that person driving in the UK will not affect a ban in other countries.
If She had been banned in her own country I think it would be different.My take is that if you have your license taken away then you cannot use it abroad to drive.
Anyone else any thoughts?

andyrich666

Exactly you are correct as under Section 38 of the law says you have to surrender your licence, but its entirely up to you whether you do this, all I say is I wouldnt and I know thats it end of, I would then up sticks and live somewhere I could drive legally. Maybe the morals I have are different to yours but thats the way it is for me.

The information posted above is fact, you can not be disqualified in any other country other than the UK for anyone if the offence is committed in the UK.

Whether you agree with it or not is not relevant, but the law is as she has replied.

Its down to you if you surrender your licence or not, if you surrender it your stuffed

Same Difference

How could you drive legally somewhere else unless you had say a Spanish license? If the UK authorities have "taken away" your license, whether or not you surrender it, if you use that to drive abroad or hire a vehicle, that is fraud, because you are then either driving on an invalid license or you produced an invalid document to obtain services, namely the hire of a vehicle.
Also, surely by not surrendering your license you are committing yet another offence.
I would still like to hear other peoples opinions on this

Ka Ora!

If you are reordered to take you driving test as most drink driving convictions now are. You would then be driving abroad without a Current Driving License. On receipt of a retake your details as a full driving License holder are removed from the DVLA database. This info is now shared abroad. See if it works, I know someone who was lucky enough to get 2 bans at once. One in England and one in Spain.

betris

you are not on a GB licence like the old days.you are on a EU licence issued by uk.they can check in 2 mins with DVLC if they want to.verry rare I admit.

betris

you limit is lower in spain aswell if you hold a profesional licence

Ka Ora!

Yup Zero tolerance.

andyrich666

They can check with the DVLA but it wonrt make a blind bit of difference, the law is only applicable in the UK.

Its seen on TV often enough and in the papers that the English Police make enough mistakes with PNC Checks they have to carry fingerprint machines becuase they fail to do DVLA Checks consistently.

As for the professionals I see them breathalizing coach drivers (school services) in Estepona the other day which does show that in Spain - some parts - they take it more seriously.

Personally Ill admit I dont have a big hang up on drink driving as some clearly do here, but I dont let much get to me I find im to busy to be bothered by what others do, however I do totally disagree with driving drunk which is totally out of order and should be punished but that is not the same IMO as general drinking and driving, some people drive better after a drink.

I was stopped not all that long ago in Arcos de la frontera, they had a festival there was about this time last year I think, IIRC I had 3 half lagers and a baileys, but I lied and said 2 cana's with a meal and that was it, it was a random check I think and was allowed to go on my way, im sure if I was falling all over the place it would have been different.

In my own mind even though I knew what alcohol limits are I decided to drive because I felt I was not drunk, others will clearly again disagree.

Every part of Spain is different, I remember one day in Chiclana we was in a bar again only in the last 2/3 years max and a guy totally pissed got into some old mercedes and drove off after falling over in the bush in front of his car, the Policia Local was there and did nothing, but if that was in say Torrevieja could be totally different outcome.

gallerie9

This is how I understood the law, thats why I was asking. I have never lost my license or had any points just wanted the facts.

valenciatim

If you need concrete facts, then you should ask the Guardia, or a Spanish legal representative, don't take what is in effect hearsay on a public forum as fact.
Unless you also have a Spanish driving license, if you "lose" your UK license via the UK courts, then you have nothing to show that you are allowed to drive here in Spain. If you receive a ban which would need to be shown on the license, and then produce a photocopy for example, that doesn't show it, that is fraud. Driving without a license is now a criminal offence in Spain, therefore a "disqualified" driver in the UK cannot drive here.
The previous post that showed a specific case, related to a US born celebrity being allowed to drive anywhere other than the UK. Had that person become "disqualified" in the US, then they would no longer be able to drive anywhere.