HC Deb 25 July 1939 vol 350 c1279W
Mr. Levy

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many magistrates' courts are disregarding the discretionary power given them by Parliament in relation to the endorsement of licences for technical motoring offences, such as exceeding the speed limit, and are making endorsement automatic, even in cases where there has never before been an offence during many years of driving; also that some of these courts appear to misinterpret the law by assuming that endorsement must take place in every case; and whether he will consider drawing the attention of all courts to their discretionary power in this matter and the advisability of using it?

Mr. Peake

As regards certain offences under the Road Traffic Acts, including the offence of exceeding the speed limit, it is the clear intention of Parliament that endorsement of the offender's licence shall be the normal consequence of conviction. In such cases the Act directs that particulars of the conviction shall be endorsed on the licence unless for any special reason the court thinks fit to order otherwise. As regards offences for which the Act gives no such direction, my right hon. Friend knows of no ground for the suggestion that courts fail to exercise the discretion given to them by the Act. The information published in Table I of the Offences relating to Motor Vehicles appears to negative such a suggestion.