DIPS Scenarios

Motorist with Clean Driving Record

Mr A has a clean driving record. DIPS allows Mr A to accumulate up to 23 demerit points within 24 months from the first offence with demerit points which has not been expunged. His licence will be suspended if he accumulates 24 or more demerit points within 24 months.

For example, on 1/1/2000, he commits his first traffic offence carrying 8 demerit points.

If he maintains a 12-month period free of offences carrying demerit points from the date of this offence committed on 1/1/2000, his 8 demerit points will be expunged and he will have a clean driving record again on 1/1/2001.

However, Mr A did not manage to maintain the 12-month period free of demerit points. On 8/3/2000, he commits a demerit points offence carrying 6 points. Since he has accumulated 14 points for the 2 offences, he will be sent an advisory letter informing him that he has accumulated more than 12 points.

On 15/8/2000, Mr A then commits another offence carrying 12 demerit points. He has accumulated 26 demerit points within the 24 months, and a notice of suspension will be mailed to him. He will be liable for a suspension of 3 months. If he attends a 1-day retraining programme, his suspension may be reduced to 4 weeks.

Motorist with Suspension Record

Mr A served his suspension that ended on 15/11/2000. His previous 26 points are expunged but his suspension record still stands.

Because his previous suspension is still on record, Mr A will be liable for another suspension if he accumulates 12 or more demerit points within 12 months from the date his suspension was lifted on 15/11/2000. If he maintains a demerit-point free record for 24 months starting from 15/11/2000, his suspension record itself will be expunged on 15/11/2002.

On 1/9/2001, Mr A commits an 8-demerit point offence. The 12-month and 24-month qualifying period for demerit points and suspension records to be expunged respectively will then start from 1/9/2001. If he maintains a demerit point free record:
a) On 1/9/2002, his 8 demerit points will be expunged. However, his suspension record still stands and he cannot accumulate 12 or more demerit points within the next 12 months.
b) On 1/9/2003, his suspension record will be expunged. He will revert to having a clean driving record. This means that he can accumulate up to 23 demerit points within 24 months. His licence is liable for suspension if he accumulates 24 or more demerit points within 24 months.

Additional Example 1

Mr B has a clean driving record. On 1/1/2001, he commits his first offence carrying 12 demerit points. On 15/4/2001, he commits another offence carrying 18 demerit points. As he has accumulated 30 demerit points within a 24-month period, he is liable for suspension.

Mr B decides to appeal against the offence committed on 15/4/2001. During the appeal process, he commits an offence carrying 4 demerit points on 21/6/2001.

Mr B's appeal was subsequently rejected and he served a 1-month suspension from 13/7/2001 to 12/8/2001. His suspension was lifted on 13/8/2001. His previous 30 demerit points are expunged. However, he still has 4 demerit points under his records for the offence committed on 21/6/2001.

If Mr B maintains a demerit point free record:
a) On 21/7/2002, his 4 demerit points will be expunged. This is a 13-month period after the offence on the 21/6/2001 was committed, consisting of 12 months after the offence is committed excluding any time served under suspension (which is 1 month in this example).
b) On 13/8/2003, his suspension record will be expunged. This is 24 months after Mr B's suspension is lifted.

Additional Example 2

Mr C has a clean driving record. On 1/1/2001, he commits his first offence carrying 8 demerit points. On 1/4/2001, he commits another offence carrying 6 demerit points. Since he has accumulated 14 demerit points within a 24-month period, he will receive an advisory letter informing him that he has accumulated more than 12 points. If Mr C thereafter maintains a 12-month period free of offences carrying demerit points from the last offence date (1/4/2001), his 14 demerit points will be expunged and he will have a clean driving record again on 1/4/2002.