Are you patiently waiting to regain the points on your driving license? You might be able to get them back sooner than expected. As part of the Loppsi II bill (Law of Orientation and Planning for Internal Security Performance), UMP senator from Vienne, Alain Fouché, proposed an amendment to reduce the time it takes to recover driving license points. A boon for motorists. If this amendment is adopted by deputies, drivers who lost one point on their license could recover it after six months instead of a year, on condition that no offense is committed during this time frame. Those who have lost more points could recover them in a year instead of three, with the same rule: no offense committed during that period. To justify his decision, Alain Fouché explains that this amendment aims to “respond to the concern of thousands of fellow citizens severely punished for minor offenses.” Through this text, the UMP senator also seeks to combat the trafficking of points (selling points online, exchanging points among family members).
A text that provokes controversy
The adaptation of this text is not unanimous within the government. Brice Hortefeux, the Minister of the Interior, opposes this text along with the Law Commission. However, he remains in favor of the “permis blanc,” a more appropriate solution according to him, particularly for unlicensed driving. In the event of judicial suspension, drivers can still retain the right to drive for their professional activity or in case of serious reasons, whether medical or family. Xavier Bertrand, the UMP’s Secretary-General, is one of the few majority members to approve the text: “I think it makes sense,” he stated on RMC and BFM TV. According to him, this measure will not encourage citizens to drive more dangerously.
The UMP senator has decided to ease up on the driving license while Nicolas Sarkozy’s security policy is more current than ever. Does he want to create a diversion? Nothing is decided yet: the text will be presented to Parliament on September 29, 2010.
