Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enforcement-sanctions-policy

Change description : 2025-06-06 00:00:00: Updated enforcement sanctions policy.Updated section 11, PSV miscellaneous offences. Updates include updated regulations for:- offence 11-11- offence 11-11A- offence 11-13 [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-02-03 09:10:54.761071863 +00:00..2025-06-05 23:00:15.245699804 +00:00

Guidance

DVSA enforcement sanctions policy

Action Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) traffic examiners take to deal with offences, including warnings, prohibition notices, and fixed penalties.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

DVSA enforcement sanctions policy

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Details

The policy sets out what action DVSA traffic examiners will take when dealing with most offences that they find when they carry out roadside checks.

It’s used to make sure that DVSA takes consistent action when carrying out checks.

You cannot buy printed copies of this document from DVSA, but you’re allowed to print your own copies.

Updates to this page

Published 30 August 2012

Last updated 36 FebruaryJune 2025 + show href="#full-history">+ show all updates
    1. Updated enforcement sanctions policy. Updated section 1 defects and dimensions, updates include: - updated further guidance for offence 1-47 - updated further guidance for offence 1-48 - updated further guidance for offence 1-48A - updated further guidance for offence 1-50 Updated section 2 driving licence, updated PLS codes for some offences. Updated section 14 carriage of dangerous goods, updates include: - updated further guidance and action for offence 11-2 - updated action for offence 14-26

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Update history

2025-06-06 00:00
Updated enforcement sanctions policy.Updated section 11, PSV miscellaneous offences. Updates include updated regulations for:- offence 11-11- offence 11-11A- offence 11-13

2025-02-03 09:10
Updated enforcement sanctions policy.Updated section 1 defects and dimensions, updates include:updated further guidance for offence 1-47updated further guidance for offence 1-48updated further guidance for offence 1-48Aupdated further guidance for offence 1-50Updated section 2 driving licence, updated PLS codes for some offences. Updated section 14 carriage of dangerous goods, updates include:- updated further guidance and action for offence 11-2- updated action for offence 14-26

2024-04-12 00:00
Updated enforcement sanctions policy.Updates include:- section 9 was previously called ‘Certificate of Initial Fitness’ and has been renamed to ‘PSV testing and certification’- section 11 – Kent traffic order offences have been removed

2023-10-01 00:00
Updated enforcement sanctions policy. Updates include:section 12 (goods vehicle miscellaneous offences) – new offence for posting description of offence 4-26a changed

2022-12-15 10:51
Updated enforcement sanctions policy. Updates include offence notes added to section 14 (carriage of dangerous goods).

2022-05-01 00:00
Updated enforcement sanctions policy. Removed any reference to the load security matrix in line with the categorisation of vehicle defects document, and added two new offences for seat belts.