How long do points last...?

[roop]

According to this thread here www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=45234 points can be removed from your licence after three years. I always thought it was four. Can anyone clarify...?

TIA,

Roop

[bogie]

after 4 years, technically dont 'count' after 3 years

[roop]

Cool, cheers bogie.

bogie said:

after 4 years, technically dont 'count' after 3 years

[mattjbatch]

But for insurance purposes its 5 years.

[Mr2Mike]

I was just arguing about this with a couple of people in work! I remeber this as it's 3,4,5:

The points are valid for "totting up" for 3 years

You can apply to have them removed after 4 years (unless the offence was drink/driving (DR**) or causing death by careless driving under the influence (CD**) in which case they stay on for 11 years.)

Insurance companies often want to know about them for 5 years.

[m-five]

If you get the points removed after 4 years, are they officially removed from your record as well - i.e. if a BIB was to look into his computer would he see a history of driving convictions or only current ones?

The reason I ask is that last week I was cautioned for overtaking an unmarked BIB car at 75mph on a nice wide dual-carriageway bend (him in a Vectra, me in my M5).

He chased to catch me and caught me quickly as I was only going 75 and then followed me for 2 miles, past one revenue collection device at 70mph and only pulled me over when I turned off onto a residential street.

I've got no problem with the caution and I am not moaning (makes a change) - but he did state that a few MPH more (over 80mph) would have resulted in a court appearance as it could not be dealt with via a FPN (böllöx).

My question is when he asked 'how many point do I have?' I answered 3 as the only other points I had were from a May 1999 offence - the BIB had a look at my licence as I had both parts with me and said that I should be careful with having 6 points and that another 6 would get me a ban?

Surely he's a little confused?