Section 3 | Duty to search database and have regard to relevant information

(1)Before making a decision on a person’s application for, or for the renewal of, a driver’s licence, a licensing authority (“the decision-making authority”) must search the licensing information database for entries relating to the person.

(2)Where any such entry was made by another licensing authority (“the recording authority”)—

(a)the decision-making authority must make a request in writing to the recording authority for the relevant information on which the recording authority relied when making the decision recorded in the entry, and

(b)the recording authority must provide the information within the period of 20 working days beginning with the day on which it receives the request.

(3)The decision-making authority must have regard to the information when making the decision referred to in subsection (1).

(4)Where, after complying with subsection (2)(b), the recording authority makes a change to the entry in order to comply with section 2(2)(b) (duty to keep entry up-to-date)—

(a)the recording authority must inform the decision-making authority of—

(i)the change, and

(ii)the reason for the change, and

(b)the decision-making authority must have regard to the information received under paragraph (a) when making the decision referred to in subsection (1) (if the decision still falls to be made).