Comedian Dawn French has received a six-month driving ban after admitting to speeding. The 68-year-old, famous for her role as Geraldine Granger in the BBC One series The Vicar of Dibley, was caught speeding on a restricted road with a 30mph limit by an automatic camera on 11 July of last year. The punishment came after a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court, where she was fined £600 and ordered to pay an additional £240 victim surcharge and £90 in court costs. French had already accumulated nine penalty points on her driving licence before the incident. Under UK law, when a driver reaches 12 penalty points, they are automatically disqualified from driving for six months. This rule is designed to encourage safer driving and reduce the risk of more serious accidents. French’s ban was triggered by the addition of the third point from the recent speeding offence, pushing her total to 12. To regain her driving privileges, French will need to apply to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for a new licence after her ban ends. This process typically involves a medical and eyesight test, as well as a review of her driving record. The DVLA ensures that drivers are fit to drive and have no outstanding legal issues before issuing a new licence. French is not the only celebrity to face such consequences for speeding. Actress Emma Watson received a six-month driving ban last summer after being caught speeding in Oxford. At the time, Watson was a student at the University of Oxford and had nine penalty points on her licence before the incident. Both cases highlight how even well-known individuals are subject to the same legal standards as all drivers.