Is it the law that you have to carry your licence everywhere with you?

Rich1988 · 4 May 2006 at 14:15

As title really, just wondering if its the law that you must carry your drivers licence with you at all times.

Rotty · 4 May 2006 at 14:17

JRS · 4 May 2006 at 14:18

Rich1988 said:
As title really, just wondering if its the law that you must carry your drivers licence with you at all times.

Hope not. I very rarely carry mine unless I'm going out for a drive in Coventry after 10pm, in which case I'm expecting to get pulled over by the police for being a young man driving at night

Type_R · 4 May 2006 at 14:19

In a word - No!

Rich1988 · 4 May 2006 at 14:19

ok thanks chaps!

GlasgowTitan · 4 May 2006 at 14:22

There something I read once, I think it was a book written by an ex traffic policeman outlining all the loopholes and things in the current laws. On the cover I remember seeing "Why you should never show the policeman your licence, even if you have it on you".

Or something.

Rich1988 · 4 May 2006 at 14:27

GlasgowTitan said:
There something I read once, I think it was a book written by an ex traffic policeman outlining all the loopholes and things in the current laws. On the cover I remember seeing "Why you should never show the policeman your licence, even if you have it on you".

Or something.

whys that?

Kroegen · 4 May 2006 at 14:28

For i.d. purposes.

If they dont see your liscense, you can argue that you wernt the one pulled over as they didnt have any proof of id.

Bill101 · 4 May 2006 at 14:29

GlasgowTitan said:
There something I read once, I think it was a book written by an ex traffic policeman outlining all the loopholes and things in the current laws. On the cover I remember seeing "Why you should never show the policeman your licence, even if you have it on you".

Or something.

I'll go along with that,I have not carried mine for 20 years after I was stopped and the policeman asked if I had my license when I showed it to him he took it and said I'd get it back later with points on it.........as he had stopped me for speeding but could not prove it,he said it would be for something else and went around the car until he found something :mad:

Rich1988 · 4 May 2006 at 14:47

also one other thing I was curious about, I am taking my test next month (yay), I should pass first time and then will be insured on my mums car, do you generally get stopped if you look young, because I look about 15 :/

Jet · 4 May 2006 at 14:52

Actually, you are required by law to carry your licence at all times in that if you can't produce it when asked by a police constable you will be guilty of an offence.

It just so happens there are the defences, including the 7-day period and others.

Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended I think (it's hard to work out).

Jet · 4 May 2006 at 14:54

Rich1988 said:
also one other thing I was curious about, I am taking my test next month (yay), I should pass first time and then will be insured on my mums car, do you generally get stopped if you look young, because I look about 15 :/

I looked ridiculously young at 17 (now 21) and was only ever stopped for having a brake light out. It more depends on the combination of driving style, type of car and how old you look.

If your mum drives a Ferrari F355 you may have problems though...

Rich1988 · 4 May 2006 at 14:56

^ haha no its a vauxhall astra

Dandle · 4 May 2006 at 15:29

GlasgowTitan said:
There something I read once, I think it was a book written by an ex traffic policeman outlining all the loopholes and things in the current laws. On the cover I remember seeing "Why you should never show the policeman your licence, even if you have it on you".

Or something.

When I got my latest points I signed up to get the "UK driving secrets - written by some ex high ranking copper"" which was supposed to help you by letting you know various loopholes in the law and procedures that sometimes the police don't follow but should. The was a big point made in one of the chapters that you should never show your license there and then if asked as that will be seen as an admission of guilt if your case goes to court. I guess the theory behind it is that if you havent done anything wrong why should you surrender your license to the police.

My last lot of points from back in 94 i handed my license to the policeman in the traffic car I was sitting in and he filled the points in by hand. I never had to send it of but just had a bill for the fine a few weeks later.

Rich1988 · 4 May 2006 at 15:30

what did you do to get the points, speeding

?

Dandle · 4 May 2006 at 15:36

Rich1988 said:
what did you do to get the points, speeding ?

Yeah both time Ive had points its been for speeding.

Nazbit · 4 May 2006 at 17:05

Dandle said:
The was a big point made in one of the chapters that you should never show your license there and then if asked as that will be seen as an admission of guilt if your case goes to court. I guess the theory behind it is that if you havent done anything wrong why should you surrender your license to the police.

But surley if you argue with the police and refuse to hand over your licence then you are going to look just as guilty, wouldnt you look as though you had done it and knew it and therefore wanted to get out of it?

I dont really get that, even if you say you dont have it with you, they are going to ask you to produce it inside 7 days anyway.?

I have a mondeo and I have been stopped twice, im 18 and I look about 12. Both times there was no offence commited, they just stopped me because they thought I couldnt afford the car. On the second one (I was on my own driving home at about 8:00 in the evening) and they even searched the car for drugs as they said they thought I was in to something like that in order to have bought the car.

Meridian · 4 May 2006 at 17:23

Jet said:
Actually, you are required by law to carry your licence at all times in that if you can't produce it when asked by a police constable you will be guilty of an offence.

It just so happens there are the defences, including the 7-day period and others.

Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended I think (it's hard to work out).

This is the correct answer.

M

Dandle · 4 May 2006 at 17:26

Nazbit said:
But surley if you argue with the police and refuse to hand over your licence then you are going to look just as guilty, wouldnt you look as though you had done it and knew it and therefore wanted to get out of it?

I dont think it ment that you let the copper know you had you license but wont let him see it. It ment even if you have it dont admit you have it and don't hand it over(even if you get searched you still didnt hand it to them if they find it). Like you say it may result in a producer but then most times I used to get one of them, it was to produce your insurance and MOT as well so taking a license as well is no more difficult. I don't know the theory behind it but thats what it stated in the guide i bought(which didnt help me anyway).

robmiller · 4 May 2006 at 17:27

Rich1988 said:
I should pass first time

Pride comes before a fall young lad!