Carry driving licence all the time?

Iceweasel

bluedrop wrote: »

That way, anyone can produce fake insurance docs too?

You're right.

That's why you can licence your car at the Post Office without showing the MOT or Insurance Certificate these days. It's all on a data base.

All you should really need to provide is a photo ID and the police can check everything about you.

But 'we' in the UK don't like ID cards ,as they are an 'intrusion on our liberty' - despite being the most watched on CCTV in the world.

I read somewhere there are more CCTV cameras in Aberdeen than in the whole of California.

But I digress.

IMHO a photocopy is worthless - unless certified as a true copy.

WTFH

I carry e photo card at all times - that way I have proof of ID if required. I have nothing to hide, nor is there any risk in me carrying it.
I also have scanned copies of my licence (both parts) and my passport on my phone. This serves a couple of purposes - if I am booking an international flight (or similar) where they request your passport information as part of the overall booking procedure, also if my passport should go missing while I am abroad, and finally, if something should happen to me and all that is left is my phone, then there is a means to identify me.
I have Prey installed on my phone, so if it is stolen, I can wipe it.

Ultrasonic

Mark_Mark wrote: »

You have to produce it at the time, however you are given 7 days grace or 5 in the event of an injury collision. But they still allow you 7 days.

Interesting. Out of curiousity, where is it legally stated what I should be carrying my licence when driving? Obviously in practice there is no need to though.

Iceweasel wrote:

All you should really need to provide is a photo ID and the police can check everything about you.

My thinking too. I can therefore see why having my photo licence is handy to show the police, but now that presumably they can easily find out about endorsements without it, under what circumstances would it be useful to be carrying the paper counterpart?

I've twice had conversations with police officers whilst in a car. The first was when the dodgy electrics in my old megane caused the brake light to flash with the indicator, at which time the officer asked for no ID at all. On the second occasion I was spoken to as I apparently looked suspcious parked where I was, at which point I offered by photo driving licence before they'd asked for any ID, but they didn't ask for the paper counterpart.

Ultrasonic

bluedrop wrote: »

The point about carrying a photocopy is to have something that the cops can cross check with their records.

I guess there might be some merit in that, but I would just carry the photocard licence, as these can be generally useful.

Hintza

specialboy wrote: »

You are meant to carry it when driving to show a copper if requested but in real life few people actually bother.

Just wrong!

Aretnap

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/164

The law is silent on the specific issue of whether you should carry your licence at all times, but it does require you to produce it on demand. It's worded in a slightly odd way which means that the offence is failing to produce your licence immediately. However if you're prosecuted for that offence, it is a defence to show that you produced your licence at a police station within 7 days, or as soon as reasonably practical. In practice that means you don't have to carry it, so long as you don't mind the possibility of having to make a trip to the police station to present it if you do get stopped.

Yorkie1

+1 for Aretnap.

In law you have to carry it in that you have to be able to produce it on demand. But there is a complete defence if you subsequently produce it within 7 days / as soon as reasonably practicable to your nominated police station.

Therefore, in practice, as long as you can produce it at the PS, there's no offence and thus no prosecution.,

specialboy

+2 for Aretnap, that's what I said in post 3 but I couldn't find a link to the legislation.

marlot

Aretnap wrote: »

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/164

The law is silent on the specific issue of whether you should carry your licence at all times, but it does require you to produce it on demand. It's worded in a slightly odd way which means that the offence is failing to produce your licence immediately. However if you're prosecuted for that offence, it is a defence to show that you produced your licence at a police station within 7 days, or as soon as reasonably practical. In practice that means you don't have to carry it, so long as you don't mind the possibility of having to make a trip to the police station to present it if you do get stopped.

Yes, Kudos to Aretnap for the correct answer, fully substantiated.

Nodding_Donkey

Iceweasel wrote: »

That's why you can licence your car at the Post Office without showing the MOT or Insurance Certificate these days. It's all on a data base.

Nope, at a Post Office you need to show the actual documents, it's only online they are checked by computer.