Never show your license....why?

[mel]

Numerous sites and publications offering "advice" to motorists stopped by the police all say "if they ask to see your license don't show it to them" now I for one now days always carry the photocard part of my license in my wallet, as far as I can tell this doesn't show any "previous" only helps to confirm I am who I say I am and thats fine by me. So why shouldn't I merrily show this to any officer on the roadside, is there something I'm missing or is this advice simply part of the on going fashion of being as uncooprative and awkward as possible???

[tonyrec]

mel said:

Numerous sites and publications offering "advice" to motorists stopped by the police all say "if they ask to see your license don't show it to them" now I for one now days always carry the photocard part of my license in my wallet, as far as I can tell this doesn't show any "previous" only helps to confirm I am who I say I am and thats fine by me. So why shouldn't I merrily show this to any officer on the roadside, is there something I'm missing or is this advice simply part of the on going fashion of being as uncooprative and awkward as possible???

Its not so much a problem now because if you havent got it handy, then you will get a HORT/1 to produce it within 7 days.

We are also now able to carry out a computer check on your name and date of birth and this will bring up all the details on your driving licence, points included.

[s2art]

If the license details are on PNC why issue a producer?

[tonyrec]

s2art said:

If the license details are on PNC why issue a producer?

Because you need to see the Licence.......the PNC just gives us a guide.

[s2art]

Very odd. I understand the cost justification for providing the info by PNC (and MOT detail) was to avoid having to issue producers.

[R55MUR]

Pepipoo.co.uk advise never to show your licence and I'm sure I read somewhere that it is an admission of guilt if you do when stopped for an offence (not sure how) but cannot find that info now - typical....

>> Edited by R55MUR on Friday 15th August 17:59

[loaf]

R55MUR said:

Pepipoo.co.uk advise never to show your licence and I'm sure I read somewhere that it is an admission of guilt if you do when stopped for an offence (not sure how) but cannot find that info now - typical.... >> Edited by R55MUR on Friday 15th August 17:59

It's an admission of guilt to surrender your licence at the roadside, not to show it. S164(d) Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence not to show your licence within a reasonable time, hence the HORT/1 7-day period. It doesn't matter if you show you licence at the roadside or at the nick.

[Johnny C]

hmm... got nicked recently (90 on the M62) - asked to see my licence (which I showed him) and he never gave it back, but he never told me it would be construed an admission of guilt...

As he didn't have the video on, nor any radar and was using his speedo (which he didn't show me a calibration cert for nor tell me it had been calibrated recently) I'm considering contesting... how would I stand?

[ribol]

tonyrec said:

We are also now able to carry out a computer check on your name and date of birth and this will bring up all the details on your driving licence, points included.

Question, why would you need to know what the points situation of a license is? Surely you only really need to know if the driver has a valid one? Is this so if it comes up 9 points already there is the option of not nicking someone for doing 35mph in a 30mph? Or is this wishful thinking or dreaming on my part?

Ivan

[streaky]

ribol said:

tonyrec said: We are also now able to carry out a computer check on your name and date of birth and this will bring up all the details on your driving licence, points included. Question, why would you need to know what the points situation of a license is? Surely you only really need to know if the driver has a valid one? Is this so if it comes up 9 points already there is the option of not nicking someone for doing 35mph in a 30mph? Or is this wishful thinking or dreaming on my part? Ivan

It had previously been my understanding (from the time I worked at DVLC - I know that 'C' dates it!) that a police officer was not empowered to open your licence to view 'previous' and that was one reason why the licence was designed to fold to show the pertinent details of the driver without revealing other information. Was this the case? And if so, is it still the case?

Streaky

[JMGS4]

mel said:

Numerous sites and publications offering "advice" to motorists stopped by the police all say "if they ask to see your license don't show it to them" now I for one now days always carry the photocard part of my license in my wallet, as far as I can tell this doesn't show any "previous" only helps to confirm I am who I say I am and thats fine by me. So why shouldn't I merrily show this to any officer on the roadside, is there something I'm missing or is this advice simply part of the on going fashion of being as uncooprative and awkward as possible???

You'll probably find that there are plans from the socialistscum in Shitehall to enable the police to effectively hand out an immediate ban by taking your license off you on the spot...... coming into line with EU practice where you HAVE to carry all car papers otherwise you are automatically untaxed, uninsured, un-licenced, unMOTed, etc........ You HAVE to surrender them to the BiB and then you're royally foooked....... except of course when you're a civil curvant or crim.....