Ditching Your Driver's License: A Risky Road Trip
- by Gernot Kramper
- 3 Min
No Need for Driver's License During Vehicle Inspection Puts Road Safety at Risk! - Skipping vehicle inspection without license in hand?
The punctual German keeps 'em stored in the vehicle - vehicle registration and driver's license. By the books, that's the law. Slip up and forget the papers? Yep, you've committed a violation. But should you always play it safe? Hell, no.
First off, what if you're busted during a traffic check and your driver's license is MIA? You'll get slapped with a warning fine of ten euros and need to flash your ID at the station. The fee is loose change compared to other offenses. For instance, parking on the curb? At least 55 euros. The small fine's due to most motorists forgetting their papers, not intentional misconduct.
Months Without a Ride
What happens in the worst-case scenario if you got your license on you? The cops can seize it during a check. If so, you're grounded until it's returned. So, the punishment lands immediately, prior to the legal process.
Take suspicion of drug use while driving, for example. Cops regularly confiscate the license in such cases. Your ride comes to a halt for up to three months while waiting for blood test results. Annoying as all get-out, especially if you had slightly bloodshot eyes, looked a smidgen sleepy, but weren't doing any hardcore drugs. No compensation coming your way for that slap on the wrist.
Only the Card Can Disappear
Missing your driver's license during the check? The cops can't snatch it. A seizure only happens with a physical license. They can't nab the abstract right behind it.
Sure, theoretically, the police could go after a court-ordered seizure. But that's a bureaucratic hassle they're unlikely to tackle, and the accused gets a chance to defend themselves against the seizure. By that point, the blood test results are probably in.
But suppose the driver's license is lawfully nabbed - say, in a drunk driving case. Your troubles with the legal system could start then, even if the process is longer than the punishment. You'll eventually be in the right, but those months without a ride are lost in the wind. If you're relying on your car for work, a sympathetic judge might adjust the suspension period to keep your job safe.
License Copy Acts as a Lifesaver
Carrying a copy of your driver's license is a smart move. Contrary to popular belief, IDs aren't banned from being copied. However, the copy must be clearly identifiable as such, and not mistaken for a forgery. A simple black and white copy should be sufficient.
Important note: Keep in mind that a copy won't cut it every time you need your ID. A copy won't get you a rental car.
Addition: Misconceptions may arise that you can skirt by without consequences if you just leave your license at home. Nonsense, I tell you! Especially in severe offenses like a drunk driving accident resulting in injuries, a judge will order the license to be confiscated.
The distinction lies here: Without immediate confiscation of the driver's license, the offender has a chance to fight it out in court – if the license has already been nabbed, they can still take legal action, but won't have a means to drive during the process. In minor offenses, the license could escape the chopping block before the trial's end.
- Despite the community policy requiring drivers to have their license and vehicle registration, the minimal fine for forgetting the papers in a traffic check is a sign that vocational training for law enforcement officials may need to include a focus on car-maintenance, lifestyle, and transportation, to better understand the lives of ordinary citizens.
- In cases where a driver's license is seized due to suspicion of drug use, it raises questions about the finance implications of lengthy court proceedings, especially for those relying on their cars for vocational training or industry purposes, highlighting the need for better support systems in place during these times.
- The Community policy needs to consider allowing digital driver's licenses, as this would reduce the risk of losing a physical license during transportation, making it more convenient for the public and ensuring a smoother flow of traffic, eliminating unnecessary fines and inconveniences caused by forgetting one's license.
