Driving without a license card?

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JMoney

JMoney

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JMoney-689
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Woodside689
I can't find much of anything about this on the rest of the internet so I thought I would ask GTPlanet. If you forgot your wallet at home and get pulled over for speeding, the cop asks you for your license and you don't have it, what happens? I'm sure they have a computer or something that could simply look up your name and see, yes you do have a license, but you are supposed to drive with it, right? Is it an additional fine for not carrying it? I'm sure the laws vary by state.
 
JMoney689
I can't find much of anything about this on the rest of the internet so I thought I would ask GTPlanet. If you forgot your wallet at home and get pulled over for speeding, the cop asks you for your license and you don't have it, what happens? I'm sure they have a computer or something that could simply look up your name and see, yes you do have a license, but you are supposed to drive with it, right? Is it an additional fine for not carrying it? I'm sure the laws vary by state.
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I know, over here, you cant even use an expired license card when you're driving, regardless if you have a current one. Its just the same as driving with out a license, no matter the case. You're car will be taken, and I think you get a hefty fine.
 
What?

Wow

Over here, they check on the Pc and normally it's good. You get shouted at. But that's it normally. They can fine you and ask you to present it at a station though. Getting caught over and over will be fined more harsh....

In the EU, legally you are supposed to carry it around. But legally, it's a document of proof. Not having it doesn't cancel your ability to drive. Not a lot of people "know" this. But it's just a proof that you have the permit.

Not recommanded : drive without the permit, thus cops can't take it away on the place, and you can settle it in the courtroom. *true*
 
Driving without the card isn't really that bad here. As @Ibonibo said in the EU it's better to have it but leaving the card doesn't magically take away your license to drive.

What you should never do, is driving when you're underaged because it basically takes away your ability to get license when you're old enough to have it.
 
Here in Ontario merely forgetting your licence is a $85 fine plus government surcharge, I'm guessing 105 total ? Officer may just issue a warning if he's/she's in a good mood.
 
If I'm stopped by the police and they ask to see my license, I have 7 days to go to a police station to let them see it. There is no requirement to carry it with you all the time.
 
I've always heard it will be bad if you don't have it in the U.S, but it never made sense to me because you have your insurance card and license plate that the cops can just look up, which is apparently what they do in Europe. Other than being used for an ID our license cards are barely used anyway.

GTPorsche
Maybe it's a state thing. You can easily get jail time here for speeding. Edit: It's treated as a felony as well in Virginia.. the speeding, not the license thing.
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That's funny, I was just reading about Patrick George from Jalopnik getting three days in jail after test-driving a Camaro ZL1 and going 92 in a 55 in Virginia. Even for reckless driving in Kentucky there's no jail sentence, the worst you can get is a 2-year license suspension (which now that I think of it sounds worse than three days in jail), as well as a $200 fine. "Reckless Driving" isn't really defined though; going more than 25 over just gets you extra fines and probation.
 
JMoney689
I've always heard it will be bad if you don't have it in the U.S, but it never made sense to me because you have your insurance card and license plate that the cops can just look up, which is apparently what they do in Europe. Other than being used for an ID our license cards are barely used anyway.
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Having a name on file means nothing with no face to match it to. They cant just assume that you're the person that you say you are.
 
Here in New York, it's a misdemeanor offense (so it goes on record), you can be fined anywhere from $75-$300, can be jailed for up to 15 days, or you can get both. Depends on how much of a douche the cop wants to be.

If it's suspended or revoked, it's a MUCH more serious offense.

I actually heard there are some states looking into electronic drivers licenses so something like this can be avoided.
 
Woah, the US seems to be harsh on this. In Germany, it's 10 bucks and that's it. You're mostly paying to reimburse the officers for having to check whether you've actually got a license, it seems. It really isn't much of a big deal. To think you could go to jail over something like this... Wow.
 
Slash
Here in New York, it's a misdemeanor offense (so it goes on record), you can be fined anywhere from $75-$300, can be jailed for up to 15 days, or you can get both. Depends on how much of a douche the cop wants to be.

If it's suspended or revoked, it's a MUCH more serious offense.
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That's is if you are unlicensed ( if you don't have a drivers license).

In NY( and most states)if you are not carrying your id on you, the cop can look you on their computer and check if you are licensed. You can be cited for it, it can be a verbal warning or a writtin warning. You can get a "fix it" ticket in which you have to go to the court/ police station to show that you have the id. But there is no fines or jail time.

And as for the speeding you less likely to get out of a ticket and can a heftier fines for it.
 
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As daan said, in the UK you are given 7 days to show it at a Police Station. I keep the card part in my wallet but not the paper counterpart (which we slightly inexplicably have in the UK) and I don't keep it in the car either on the basis that if it is stolen or burns out, I at least won't need to pay or wait to get it reissued or whatnot.
 
I've been pulled over without my license on me. First thing's first, memorize your license number and the address you use for your license. Everyone should have this down already. The Police Officer asked me both those questions plus my date of birth, wrote them down, went back to his car to his computer system and entered the information. At that point they can compare your license picture to you. They will want additional proof of identification and luckily I had my ATM card on my person. Vehicle registration, DL number, address, DOB. If it all checks out, you are good to go. That was my experience.
 
daan
If I'm stopped by the police and they ask to see my license, I have 7 days to go to a police station to let them see it. There is no requirement to carry it with you all the time.
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And 7 days to find the paper companion sheet.
 

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