Driving without a valid driving licence is one of the worst offences you can commit on the road. From a reasonably young age it is built into our minds that before we drive, we must hold a driving licence, yet there are thousands of people every year who are caught driving without a licence.
With the offence of driving without a licence, there are different levels of severity, the most minor of which being when the driver does have a licence, but just doesn’t have it on them at the time they get pulled over. The best thing to do in this situation is to be truthful and allow the police to take your car away if they wish to. You can then go home, get your licence, show it to them, apologise for not carrying it, and drive your car home.
The real problem is when there is no license issued and we are caught on the roads. There are hundreds of violators who got away scot-free (and have put up their stories on various legal forums and even on YouTube), but the truth is that there is no real getting out of that!
There is a bigger problem if your vehicle is in an accident and you are driving without a license. In a case like that, God save you! Depending on what the laws are in that particular state or county, there can be penalties ranging from imprisonment to an impounding of your vehicle and a ban on getting a driving license for life time so that you can never even apply!
The worst penalties however are for if you are found driving after having a ban put on your licence. Even if you are found driving during the period of a temporary ban, the penalties are more severe than with no licence all together. If you are found driving after being issued with a permanent ban on your licence, then you may as well prepare for federal prison because that’s where youre most likely to end up.
People driving without a licence is caused by a simple attitude problem. A collective understanding that the rules are there for all of our benefit and convenience will put an end to this attitude.
For more information about driving without due care and attention and for free legal motoring advice, visit pattersonlaw.co.uk
