Driving without license

carrollmark

What is the usual penalty for being caught driving without a license?

Anyone know?

mloc123

You'll lose your licence Couldn't resist.

I'd imagine a court appearence and maybe a ban/fine depending on the judge.

Noelie

do you mean you have no license or just not with you when you are stopped?

mikedragon32

http://www.penaltypoints.ie/licence_offences.php

carrollmark

Noelie wrote:

do you mean you have no license or just not with you when you are stopped?

My cousin got stopped and hadn't her license, which was a provisional, in the car and was asked to produce in ten days.

She couldn't find the license at home and went to get it reissued at the tax office and discovered it had actually expired.

She got a new provisional from that date and produced it, but it won't cover her for the time she was stopped.

Genuine mistake, will the guard who phones the station or checks the computer cop it do you reckon and if so what will come of it?

She's up the wall

layke

Go up to the station with the new license and explain that you just recieved your new license as you were awaiting a new one. The old license is now in the care of the Tax office as you are supposed to send it back.

The rather bored Guard will prolly just write it down in the book that you produced it. The other guard will then read that you produced a valid license the next day.

Big Nelly

Was she supposed to have a full license driver with her?

If so I hope she does get done and gets a ban, its about time the Garda stamped down on the prov drivers flying around on there own when they are supposed to have a full license driver with her

Kimbot

Big Nelly wrote:

Was she supposed to have a full license driver with her?

If so I hope she does get done and gets a ban, its about time the Garda stamped down on the prov drivers flying around on there own when they are supposed to have a full license driver with her

BN..... what about the 2nd provo dirvers???

carrollmark

Does anyone know what the penalty is?

Is it points? A fine and points, or a ban?

Big Nelly

jonny24ie wrote:

BN..... what about the 2nd provo dirvers???

Hence why I said was she supposed to have a full license driver with her

Bluetonic

Big Nelly wrote:

Was she supposed to have a full license driver with her?

If so I hope she does get done and gets a ban, its about time the Garda stamped down on the prov drivers flying around on there own when they are supposed to have a full license driver with her

Tut tut.

Big Nelly

Bluetonic wrote:

Tut tut.

Lost now?? Is the english wrong or something? If so then I couldnt give 2 f**ks.......technie so I dont be needed that proper englandie stuff

mloc123

Big Nelly wrote:

Was she supposed to have a full license driver with her?

If so I hope she does get done and gets a ban, its about time the Garda stamped down on the prov drivers flying around on there own when they are supposed to have a full license driver with her

Oh god, give over and mind you don't fall off that horse.

Supercell

Big Nelly wrote:

Was she supposed to have a full license driver with her?

If so I hope she does get done and gets a ban, its about time the Garda stamped down on the prov drivers flying around on there own when they are supposed to have a full license driver with her

Considering her first license had expired..then she will be getting a second provisional (which will be backdated to when the first one expired) and doesnt need someone else in the car with her in the eyes of the law?

OP as long as she produces some documentation to show that its in the post I really really doubt the local Garda will give two figs about it. Would be far worse if no insurance etc though.

Wishbone Ash

carrollmark wrote:

Does anyone know what the penalty is?

Is it points? A fine and points, or a ban?

Driving without a valid driving licence is not a penalty points offence. It's usually a fine AFAIK.

It's important to differentiate whether the licence has elapsed (which is technically driving without a licence) and driving without ever having had a licence for the relevant category in the first place.

Driving with a lapsed licence is considered much less serious. Even insurance conpanies ask if you "hold or ever have held a licence" for the relevant category.

Edit - spelling mistake.

carrollmark

Thanks wishbone

chrislad

Big Nelly wrote:

Was she supposed to have a full license driver with her?

If so I hope she does get done and gets a ban, its about time the Garda stamped down on the prov drivers flying around on there own when they are supposed to have a full license driver with her

Oh, get over yourself. You really expect people to become competent drivers by waiting nearly a year for a test? I've been driving solo for the last month after about 15 lessons with a qualified tester and numerous hours with parents and uncles. I did about 40 hours of training before I went out on my own, and I feel confident enough that I would pass my test, which I applied for the day I got my provisional. It's not our fault that the system is a complete joke. My local center has a waiting list of 44 weeks, with a pass rate of 50%. I intend to pass first time. I have read countless books, watched DVDs, bought 2 different rules of the road books, and I daresay, I know how to use a roundabout properly, compared to a lot of full license drivers who use the right lane for the second exit because there's a bigger queue on the left lane.

Stark

chrislad wrote:

I intend to pass first time.

You can never account for bad luck though.

chrislad wrote:

and I daresay, I know how to use a roundabout properly, compared to a lot of full license drivers who use the right lane for the second exit because there's a bigger queue on the left lane.

If the second exit has two lanes, then that's perfectly fine.

chrislad

I know, but I'm talking about a 3 exit roundabout, on the new Limerick - Dublin road.

While it's true that I can't account for bad luck, I can still account for my own driving skills. Think positive

Big Nelly

chrislad wrote:

Oh, get over yourself. You really expect people to become competent drivers by waiting nearly a year for a test? I've been driving solo for the last month after about 15 lessons with a qualified tester and numerous hours with parents and uncles. I did about 40 hours of training before I went out on my own, and I feel confident enough that I would pass my test, which I applied for the day I got my provisional. It's not our fault that the system is a complete joke. My local center has a waiting list of 44 weeks, with a pass rate of 50%. I intend to pass first time. I have read countless books, watched DVDs, bought 2 different rules of the road books, and I daresay, I know how to use a roundabout properly, compared to a lot of full license drivers who use the right lane for the second exit because there's a bigger queue on the left lane.

Yeah but you dont have the experience and that why you are supposed to have a full license driver with you, in case of an emergency most learner drivers havent a clue what to do and this is why you are supposed to have a full license driver to give you advice.

Every learner driver that comes on here goes on about how great a driver they are but all the L driver I have seen there is a 70 -80% average of them being sh*t drivers. This includes wrong use of indicators on roundabouts, fog lights constantly on, cant use head lights, obeservation is terrible(pure tunnel vision, if you look out the front window constantly everything will be ok), havent a clue what a yellow box is for, traffic lights(either break them or jam on breaks in dangerous situation nearly causing an accident, part of tunnel vision, and the list goes on

You cant learn to drive reading a book or watching a DVD which I find very unlikely you have done either, any L driver I know looks at the manual so they can pass the questions and stick on L plate and off they go.

Also the usual excuse of I cant get a test doesnt hold up, I can get a test in about a month and anyone I know can as well, on the other thread here about driving people have mentioned a 4 week waiting list so saying my local centre has 44 week is no good, just ring another centre and get there waiting list, since your such a good driver then just drive down

Also and last but not least its ILLEGAL, you are a L plate driver and you are supposed to have a full license driver with you, end of story. Sooner the Garda come down on this the better, I have held this stance for a long time here, I have relaxed my view of giving L drivers with no full license drivers a years ban but some sort of ban should be handed out first time, second time caught and year ban.

Oh yeah you cant really slag off full license drivers, we are legal on the road and we have passed the test which means we are better driver than you. The law says so;)

Wishbone Ash

Big Nelly wrote:

includes wrong use of indicators on roundabouts, fog lights constantly on, cant use head lights, obeservation is terrible(pure tunnel vision, if you look out the front window constantly everything will be ok), havent a clue what a yellow box is for, traffic lights(either break them or jam on breaks in dangerous situation nearly causing an accident, part of tunnel vision, and the list goes on

Sounds like many full licence holders to me. :D

chrislad wrote:

I know, but I'm talking about a 3 exit roundabout, on the new Limerick - Dublin road.

It's perfectly legal to enter a roundabout on the right lane and exit at the second exit provided that the second exit has two lanes and also provided that there is no specific signage prohibiting it. (Perpaps there is in this case - I'm not familiar with the roundabout in question).

Big Nelly

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Sounds like many full licence holders to me. :D

Nah full license drivers have mastered that except if you drive a BMW, then you just own the road because you paid a fortune for a overpriced car:p

Stark

Big Nelly wrote:

Also the usual excuse of I cant get a test doesnt hold up, I can get a test in about a month and anyone I know can as well, on the other thread here about driving people have mentioned a 4 week waiting list so saying my local centre has 44 week is no good, just ring another centre and get there waiting list, since your such a good driver then just drive down

There's no centre with a 4 week waiting list. The shortest is 13 weeks (Monaghan and Skibbereen). Actually it might not be a bad idea for me to apply there still, my Dublin one is still months off, my Cork one is due but I've received no letter as yet (going to ring them now and find out wtf is going on).

As for cancellations, not everyone can get the day off work at a moment's notice should a cancellation pop up.

When I was doing lessons/driving on a first provisional with my parents, I used to be all high and mighty like "look at those other L-drivers driving on their own, boy racers most of them, why don't the gardaí take them off the road, grrr". After putting up with the whole test fiasco for too long and the final nail in the coffin being Cullen getting approval for outsourcing, but not actually bothering to outsource, I really couldn't give a **** anymore.

chrislad

Big Nelly wrote:

Yeah but you dont have the experience and that why you are supposed to have a full license driver with you, in case of an emergency most learner drivers havent a clue what to do and this is why you are supposed to have a full license driver to give you advice.

Every learner driver that comes on here goes on about how great a driver they are but all the L driver I have seen there is a 70 -80% average of them being sh*t drivers. This includes wrong use of indicators on roundabouts, fog lights constantly on, cant use head lights, obeservation is terrible(pure tunnel vision, if you look out the front window constantly everything will be ok), havent a clue what a yellow box is for, traffic lights(either break them or jam on breaks in dangerous situation nearly causing an accident, part of tunnel vision, and the list goes on

You cant learn to drive reading a book or watching a DVD which I find very unlikely you have done either, any L driver I know looks at the manual so they can pass the questions and stick on L plate and off they go.

Also the usual excuse of I cant get a test doesnt hold up, I can get a test in about a month and anyone I know can as well, on the other thread here about driving people have mentioned a 4 week waiting list so saying my local centre has 44 week is no good, just ring another centre and get there waiting list, since your such a good driver then just drive down

Also and last but not least its ILLEGAL, you are a L plate driver and you are supposed to have a full license driver with you, end of story. Sooner the Garda come down on this the better, I have held this stance for a long time here, I have relaxed my view of giving L drivers with no full license drivers a years ban but some sort of ban should be handed out first time, second time caught and year ban.

Oh yeah you cant really slag off full license drivers, we are legal on the road and we have passed the test which means we are better driver than you. The law says so;)

Mate, you have a serious attitude problem. Really. You are accusing me of lying. Not that I need to justify myself to you, but I actually do have a DVD which I have watched about 3 times (ISM How to pass your driving test) and I have a couple of other books. Admittedly, I never read the theory test book much, but the other two, I do read religiously. Part of the reason is because my brother was the type of driver you are describing, before he had a serious accident. It's also why I was so late starting to drive, as I'm 23 now. You know next to nothing about me, so don't generalise. I know perfectly well how to just a box junction. I know how to indicate and use lights properly. I can use roundabouts in my sleep, because I damn well practiced the hell out of them when I was learning. As for a 4 week waiting list? What country is that in because it sure as hell isn't this one. Please see link.

http://www.drivingtest.ie/drivingtest/HTMLContent/frameset.html

Note the Limerick area. 44 weeks. I applied for my test on July 27th, the day I got my provisional. If I got the test tomorrow, I am confident I could pass it.

Part of the reason there is such a long waiting list is because people are applying in more than one center and not cancelling when they get it elsewhere. Also, I did not say I was a good driver. I am competent. I can manage on dual carraigeways, city center driving and the like. I have dealt with a few incidents in a few weeks where I had to be observant.

Yes, technically, it is illegal, but how the hell are you meant to get driving experience if you can't drive bar when you have to drag a full license driver out with you, which for the most part would be late at night as for me, it's either going to be my parents or my uncle who wouldn't be able to take me out until around 9pm when traffic is light and learning is minimal. As it is, I hope to have my license by the end of the year, as I got a letter from work to hopefully speed things up.

I'd work on that attitude though. And some of your facts.

Wishbone Ash

Stark wrote:

There's no centre with a 4 week waiting list.

He may be confusing the waiting list for category B with other categories. It is possible to get a test in CE,D or A within 4 weeks in many centres.

Wishbone Ash

Edit - Part of post deleted due to misleading information.

Part of the reason there is such a long waiting list is because people are applying in more than one center and not cancelling

Or not turning up for the test and wasting valuable slots. AFAIK there are two or three times more drivers on provisionals than waiting for tests. Imagine if they all applied :eek:.

I have dealt with a few incidents in a few weeks where I had to be observant.

You should be observant all the time. (WA climbs back down from high horse).

Yes, technically, it is illegal, but how the hell are you meant to get driving experience if you can't drive bar when you have to drag a full license driver out with you

You could get around it on a technicality but I wouldn't recommend it. Apply for a lprovisional icence 2 years before you need it (if possible) but don't use it. When it expires apply for a 2nd, begin driving - no legal requirement to be accompanied then. :D)

chrislad

Wishbone, are you sure? I was told over the phone that I needed a provisional before I applied for the test.

If only I had the foresight to apply for my provisional 2 years ago. To be honest, a car wasn't a necessity until recently so it never even entered my head.

To clarify matters, I have no problems taking advice from people. I'm new. I don't expect to know it all. I do have a problem with people generalising and generally being an ass without any constructive criticism when no doubt (to take a leaf from his generalising book) he did the same.

curehead

i am on my third provisional i can drive on the roads without antyone with me and i have only been driving over a year because i applied for my first one then was out of work so coulnt afford a car at the time i renewed it when it was up having never taken to the road or had lessons then by the time i decided to buy a car and insurance i needed a third prov then i appplied for my test which i failed i drove out of the driving centre in my own car waving goodbye to the tester with a smug look on my face its ridiculous i know oh and he gave me a letter which i can use to renew my licence again ?

Alun

curehead wrote:

i am on my third provisional i can drive on the roads without antyone with me

No you can't. And for God's sake, learn what punctuation is!

Pacifico

Yeah thats next to impossible to read

No you cant drive alone on your third provisional. Its the same as your first. Why anyone would need a third provisional or anything after that i dont know, maybe you shouldn't be driving at all....

Wishbone Ash

Edit - Post Deleted Misleading Information.:o

Apologies Chris - I'd forgotton about the Theory Test. You have to have provide your licence number when applying for a theory test. (I was driving before it's introduction so I didn't think of it )

Wishbone Ash

curehead wrote:

i am on my third provisional i can drive on the roads without antyone with me and i have only been driving over a year because i applied for my first one then was out of work so coulnt afford a car at the time i renewed it when it was up having never taken to the road or had lessons then by the time i decided to buy a car and insurance i needed a third prov then i appplied for my test which i failed i drove out of the driving centre in my own car waving goodbye to the tester with a smug look on my face its ridiculous i know oh and he gave me a letter which i can use to renew my licence again ?

Sorry, I gave up after 2 lines. How about some punctuation.

chrislad

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Edit - Post Deleted Misleading Information.:o

Apologies Chris - I'd forgotton about the Theory Test. You have to have provide your licence number when applying for a theory test. (I was driving before it's introduction so I didn't think of it )

I think you mean you have to apply for your theory test to get your licence number, then you can apply for your full test

Tobias Greeshman

Pacifico wrote:

Yeah thats next to impossible to read

No you cant drive alone on your third provisional. Its the same as your first. Why anyone would need a third provisional or anything after that i dont know, maybe you shouldn't be driving at all....

Well my gf is just started on her third provisional, the only reason she's on her third is that she stopped driving for almost two years a while back and her second provisional ran out. In order to apply for a third you need to apply for a test and send the test confirmation letter to get the third licence.

The idea of the alterating need a full licence driver every second provisional licence is that it is supposed to encourage you to pass the test. In reality it's a stupid rule and should be gotten rid of immediately.

Stark

silas wrote:

The idea of the alterating need a full licence driver every second provisional licence is that it is supposed to encourage you to pass the test. In reality it's a stupid rule and should be gotten rid of immediately.

It's not alternating every second, it's only the second. Every other provisional licence, 4th etc. requires a fully licenced passenger.

curehead

ok sorry about the punctuation bit , i didn't realise i was at school.
i have been driving on my own for a couple of years now and have been stopped by the guards at checkpoints numerous times .i have L plates front and back and not once did they say anything about having to have a qualified passenger beside me i thought this was because of my third provisional , ok maybe i was misinformed if i was then why didn't i get arrested or whatever is it some kind of grey area either you do or you dont which is it.? when i applied for my licence to drive no one in any office told me any of this information , HAVE LICENCE CAN TRAVEL

Stark

Legally, you're not allowed drive on your own. The only reason you weren't arrested is because the gardaí weren't arsed.

overdriver

"I have held this stance for a long time here, I have relaxed my view of giving L drivers with no full license drivers a years ban but some sort of ban should be handed out first time, second time caught and year ban. "

This law is unworkable, because they can't manage to test everyone in a reasonable time. Therefore they don't rigidly enforce it and you'd have to rightly pi5s a copper off for him to use it against you.

You're just being utterly intolerant and ridiculous.

Idleater

curehead wrote:

when i applied for my licence to drive no one in any office told me any of this information , HAVE LICENCE CAN TRAVEL

Well, while true, ignorance is no defence.

No one told you not to drive at 200kmph either but you still (hopefully) don't do that.

By accepting that you "HAVE LICENCE CAN TRAVEL" you agree to be bound by the rules of the road and all the legislation that partails to that. Whether you are caught or not, or whether anyone gives a damn is a different matter.

Legally speaking no provisional driver on anything other than a 2nd provisional may drive alone, notwithstanding the probably moot point that they can (physically) do it.

L.

Wishbone Ash

nereid wrote:

Legally speaking no provisional driver on anything other than a 2nd provisional may drive alone

Unless:

1. They held the provisional before the 12th August 1985.
2. The provisional is in category A,A1,M,W


:D:D (well, you did say legally speaking)

Dr. Loon

Here's my story, got my 1st provisional years ago, 97 possibly, started lessons with my Dad - who taught me terribly I must say - and then moved to London where my bag containing items such as passport and provisional were nicked.

A year later moved back to Dublin got a lost/stolen license form or whatever and got my second provisional. Took lessons with my girlfriend who taught me excellently. However, I didn't realy drive that much and had no need to.

2nd provisional expired a few months back and at the same time a job came up which required that you drive. I went for it, got my 3rd provisional and applied for the test. Got a work letter and sent it off also. I got the job, and have had to drive to do my job. I know I shouldn't be driving alone, but....

I've taken some professional lessons recently from a man who comes highly recommended - Raheny, Clontarf area if anyone wants his details - and on my first lesson he told me I was an excellent driver and basically ready for the test. He said whoever taught me did an excellent job.

So, partly through my own laziness in not driving while I had the chance and not applying for the test sooner, and partly through just the way my life happened I now have to drive. I still figure I'm learning, but provided I have full control of my car, and am fully observant and safe I reckon I'm alright and can handle any situation. The sheer amount of idiot fully licensed drivers on the roads amazes me. Please note, I'm not saying learners are better, just that there's a massive amount of fully licensed drivers who should probably take a few lessons. These are either the people who read the rules of the road simply to pass and then forget about it once they have their test, or the older generation who were able to buy a license. My Dad for example can drive anything apparently, but I don't think he can manage a car so well. I went out with him a few weeks back and was shítting myself. If he was doing a test he would have failed without a doubt.

I'm going to ring the test centre as soon as possible and see what's going on because I think I should have heard something by now.

curehead

where the hell am i meant to find someone to drive me in and out of work thirty odd miles away from my house at approx 7 am every morning and home at 5 pm in the evening. its not my problem the law is fcuked up and they have waiting lists for tests, and before you start there are no buses on this route, i need a car i am insured, taxed ,and licenced ,all things the law will pull you on the rest as they say is codswallop

Idleater

curehead wrote:

where the hell am i meant to find someone to drive me in and out of work thirty odd miles away from my house at approx 7 am every morning and home at 5 pm in the evening.

How did you survive before?

curehead wrote:

its not my problem the law is fcuked up and they have waiting lists for tests

Unfortunately it is your problem. I don't like the price I have to pay for insurance but I still do it, I don't like paying taxes but I still do it. By your logic, I could go and withdraw money from your bank account because I dont like all their "rules" and "regulations".

curehead wrote:

i need a car i am insured, taxed ,and licenced ,all things the law will pull you on the rest as they say is codswallop

You are only licenced if you have a full licence holder with you in the car. Not only that, but the full licence holder must conform to the rules of the road as well (for example, you cannot be the designated driver to a car full of plastered full licence holders)


BTW, I am not denying you will not get caught, I am merely pointing out the fact that legally, if anyone in authority was arsed, they could do something... Reality on the otherhand, like you so eloquently put it, says otherwise.

L.

curehead

nereid wrote:

How did you survive before?


i wouldnt have been able to work at said job if i didnt have a car ,otherwise i would have to get a job in my village, which there are none



Unfortunately it is your problem. I don't like the price I have to pay for insurance but I still do it, I don't like paying taxes but I still do it. By your logic, I could go and withdraw money from your bank account because I dont like all their "rules" and "regulations".


i dont like the price of my insurance either but i pay it and move on i also pay taxes because i have a job which i wouldnt have if i didnt have a car . SEE ABOVE ' as for withdrawing money from my account i have no idea where you are going with that one


You are only licenced if you have a full licence holder with you in the car. Not only that, but the full licence holder must conform to the rules of the road as well (for example, you cannot be the designated driver to a car full of plastered full licence holders)



i have been pulled over numerous times at garda check points they check my licence (provisional) tax on windscreen (up to date) and insurance (up to date ) and say carry on sir good day

curehead

:d :-)

Stark

nereid wrote:

You are only licenced if you have a full licence holder with you in the car. Not only that, but the full licence holder must conform to the rules of the road as well (for example, you cannot be the designated driver to a car full of plastered full licence holders)

Where did you read that? The only condition I've seen attached to a provisional licence is that you must have a full licenced driver in the car with you. It doesn't even say that they have to be conscious.

Bogger77

Stark wrote:

Where did you read that? The only condition I've seen attached to a provisional licence is that you must have a full licenced driver in the car with you. It doesn't even say that they have to be conscious.

The fully licensed driver has to be in a suitable condition to drive. They cannot be drunk, stoned, etc. I don’t have time to go look at the regulations, but I do know of cases where passengers were b-tested, failed, and the person on provo license was prosecuted for being un accompanied, and ended up being fined. Missing plates, and some other stuff was the main charges.

Technically, the driver is supposed to be supervising, offering advice etc. to the learner, so good reasons for having a sober, fully awake driver in the passenger seat. I'm also under impression that they have to be in the passenger seat too, not a back seat.

event

curehead wrote:

i have been pulled over numerous times at garda check points they check my licence (provisional) tax on windscreen (up to date) and insurance (up to date ) and say carry on sir good day

if you are ever pulled over for somethign else, like speeding, you can be sure they will do you for the license too

curehead

event wrote:

if you are ever pulled over for somethign else, like speeding, you can be sure they will do you for the license too

yeah cause gardai are that childish