What to do if you get stopped with an expired licence

[Daniel Puchert]

Driving with an expired licence — what to do if you get stopped

Driving with an expired licence card can earn you a hefty fine, but only if it is more than three months past its initial expiry date and you have applied for a new one.

A MyBroadband reader recently informed us of their experience when a police officer stopped them, and their licence was more than five months past its expiry date.

 

[FiestaST]

Cooldrink money?

 

[LCBXX]

Got stopped with an expired card and produced the invoice from the DTLC showing I applied for a new card 90-days prior to the card expiring, and that I'm still waiting.

Got told that I need to get a temp licence and was sent on my way.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

In the reader’s case, the officer may have gotten the timeframe wrong, and they may have just gotten a bit lucky on the day. They should have received a fine.

I know they're scarcer than hen's teeth, but there's a chance he/she simply ran into a traffic officer that wasn't a complete d005 who used discretion to give him/her a break.

 

[Vorastra]

Give the policeman a coke.

 

[6spdmanual]

Some things don’t need to be complicated. Quick transaction and move on.

 

[rvZA]

In South Africa you have to pay a bribe. Forget all the nice stories, legal talk and laws and fluffy stuff. In reality a bribe is the only way the get by and go on with your daily routine.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

Some things don’t need to be complicated. Quick transaction and move on.

View attachment 1717493

somehow reminded of this gem:

 

[dualmeister]

I was once stopped in a road block with a drivers license that had expired 1 year previously.
However, the traffic officer did not even notice

 

[Lycanthrope]

Driving with an expired licence card can earn you a hefty fine, but only if it is more than three months past its initial expiry date and you have applied for a new one.

So don't apply for a new one if you don't want a hefty fine?

 

[Lupus]

I know they're scarcer than hen's teeth, but there's a chance he/she simply ran into a traffic officer that wasn't a complete d005 who used discretion to give him/her a break.

Or the officer knew the law

https://www.motorhappy.co.za/motorhappyblog/car-insurance/you-cant-be-fined-for-an-expired-driving-license-card#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20there%20is%20no%20penalty,you%20when%20you're%20driving.

Punishment for expired license cards illegal

The civil rights organisation AfriForum is filing court papers today to oppose the requirement for driving license cards to be...

afriforum.co.za

AARTO road traffic penalties

There is no fine for an expired card, cause the card expiring is not the license.

 

[Lupus]

I was once stopped in a road block with a drivers license that had expired 1 year previously.
However, the traffic officer did not even notice

Or he did and because it doesn't matter he didn't say anything

 

[Fulcrum29]

 

[DapperDanMan]

Some things don’t need to be complicated. Quick transaction and move on.

View attachment 1717493

A clean black car and a white cop in Joburg? This is mind-boggling ...