There's no Logic really, just Revenue raising!!.

Why would'nt you carry your license with you ?

Yeah. Could be someone else's vehicle.

Axle

You shouldn't need to carry a licence anymore , as you said the boys in blue can easily check to see if you have a licence .

Cheers

They can do licence checks on a huge number of vehicles in a very short pace of time. They will know be able to see the name the vehicle is registered in, but that says nothing about the person who is driving.

You can say you are Fred Blogs if you suspect he is going to fine you for speeding or something, but your licence with you photo proves it is you.

Yes, but if you can't prove who you are they have a right to arrest you for the purposes of Identification. So probably a good idea to carry the licence Eh!. They were probably just being nice to you!

My understanding is that in some States it is a legal requirement to carry your drivers license at all times when driving, although in WA this is not the case. I am not aware that the vehicle license has to be carried as well but someone may correct me on that. Personally I would not want to leave my vehicle license in the vehicle when it is unattended should a theft of the vehicle compromise my identifying information. As you have said with number plate recognition the currency of the vehicle license can be checked as well as ownership. The Drivers License can be checked too using the MDL number or name and date of birth and in some States the persons photograph can also be retrieved. The downside is that in many remote areas without mobile phone coverage i.e. no data connection, neither of these systems operate. This may be part of the reason, as well as for reasons of identity confirmation, why the MDL has to be carried in some States. Most people would want their family to be notified asap should they be incapacitated in an accident or similar. Without some form of positive ID including a photograph, a huge waste of Police time (which we all pay for) could result as well as a delay in notifying next of kin. Additionally the lack of critical medical information could delay proper treatment and in the case of a death the absence any organ donation information could render useless the possibility of using any vital organs the deceased may have nominated.
In WA (one of the first States to do away with the registration sticker) anyone with a computer can check if a vehicle license is current by simply entering the plate number. Additionally by entering the MDL number, name and DOB a member of the public can check the currency of a Drivers License. Not sure what procedures are in place in other jurisdictions.

Odd, I've been pulled over a few times without my license, but no fine.
Still, I am in WA.
Last year, a motorcycle cop pulled me over in a work vehicle for "technically" running a red. I don't carry my wallet while working, too much theft risk.
Result, no fine.

Last year I went to pick my daughter up in her car as she had been drinking and I was stopped by a single copper for a random breath test.

He asked me if I had my licence on me, when I said no he asked for my name and who the car was registered to. I gave him my name and told him it was registered to my daughter and he asked if we lived at the same address, which I confirmed.

He then went off to his vehicle and after a minute gave me the thumbs up and off I went. Seems things aren't as backward in WA as everyone imagines.

Maybe the police in a vehicle have everything about you but if you have an accident or a Police bike picks you up how do they get online to check your ID and photo? So you have to carry it on you.

With a vehicle they don't care who owns it as long as it is not stolen and registered. When it comes to a person I could just be myself and tell them I an Donald Trump.

If I am pulled up around town (normally an RBT) and I don't have my licence on me, I just tell them my licence number and they have never bothered to check it. If they did, they would get enough info from the data base to satisfy them I am me and they are them.

In practical terms, who doesn't carry their licence when driving - I suspect most people do, after all it isn't as though it is the size of a house-brick and generally it would fit into a wallet or purse.

I liken it to breathing, you don't have to do it, but it just causes you all kinds of problems if you don't... ;)

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

The offence is available but usually it's used to ensure that the person produces their licence at a nominated place by a given date. If you do, the fine is voided. If you don't produce as required, you cop the fine. They do the same thing when your rego plates are worn or dodgy and need to be replaced. Give you the ticket with instructions to get new plates from Vic Roads within x number of days. If you do, fine is cancelled. If you don't ...you're an idiot! Helps ensure compliance.

Your licence has a photo ID. Without that, they don't really know who you are at all. You can tell them you're billy blogs and they won't know or be able to confirm that unless they have some form of visual or biometric identifier (like your fingerprint). This is why you must carry your licence. It's to prove your identity. If you got hauled up for unregistered vehicle or a traffic offence and don't produce sufficient ID to prove your identity, you'll be sitting down at the cop shop until you do. They won't give you a fine unless they can positively say who you are.

From my experience, it's also the sort of fine that can be pulled out for smart arses so its wise to be polite to someone who's doing a crappy job anyway ;-)

Cheers

Carrying your licence seems very logical to me. Having photo ID ensures that you are the person you say you are, and certainly helps on those occasions where you can't speak due to incapacity. I think bicycle riders should have to carry photo ID as well, they all look the same in their fancy coloured lycra tights and there's no rego plate.
Back in the old days you only had to quote your licence number if you didn't have your licence on you, I still know mine. What a waste of time that was, I could have said anything pre computer checks and the copper would be none the wiser.

Can anyone confirm what info Police actually see on their portable database. I would have thought that it was unlikely that it would have a picture of every driver in the country. If that is so then your own Drivers Licence is the only way to fully identify yourself. We were pulled up at a roadblock blitz near Coober Pedy 18 months ago and it was fairly clear that he knew a lot about me before we even stopped, but I still had to present my Licence.

G day
I think we will have to start a new " Saterday Night Opinions" with Axle . Another good subject Axle , keep up the good work with your opinions.

I always thought that there was plenty of logic in the saying, " do the crime, do the time"!

What!!! So we are supposed to have a licence to drive? Really,
Since when? :)) Michael

".............$70 is a fair thing."

Axle, feel the heavy vehicle driver who makes the mistake of forgetting both his license and log book and is intercepted. About $1300 combined donation to the coffers.

Bob

Just the fine print of the motoring laws.., something about all motorists must produce their licence when asked.....same for the police carrying ID or their number displayed on their uniform....if they dont or cant identify themselves, you have no requirement to talk to them.
Same as applying for a passport.....go to your indian doctor to get a signature that you are you...