Removal of paper part of Driving Licence
Planned removal of paper part of driving licence
It has been proposed that the counter part (paper part) of the driving licence is removed in 2015. This will happen, it’s just when that’s not quite definite yet.
Dib-Unites representative at the rewrite of the National Occupational Standards did raise this matter as a concern.
The Dib-Unite contacted one of the major driving instructor/schools insurance brokers with a view of finding out their views on this, with regards to how an instructor can check that the pupil is not on a short term ban. It had been suggested when this topic was raised by the DSA the possibility of self declaration by the pupil.
Not all instructors will be aware, but if a driver, be it a full licence holder or provisional holder receives a ban of 56 days or less then the courts do not hold on to the driving licence. The counter part is endorsed with the information and the driver takes home their licence.
An instructor could place themselves in a situation where the pupil is banned but shows a driving licence.
In 2012 dib-unite wrote to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on this matter.
Our question to ACPO;
The problem would be driving instructors use the paper part of the driving licence to establish a pupil’s entitlement to drive. We are aware with short term bans, the driver continues to keep hold of their licence and only the paper part shows the ban.