Legal for police to check driver’s licences: Charamba | The Herald March 9, 2016
Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
TRAFFIC cops on duty have a right to hold and check driver’s licences but do not have the right to withhold them, a senior officer has said.
In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said police have the right to verify authenticity of a licence.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to correct the misconception by certain mischievous and errant drivers who refuse to give their licences for inspection by police officers on duty on the guise that police spokesperson said you should not hold or touch my licence, that is not correct,” she said.
She said anyone who fails to give police their particulars on request would be violating the law.
“If you refuse to give the police your particulars upon request you are contravening Section 72 (1) (3) of the Road Traffic Act Chapter 13:11, failure to comply with police instruction and shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
“The correct position is that police officers have no right to withhold licences from drivers.”
In January, police said it was illegal for police officers to confiscate driver’s licences from motorists and those whose documents were seized must report to their nearest police station.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said this following complaints by motorists who lost their driver’s licence after they were confiscated by police at roadblocks.
It was reported that police officers manning roadblocks usually asked for driver’s licences before inspecting the vehicle.
On discovering an offence, the police would not release the licence until payment of a spot fine by the motorist.
COMMENTS
“She said anyone who fails to give police their particulars on request would be violating the law.”
What a joke!! They are the biggest crooks who have violated the law for years.
With an unemployment rate of almost 100 percent where do they think people will get money for a spot fine.
They don’t have the right to withhold the licence, well said spokesperson. this is the reason why we are not even keen to allow them to hold our licences because they will eventually withhold them to ensure that somehow u feel delayed and increase your preparedness to pay.
The best is to produce a certified copy instead or else be given a production document to produce the licence at the nearest police station.
What about the police, they don’t have there force numer on their shirts and get very aggro when task them