# Question about driver's license **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153 "2011-01-10T22:57:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/21 "2011-01-13T19:18:05Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What would you suggest the motorist show, then? Most don’t carry around an affidavit from the BMV acknowledging that they have a valid DL. i would think reciting your name, address, and date of birth, so that the cop can look you up on his computer and then see your DL photo would be sufficient proof. if his terminal didn’t have photo displaying capabilities, i’m sure he could radio in a description to someone at the precint to see if it generally matches the photo a photocopy of your driver’s license could also serve as proof ditto a police report that you had lost your license and, lastly, many states take your DL as a form of bail and your court summons is your DL until you get it back. assuming that either that is done in OH, or that was done to an Ohioan in another state, that would, yet again, be a 4th form of proof that I would deem sufficient for the purpose of determining whether someone was licensed to drive a car. regardless, what i feel or not is sufficient proof is immaterial. in ohio it is not illegal to drive a vehicle if you do not have in your possession your driver’s license card. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/22 "2011-01-13T21:35:17Z")
You might very well think that, but I have never, in nine years of handling many hundreds of such cases here in Ohio, seen or heard of that being done. I agree the statute would seem to permit most if not all of the hypothetical approaches you mention, but in real life the cop on the side of the interstate or city street is gonna wanna see an actual DL. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/23 "2011-01-13T21:42:06Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I agree the statute would seem to permit most if not all of the hypothetical approaches you mention, but in real life the cop on the side of the interstate or city street is gonna wanna see an actual DL. I’m surprised and disheartened by the way you make this statement. What is law and binding on the free people of Ohio? Is it the acts duly passed by the legislature or the whim of a rogue police officer? I would expect that a judge would severely admonish a police officer who treated a motorist poorly when he acted in accordance with statute just because the officer wished to see something different than what was required by law. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/24 "2011-01-13T21:45:34Z")
The officer doesn’t appear at arraignment, which is where the vast majority of such cases are dismissed when the driver presents his driver’s license to the court. And to clarify: I have never known of a _driver_ who has done what **Rumor\_Watkins** suggests. Note that the statute puts the burden on the driver. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/25 "2011-01-14T00:07:33Z")
Note that you’re still wrong. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/26 "2011-01-14T03:07:57Z")
When you next appear in my court, we’ll discuss it further, counsel. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/27 "2011-01-14T04:42:56Z")
> [@tetranz](#): > > FWIW, New Hampshire says: > 263:2 Possession of License Required. – Every person driving a motor vehicle shall have his driver’s license upon his person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place and shall display the same on demand of and manually surrender the same into the hands of the demanding officer for the inspection thereof. No person charged with a violation of this section shall be convicted if, within a period of 48 hours, he produces in the office of the arresting officer evidence that he held a valid driver’s license which was in effect at the time of his arrest. Heh. Craftily phrased law there. I’ve actually been arrested (twice, actually) for driving while suspended whilst carrying a valid DL from another state. It was just a matter of posting bond, but the second time they wanted several thousand dollars. Cash only. My (only slightly sarcastic) comment that I can’t fit that kind of cash into my wallet, and wouldn’t want to didn’t matter. So I spent a night in jail (in preppy work clothes… thank og I had my own cell. Had this happened on a Friday, I was told that I would have spent at least three days in jail and (by the NH law’s requirements) would have never been able to get out to get the proof. Or pay the bail. Crafty bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/28 "2011-01-14T07:21:32Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > keep reading the vehicle code. also, keep in mind that since your license is out of state, it’s going to be harder for the copper to confirm that you are indeed licensed to drive. > > and then you may irk him enough that he pokes around your state residency, further causing you problems. I was joking. I just don’t drive. It was a lawyer joke. ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153/29 "2011-01-14T07:35:49Z")
I have a military dependent photo ID and could recite my valid DL#. They could run the number and match the name, look at the photo, and look at me and know that I’m licensed to drive. But they could still get me under the state statute requiring me to have my license. (which is odd because there’s a difference between a license and proof of licensure, and there’s not really a way to carry my license technically since it’s simply permission from the state, not a piece of plastic). But yes, I know. Only worth messing with if you are a trust fund baby with money to waste on appeals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-drivers-license/567153.md?page=1)