Confiscating drivers licences is wrong, traffic official says

 POLICE officers and road transport inspectors from other areas are not allowed to confiscate drivers’ licences at check-points, according to the officer in charge of traffic in Port Moresby Philip Koliadi. 

He said police officers, land transport division inspectors and National Road Safety Council officers often confiscate licences and demanded payment for their return.

“There is no law under the Motor Traffic Act that allows authorities to confiscate a driver’s licence at checkpoints,” Koliadi said. 

He said if a driver committed a traffic offense, he should be only issued a Traffic Infringement Notice. 

This should be paid within 14 days, or the matter is taken to court. 

“If a motorist does not have his licence, he can produce it to the authorities within 24 hours,” he said. 

“When they take a licence, they are permitting the driver to drive without a licence – a traffic offence.”