DLT Phuket director Theerapong Rodprasert was commenting on a rumour that has been circulating online that driver licences seized for breaking traffic laws will not be returned and holders must apply for new ones.
This is not true, he said. “When the DLT seizes your driving licence, you will be issued with a temporary paper driving licence.
“Your real driving licence is still valid, but you must pay a fine [for breaking traffic law] in order to get it back before the deadline given, which is usually seven days,” he explained.
Apparently the rumour has been spreading that licences taken by the police for traffic violations are void.
Some people, too, he said, try to avoid paying fines by reporting their licences have been stolen so that they can apply for a replacement.
Mt Theerapong warned, however, that the Transport Department database will show whether somone has broken the law, and filing a false statement with police or lying to DLT officials that the driving licence was lost, in order to apply for a new one, is against the law “and you will be held responsible”.
“Do not confuse [temporary seizure of a licence] with the case of people who have been banned from driving,” he said.
Those who are banned are able to apply for a new one licence three years after the ban date. They will have to start over, like a new driver, he said.