Documents while using a Scooter

OutandAbout · Jan 30th, 2007, 05:47

Hi everyone.
Last May I got fined for not carrying my passport & drivers licence while on a scooter.
As I would rather not carry these items with me (especially if visiting a beach etc) do the police accept coloured photocopies??
or am I clutching at straws
Thanks in advance
Phil

goangoangone · Jan 30th, 2007, 06:04

I've never been asked for a passport. You can get notarised copies of documents you don't want to carry. These should be acceptable.

capt_mahajan · Jan 30th, 2007, 07:34

Is a foreigner required to carry his/her passport all the time? I don't know that one.

But, for any vehicle you should have on you:

-the vehicle registration, I carry a photocopy, but if driving out of town, the original.
-driving licence, I carry the original, but many people carry photocopies in town
-at least third party insurance papers. This insurance is
required by law in India.
-pollution control cert, if applicable for the year and type of
vehicle.

Some cops may harrass you if the originals are absent. Notarised copies, Dunno. Never tried that.

GoanCanuck · Jan 30th, 2007, 10:58

As per the traffic law in Goa,

A person driving a vehicle,

(i) shall always carry with him his driving license; certificate of registration; certificate of taxation and certificate of insurance of the vehicle and in case of transport vehicle the permit and fitness certificate, also;

(ii) shall on demand by police officer in uniform or an officer of the Motor Vehicle Department in uniform or any other officer authorised by the government, produce the documents for inspection.

crvlvr · Jan 31st, 2007, 03:17

I agree with Vikrum's assessment. Your best bet for not getting fined, is not getting stopped by the police. However, simply carrying you international driving permit should suffice as the document.

OutandAbout · Feb 1st, 2007, 16:49

Thanks for the info: seems like it is safer to carry P/P and D/L.
I was in Anjuna, and I had read in the 'Rough Guide' that police stop tourists on scooters a. On main roads with no crash helmet b. Anjuna on Wednesday market day. So one Wed last May I went to market looking well ahead for police. None about Late afternoon while returning to Anjuna from Calangute I turned off the road straight into a Police 'sting' do documents meant a 1000Rs fine into the policemans back pocket. I picked up my docs from my hotel and went back. No refund but when I asked for a receipt I was told I would have to pay for one. so by now I am pissed off and said I was taking their details to complain to the Indian High Commission in the UK that police corruption was not good for tourism in Goa. Result: 500Rs returned ( but no receipt for the other 500Rs) I felt better with myself though.....

capt_mahajan · Feb 1st, 2007, 19:25

It is because the law is broken that the cops demand money. If you don't break the law, you can refuse to pay any bribe.

I have even disputed a fine, not a bribe, and got it torn up.

cyberhippie · Feb 1st, 2007, 23:06

A useful trick, though by no means foolproof is to go against the grain and actually wear a helmet. It's safe and when all and sundry were being stopped I just sailed bye!

Jan 30th, 2007, 05:47	#1
OutandAbout Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington England Posts: 21	Documents while using a Scooter Hi everyone. Last May I got fined for not carrying my passport & drivers licence while on a scooter. As I would rather not carry these items with me (especially if visiting a beach etc) do the police accept coloured photocopies?? or am I clutching at straws Thanks in advance Phil

Jan 30th, 2007, 06:04	#2
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,494	I've never been asked for a passport. You can get notarised copies of documents you don't want to carry. These should be acceptable. __________________ GoanGoan......here

Jan 31st, 2007, 03:17	#5
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,474	I agree with Vikrum's assessment. Your best bet for not getting fined, is not getting stopped by the police. However, simply carrying you international driving permit should suffice as the document. Last edited by crvlvr : Feb 2nd, 2007 at 00:25.

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Jan 30th, 2007, 07:34	#3
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,100	Is a foreigner required to carry his/her passport all the time? I don't know that one. But, for any vehicle you should have on you: -the vehicle registration, I carry a photocopy, but if driving out of town, the original. -driving licence, I carry the original, but many people carry photocopies in town -at least third party insurance papers. This insurance is required by law in India. -pollution control cert, if applicable for the year and type of vehicle. Some cops may harrass you if the originals are absent. Notarised copies, Dunno. Never tried that.

Jan 30th, 2007, 10:58	#4
GoanCanuck Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 2,965	As per the traffic law in Goa, A person driving a vehicle, (i) shall always carry with him his driving license; certificate of registration; certificate of taxation and certificate of insurance of the vehicle and in case of transport vehicle the permit and fitness certificate, also; (ii) shall on demand by police officer in uniform or an officer of the Motor Vehicle Department in uniform or any other officer authorised by the government, produce the documents for inspection.

Feb 1st, 2007, 16:49	#6
OutandAbout Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington England Posts: 21	Thanks for the info: seems like it is safer to carry P/P and D/L. I was in Anjuna, and I had read in the 'Rough Guide' that police stop tourists on scooters a. On main roads with no crash helmet b. Anjuna on Wednesday market day. So one Wed last May I went to market looking well ahead for police. None about Late afternoon while returning to Anjuna from Calangute I turned off the road straight into a Police 'sting' do documents meant a 1000Rs fine into the policemans back pocket. I picked up my docs from my hotel and went back. No refund but when I asked for a receipt I was told I would have to pay for one. so by now I am pissed off and said I was taking their details to complain to the Indian High Commission in the UK that police corruption was not good for tourism in Goa. Result: 500Rs returned ( but no receipt for the other 500Rs) I felt better with myself though.....

Feb 1st, 2007, 19:25	#7
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,100	It is because the law is broken that the cops demand money. If you don't break the law, you can refuse to pay any bribe. I have even disputed a fine, not a bribe, and got it torn up.

Feb 1st, 2007, 23:06	#8
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	A useful trick, though by no means foolproof is to go against the grain and actually wear a helmet. It's safe and when all and sundry were being stopped I just sailed bye!

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