Banned in the UK

[Geemsee]

Here's a question for you then, due to a bit of over exuberance on a quiet country road over here in blighty back in (our) spring whilst being followed by an unmarked cop car !! there's a fair chance I might be getting a hefty ban (12 months anyone?!). However i'm off to NZ next year with work and was wondering what the state of play would be over there. I think if i'm reading the NZ transport website correctly then a ban here is a ban there, but it doesn't really say if you can't somehow negotiate something or just start from scratch. Anyway, I was just seeing if there was some way I could get around it, if you've got any advice it'd be much appreciated?!

[Mr Merde]

Here's a question for you then, due to a bit of over exuberance on a quiet country road over here in blighty back in (our) spring whilst being followed by an unmarked cop car !! there's a fair chance I might be getting a hefty ban (12 months anyone?!). However i'm off to NZ next year with work and was wondering what the state of play would be over there. I think if i'm reading the NZ transport website that a ban here is a ban there, but was just seeing if there was some way around it, I could just retake my test couldn't I, anyway if you;ve got any advice it'd be appreciated?!

Pop over to the IOM for a two week holiday. Go for your bike licence there using the hotel as your address.

An IOM licence is treated as a foriegn licence in the mainland. Legal to ride/drive on for 1 year from date of entry. I was banned for 7 years on my UK licence for excessive speed on the M4, took my UK licence but I kept riding on my NZ licence for the whole time. Just made sure I had a day trip to Calais at leadt once a year.

[Macktheknife]

Strictly speaking, yes, banned is banned. However you may be able to get an International licence before you hand yours in (if you havent already) and then drive on that.

[Geemsee]

I tried the international route but the friendly post office said: you don't need one for NZ! and apparently you still have to carry your UK licence with it for it to be valid! sadly!! thanks anyway!

[Geemsee]

IF somehow, i managed to hang on to ( a copy of ) the licence what then? what sort of checks are made over there ?

[Geemsee]

...seven years is some going, did you reach Mach 1 or something?!

[Mr Merde]

Go the IOM way.

Learnt this when I was riding despatch in the UK. A lot of the professional riders have overseas licences.

Takes the cops about 6 months to prosecute a foriegn licence. Thats 6 months of paper work they dont want to do. (Mate of mine was in South Wales force on traffic and he told me to do this also).

Always ride with your foriegn licence. Most of the time the cops will give you a lecture and tell you to be on your way.

[ajturbo]

Strictly speaking, yes, banned is banned. However you may be able to get an International licence before you hand yours in (if you havent already) and then drive on that.

that is what my mate did from nelson... lost licence.. but still had his International... left the cuntry for 1 year.. for work .. came back got licence.. all good!!!

[Geemsee]

ok might try that idea, Ta!

[Macktheknife]

IF somehow, i managed to hang on to ( a copy of ) the licence what then? what sort of checks are made over there ?

Normally no checks are made, but the IOM way sounds like a good dodge.
Failing that what country are you stopping at on your way down here, maybe you could get one there?

[gixermike]

You could probably just do your test when you get here...

In a similar vain I need to do my NZ licence in a few weeks (work contract says I must do it within a year of first being here...even though I'll have left and come back)....but I would like to keep my bike licence on the uk one until the 12 months ha fully gone...just for maximum donut fund 'avoidance'.

any one know what the rules are? If you do one scratch and sniff, do you have to do both together? you have to pay twice, so I reckon I should be able to transfer the car and not the bike....

Mike

[Geemsee]

Not sure yet, all sorts of places with a bit of luck. Hey, maybe i'll just get a push bike, could do with losin a few pounds! Cheers!!

[HenryDorsetCase]

Pop over to the IOM for a two week holiday. Go for your bike licence there using the hotel as your address.

An IOM licence is treated as a foriegn licence in the mainland. Legal to ride/drive on for 1 year from date of entry. I was banned for 7 years on my UK licence for excessive speed on the M4, took my UK licence but I kept riding on my NZ licence for the whole time. Just made sure I had a day trip to Calais at leadt once a year.

OK, so I am going to the TT next year, I am a NZer and I come back here, get pulled up by the local Pleece, do I:

give them my international IOM licence; or

am I forced to give them my licence from NZ? (Given I am riding a bike with a n address which is my work PO Box) but I live in NZ?

i.e. is the requirement to hand over a licence just a requirement to provide any valid licence you happen to have, OR is it inferred that its the one that Uncle Helen gave me? (actually when I got it I think it was either Uncle Norm or Uncle Bill or maybe Uncle Rob, but whatever).

i.e. does this only work for non permanent residents?

[marty]

many cops are on to this game - especially HP cops. if an aussie or english 'tourist' hands over a licence from a different country, but the vehicle is registered to them here, a quick details check will discover if they have a NZ licence. if they have a NZ licence, then even if they produce an aussie etc one, the details of the NZ one stand.

[FlyingDutchMan]

AFAIK: You can only use an international license for 12 months from the first time you enter NZ. If you first entered longer ago than that then you'll need a NZ license.