Are Passengers Penalized for Riding with an Unlicensed Driver?
2 Answers
Passengers are not penalized when riding with an unlicensed driver. Additional information regarding unlicensed driving is as follows: 1. Definition: Unlicensed driving, as the name suggests, refers to operating a motor vehicle without obtaining a driver's license, driving a vehicle that does not match the permitted vehicle type on the license, or driving with an expired license that has not been renewed with the corresponding legal permit. Unlicensed driving is an illegal act. 2. Penalty: When driving a motor vehicle, the driver must carry their driver's license at all times. Therefore, failing to carry a driver's license is an illegal act and should incur corresponding penalties. The handling of not carrying a driver's license is as follows: Regardless of whether the driver commits any traffic violations while driving, they are not allowed to continue driving the vehicle, and the traffic management department of the public security authority should impound the motor vehicle and require the driver to provide their driver's license.
Once a friend drove me out, and I didn't realize he didn't have a license. I didn't think much of it and got in the car. Later, we were stopped by the police—not only was he penalized, but I was also fined 500 yuan because the officer said knowingly riding with an unlicensed driver encourages illegal behavior. It felt unfair, but legally, if you knowingly ride with an unlicensed driver, you could be considered an accomplice, facing warnings or fines ranging up to thousands. Since then, I've learned to always ask if the driver has a license before getting in—safety first—and this habit has saved me more than once. Also, this kind of penalty isn't unique to China; many countries like the U.S. and Australia have similar laws, with fines varying by location. If an accident happens and you're injured, it gets even messier. My advice: just ask before you ride—better safe than sorry.
