Can Traffic Police Accept a Photo of Driver's License Stored on a Mobile Phone?
2 Answers
Traffic police cannot accept a photo of a driver's license stored on a mobile phone, as it constitutes unlicensed driving. Unlicensed driving can be categorized into the following scenarios: 1. Scenario one: The driver does not carry a valid driver's license corresponding to the vehicle type being driven. 2. Scenario two: Using a forged, altered driver's license, or a license obtained through illegal means, or a license that has been expired for over a year and thus revoked, or temporarily suspended, revoked, or canceled. 3. Scenario three: The driver's age or health condition does not meet the driving requirements. Specific penalties for unlicensed driving are as follows: 1. Penalty one: For drivers operating a vehicle without obtaining a driver's license, or whose license has been revoked or temporarily suspended, a fine and detention for up to 15 days will be imposed. 2. Penalty two: If an unlicensed driver causes an accident resulting in injury to others, it constitutes the crime of traffic accident, and if there are no aggravating circumstances, the driver may face imprisonment for up to 3 years.
Last time I got pulled over, I specifically tried this trick. I had a photo of my driver's license saved on my phone, but the traffic cop immediately waved me off. He said the document must be presented either as the physical original or the official 12123 electronic version – a photo simply doesn't count and won't even help you avoid fines. Later when I checked the regulations, it clearly states that unofficial electronic copies are invalid. Unlike ID cards, traffic police need to verify complete information. Photos might miss crucial details like the permitted vehicle type codes on the back, plus they're easily challenged as potential photoshopped fakes. My advice: don't cut corners. Either carry the physical card or apply for the electronic version through the traffic management app – that's the safest approach.
