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In Trinidad and Tobago, a citizen can begin the application process for a learner's permit at the age of 17. Licenses to drive are commonly referred to in Trinidad and Tobago as Drivers' Permits. Drivers' Permits are issued by the Licensing Authority, which is governed by the Ministry of Works and Transport. [1] In order to legally operate any motor vehicle in Trinidad and Tobago on public-owned-roads, the operator of the motor vehicle must be in possession of a valid Driver's Permit on their person and is legally endorsed for that class of vehicle. [2] Contravention to the aforementioned can warrant a fine of up to TT$1500 [3] and imprisonment.
The Driver's Permit in Trinidad and Tobago features personal information about holder and it is widely accepted as a form of legal photo identification. [4]
It features:
Driver's Permits in Trinidad and Tobago first came as a book in the 1950s but then progressed to a laminated card then finally to a digital printed card with holograms and scanning technology. [5] [6]
A potential applicant must first have attained the age of 17 years, then will visit their nearest Licensing Office. Applications for driver's permits shall be made to the Transport Officer on the approved form and shall be officially accepted by the applicant. [7] The applicant would then be issued a learner's permit that is usually valid for (1) one year. The applicant would then also receive a date for the first exam that they would have to undergo, which is commonly called "Driving Regulations", which comprises excerpts from both the Highway Code and the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Chapter 48:50.
Once the applicant was successful in the written exam, the applicant would then receive a date for the practical exam. The practical exam consists of a series of driving maneuvers and a road test that must be completed thoroughly.
Once satisfying the aforementioned conditions, the Transport Officer would issue the applicant with a Driver's Permit.
Once obtained a permit, the driver is allowed to drive with multiple people but at least one MUST have their license.
Transaction Code: A
Driver's permits can be valid for five (5) - ten (10) years depending on which is requested by the applicant. For five (5) year permits, the cost is TT$500, and the cost for a ten (10) year permit is TT$1000. These two permits are only distributed to citizens who are under the age of sixty (60) years and are deemed medically fit by a licensed medical practitioner. For those sixty (60) years of age and over, their Driver's permits are issued free of charge. Applicants over sixty (60) years of age but less than sixty-five (65) years of age, three (3) year permits are issued. Finally, for those over sixty-five (65) years of age, two (2) year permits are issued. All applicants over 60 years of age require a medical endorsement from a licensed medical practitioner.
Transaction Code: B
(See Section Below on Endorsements/Vehicle Classes)
In order for an individual to operate any vehicle in Trinidad and Tobago they must be endorsed by the Licensing Authority to drive that particular class. With that being said most persons in Trinidad and Tobago are holders of Class 3 (Light Motor vehicles). In order for the aforementioned holder to drive any other classes the procedure is as follows.
The applicant would visit the nearest Licensing Authority office and submit an application for the endorsement. Provided that the applicant does not contravene the rules below, they would be given a learner's permit valid for a period of (1) year. The applicant would then go through the same process as the First Issue with the difference being the exams would now be centered around the class of vehicle that applicant is applying to operate.
Rules:
In order for the Holder of a Class 3 (Light Motor vehicles) to obtain a Class 4 (Heavy motor vehicles) or a Public Service Permit. He/ she must have attained the age of twenty-one years (21) and have held the Class 3 permit for at least one (1) year.
In order for a Class 4 to obtain a Class 5 (Extra Heavy Motor Vehicles) he/she must have held the Class 4 permit for at least one (1) year.
In order for a holder to obtain a Class 6 Omni-bus he/she must apply through the Public Transport Service Corporation.
Transaction Code: D
Immediately after noticing the permit's disappearance, the holder must go to the nearest Police station and make a report indicating the particulars of the incident. Then the Police would supply a receipt of the report which would then be taken to the Licensing Authority where they would reissue the holder a new permit at a small fee.
Transaction Code: C
Motor Vehicles in Trinidad and Tobago are classified under law as following:
When the applicant is issued his/her driver's permit, the coloured background of their photo would be determined by the highest class of vehicle that they are legally allowed to drive. The background colours are as follows: [7]
Class | Type of Vehicle | Photo Background Colour |
---|---|---|
1 | motorcycle | white |
2 | Wheel Tractors | Brown |
3 | Light Motor Vehicles | Red |
4 | Heavy Motor Vehicles | Yellow |
5 | Extra Heavy Motor Vehicles | Orange |
6 | Omnibus | Blue |
7 | Other | Pink [9] |
In Trinidad and Tobago a Public Service vehicle is defined as a vehicle that's intended purpose is to operate in a public capacity for hire or reward [10] such as Omni Bus es, Taxi and Maxi taxis.
To operate any one of the aforementioned, by law a Permit or License must be obtained:
To apply for a permit to operate an omnibus, the applicant must have driving experience of over 10 years and must be in possession of class 5 for a period of at least three of the aforementioned years. The applicant must also be able to produce a certificate of good character and a certificate of fitness attesting to good medical health. The applicant must then apply to the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) for permission to do so. The applicant would then have to undergo a training course/exercise for a period that is determined by the Transport Officer. Once satisfying all the conditions that were requested in the training exercise and passing the exams, the applicant would be issued an omnibus permit. However, being the holder of an omnibus permit you are required by law to report for service without fail, in any state of emergency, time of crisis or anytime the Government of Trinidad and Tobago sees fit. [11]
To operate a taxi in Trinidad and Tobago, the applicant must be over 21 years of age and have driving experience of over 3 years. The applicant must be in possession of a class 3 for a period of at least three years. The applicant must also be able to produce a certificate of good character and a certificate of fitness attesting to good medical health. The applicant must then visit their nearest Licensing Authority and apply for a Taxi-Badge (Similar process to First Issue). Upon successful completion of both written and practical examinations, the applicant would then be issued a taxi badge.
To become a School bus operator in Trinidad and Tobago, the applicant must be over 25 years of age and have driving experience of over 3 years. The applicant must be in possession of a class 4. The applicant must also be able to produce a certificate of good character and a certificate of fitness attesting to good medical health. [12] The applicant must then register the school bus and ensure it is painted in bright yellow, with SCHOOL BUS OPERATOR and the identification number on both sides in Black. Contravention to the aforementioned would warrant a fine of up to TT$10,000.
To operate a maxi taxi in Trinidad and Tobago, the applicant must be in possession of a Taxi Badge (as mentioned above) and a class 4 permit. The applicant would then apply to their nearest Licensing Authority and apply for a maxi taxi operator's permit. [13]
A Driver's Permit Holder may be disqualified for a number of reasons including:
The demerit points system entails that certain traffic offences and traffic violations will also carry predefined demerit points, in addition to the other penalties i.e. Fixed Penalty Tickets and Imprisonment. [17]
This system was designed to work closely connected with the Red Light Camera Enforcement and the Speed Camera Enforcement projects [18] of 2017 where thirty-five red light cameras were installed in strategic locations and multiple speed cameras where those infractions usually occurs (i.e. Speeding & Breaking of Traffic Lights) . These systems are totally automated and send the fixed penalty ticket to the registered owner of the vehicle via postage.
The predefined demerit points allotted for each traffic offences and traffic violations are said to be on par with other international countries for similar types of offences. The demerit points system would be ranging from two (2) to maximum fourteen (14) points, which would remain on your record at the Licensing Authority for a period of three (3) years, then it would be expunged. The individual can check their records online at the official page of the Licensing Authority https://apps.mowt.gov.tt/
When a driver meets the conditions for their driver's permit to be suspended they can file a Notice to Contest within 15 days of receiving the penalties. The driver would then have to appear before magistrate, the decision of the court would be final.
If the driver decides not to contest and accepts the disqualification, they would have to surrender their license to the nearest Licensing Authority. Failure to do so would result in a fine of five thousand dollars ($5000) and further disqualification of up to a year. If the driver decides to apply for a driver's permit while on suspension they would be subjected to a fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) dollars.
After the period of disqualification ends, the driver, must reapply to the Licensing Authority for a driver's permit. Attend a driver's rehabilitation programme approved by the Licensing Authority, then start the process aforementioned in the Obtaining a Driver's Permit section on this page.
On 13 January 2017, the Licensing Authority unveiled its new drivers permit with the addition of new security features hologram technology. The permits now feature a scannable barcode that can be used to view the holder's driving details and records. This aims to alleviate the problem of counterfeit driving permits that are prevalent in Trinidad and Tobago. [20]
The Authority also announced its proposal to integrate Permit scanners that Police officers can use to scan the permits and be able to view outstanding warrants or offences that the holder may have. This system will also be compatible with the points of merit system that was aforementioned. [21]
An L-plate is a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and/or back of a vehicle in many countries if its driver is a learner under instruction, or a motorcycle rider with provisional entitlement to ride restricted motorcycles.
A traffic ticket is a notice issued by a law enforcement official to a motorist or other road user, indicating that the user has violated traffic laws. Traffic tickets generally come in two forms, citing a moving violation, such as exceeding the speed limit, or a non-moving violation, such as a parking violation, with the ticket also being referred to as a parking citation, or parking ticket.
A commercial driver's license (CDL) is a driver's license required to operate large, heavy, or placarded hazardous material vehicles in commerce.
Graduated driver licensing systems (GDLS) are designed to provide new drivers of motor vehicles with driving experience and skills gradually over time in low-risk environments. There are typically three steps or stages through which new drivers pass. They begin by acquiring a learner's permit, progress to a restricted, probationary or provisional license, followed by receipt of a full driver's license. Graduated drivers' licensing generally restricts nighttime, expressway, and unsupervised driving during initial stages, but lifts these restrictions with time and further testing of the individual, eventually concluding with the individual attaining a full driver's license.
A driver's permit, learner's permit, learner's license or provisional license, is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive, but has not yet satisfied the prerequisite to obtain a driver's license. Having a learner's permit for a certain length of time is usually one of the requirements for applying for a full driver's license. To get a learner's permit, one must typically pass a written permit test, take a basic competency test in the vehicle, or both.
Many countries have adopted a penalty point or demerit point system under which a person’s driving license is cancelled or suspended based on the number of points accumulated by them over a period of time because of the traffic offences or infringements committed by them in that period. The demerit points schemes of each jurisdiction varies. These demerit schemes are usually in addition to fines or other penalties which may be imposed for a particular offence or infringement, or after a prescribed number of points have been accumulated.
Driver licences in Australia refer to the official permit required for a person to legally drive a motor vehicle in Australia. The issue of driver licences, alongside the regulation and enforcement of road use, are all managed by state and territory governments.
In the United States, driver's licenses are issued by each individual state, territory, and the District of Columbia rather than by the federal government due to federalism. Drivers are normally required to obtain a license from their state of residence and all states recognize each other's licenses for non-resident age requirements. There are also licenses for motorcycle use. Generally, a minimum age of 16 is required to obtain a drivers/M1 license. A state may also suspend an individual's driving privilege within its borders for traffic violations. Many states share a common system of license classes, with some exceptions, e.g. commercial license classes are standardized by federal regulation at 49 CFR 383. Many driving permits and ID cards display small digits next to each data field. This is required by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ design standard and has been adopted by many US states. According to the United States Department of Transportation, as of 2018, there are approximately 227 million licensed drivers in the United States.
In Canada, driver's licences are issued by the government of the province or territory in which the driver is residing. Thus, specific regulations relating to driver's licences vary province to province, though overall they are quite similar. All provinces have provisions allowing non-residents to use licences issued by other provinces and territories, out-of-country licences, and International Driving Permits. Many provinces also allow non-residents to use regular licences issued by other nations and countries. Canadian driver's licences are also valid in many other countries due to various international agreements and treaties.
In India, a driving licence is an official document that authorises its holder to operate various types of motor vehicles on highways and some other roads to which the public have access. In various Indian states, they are administered by the Regional Transport Authorities/Offices (RTA/RTO). A driving licence is required in India by any person driving a vehicle on any highway or other road defined in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
In Pakistan, the driving licence is the official document which authorizes its holder to operate various types of motor vehicle on roads to which the public has access. Driving licences can be obtained by applying to any traffic police office/licensing authority in applicant's district.
A driver license is required in Singapore before a person is allowed to drive a motor vehicle of any description on a road in the country. Like many other countries in the world, an individual must possess a valid driving licence before being permitted to drive on the road, and driving licence holders are subject to all traffic rules.
In the United Kingdom, a driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate motor vehicles on highways and other public roads. It is administered in England, Scotland and Wales by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). A driving licence is required in England, Scotland, and Wales for any person driving a vehicle on any highway or other "road", as defined in s.192 Road Traffic Act 1988, irrespective of the ownership of the land over which the road passes. Similar requirements apply in Northern Ireland under the Road Traffic Order 1981.
Vehicle registration plates in Trinidad and Tobago are categorised using prefixes based on the type of vehicle and feature up to four succeeding digits. Registration plates in Trinidad and Tobago are supposed to be either white figures on a black background or black figures on a white background. All motor vehicles that are operating in the roads of Trinidad and Tobago are required by law to have a registration plate affixed to the front and rear of the vehicle at all times except during very specific situations. This current system has been present for over 40 years.
In Brazil, a driver's licence is required in order to drive cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles. Current CNHs can be used as identity cards in all the national territory.
A driving licence is required in Malaysia before a person is allowed to drive a motor vehicle of any description on a road in Malaysia under the Road Transport Act 1987, section 26(1). Under section 26(1) of the Road Transport Act, an individual must possess a valid driving licence before being permitted to drive on the road, or can be prosecuted under section 26(2). Upon conviction, the miscreant is liable to fines or jail or both. Driving licence holders are subject to all traffic rules stated in the Road Transport Act 1987.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, widely known as BRTA, is the authority to issue driving licences in Bangladesh. BRTA, stationed in 32 districts among the 62 administrative circles, at the authority of Ministry of Communication and under the Motor honda Ordinance, 1983, regulates particular process and authorises any person intending to drive motor honda. It provides the facilities to hold thorough driving tests to determine if an applicant is able to abide by certain rules and get the licence to drive motor honda or not.
Driving licences in Hong Kong are issued by the Transport Department. A full driving licence is valid for 10 years and is compulsory in order to drive a motor vehicle. Most driving licences are issued after the applicant passed a driving test for the respective type of vehicles. They may be issued without a test if the applicant is a holder of an overseas driving licence issued on passing a driving test in an approved country.
A driver's license is a legal authorization, or the official document confirming such an authorization, for a specific individual to operate one or more types of motorized vehicles -- such as motorcycles, cars, trucks, or buses -- on a public road. Drivers licenses are often plastic and the size of a credit card,.
In Spain the driving licence is a governmental right given to those who request a licence for any of the categories they desire. It is required for every type of motorized vehicle. The minimum age to obtain a driving licence is: 16 years for a motorcycle, 18 years for a car, and 21 years for buses and cargo vehicles.