Controversy over confiscation of driver's licenses in Morocco
2006-05-14
The legality of confiscating driver's licenses continues to be a contentious issue in Morocco.
By Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 14/05/06
 [File] A traffic cop in Casablanca. |
Drivers violating the Morocco Highway Code often have their driver's licenses confiscated by policemen. Although authorities say the practice is part of the national plan to curb road accidents, Moroccan law limits the confiscation of licences to fewer types of cases than practiced by police.
During the first quarter of this year, 3,570 driver's licenses were confiscated. The penalty is automatically imposed on offenders who refuse to immediately pay a fine of 100-400 dirhams. Authorities feel confiscation acts as a deterrent and is justified in that it guarantees a fine will be paid to the government. The offender is obliged to go to the police station to pay it if he wishes to recover his license.
However, Article 12 of the 19 January 1953 law on the preservation of public highways, traffic and haulage -- as well as article 434 of the Penal Code -- stipulate that police officers responsible for reporting road traffic accidents do not have the right to confiscate a driver's license unless the driver is intoxicated, tries to avoid criminal or civil responsibility by leaving the scene or attempts to change the place of the accident. .
Minister of Justice Mohamed Bouzoubaa has acknowledged the scale of the problem. In a response to members of parliament, he admitted to excesses in confiscation of driver's licenses due to a lack of respect for the law. In his view, the problem is "diverting" the national strategy for tackling road traffic accidents from its intended goals.
Bouzoubaa announced that his ministry sent a letter to the public prosecutors' departments at the Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance to stop the arbitrary confiscation of driver's licenses by traffic police, and also to ensure the strict respect and implementation of legal measures regarding confiscation as stipulated by Articles 12 and 12a of the 1953 law.
He added the national strategy has contributed to a 5 per cent reduction in the number of road accidents, thereby boosting the economy by helping to lessen the amount of money spent by the government on the terrible problem.
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maghriby Posted 2006-09-29
Confiscating a driver's license is a routine action by traffic police officers because as they say they are worth 12 witnesses, irrefutable evidence carriers!! If you ever dare to defend your right, they lecture you and miserably charged you with endandering the authority's duties which are no more than usurpartion of property and intentional bribing, the prevaling law of traffic!!!
أبو عماد Posted 2006-12-15
Who shall protect the citizens if the ones who were assigned to protect them are the first breachers of that pact??? I think in a country that aspire to uphold the law must abstain from such behavior. A police officer may wrong the citizen if he is wearing modest cloths or drives a cheap car suggesting he is powerless! What happens if a citizen refuses to surrender his license to a police officer and upholds his right not to if he believes that he did not commit the offense?
ابو أمين Posted 2007-02-04
Who would protect Moroccan citizens especially the drivers against the abuse of police and royal security forces if they have been wronged by these authority figures. They claim they are sworn officers and are right in their claims if the citizen has no witnesses!
ابو نزار Posted 2007-02-10
Every automobile and motorbike driver is fed up with the provocations of the police and royal police. Even cart pushers are sick of it because instead of showing up in the streets to organize traffic, they hide behind the stop signs to trick the drivers and threaten to impose heavy fines and confiscate licenses so that the driver falls under the humiliation of looking into his pocket for a bribe trying to convince them with a break!
kamal Posted 2007-02-13
What if you claim that your license is still stamped?
youssef Posted 2007-02-28
Enough!
youssef Posted 2007-03-30
If you dont have morals, do what you wish to do. This is a matter of ethics and consciousness not a punishment or attack.
حسن Posted 2007-03-31
Thank you for this interesting site.
abderahmane Posted 2007-04-03
I'm a young man- I don't have a driving license and want to have one with my parents' approval. I have a national ID card, is that possible for me? thanks.
rachid Posted 2007-04-16
I'm Moroccan living in the Netherlands I've a Dutch driving licence can I drive with that licence in Morocco over three months?
رشيد Posted 2007-04-22
Why should we say that the security police and traffic police are always provoking the drivers and the users of the road by threatening them with the perpetrated violation? In my opinion, this is a justification from the group of citizens who are trying to breach the law without being arrested or without having the necessary police citations made against them. Thus, we find that group talks too much about policemen in a selfish way. If it wasn't for the hard work and dedication of policemen and traffic policemen who work day and night, we would find all Moroccan national roads (most of which are already not suitable) full of the blood of innocent civilians. Therefore, I hope that the citizens who sleep in peace and happiness will recognize the rights of the policemen and traffic policemen. As to the issue of bribes, it has to be countered from above, and here I mean, the millionaires.
رضوان Posted 2007-05-01
I want to learn driving and questions
عبد الله Posted 2007-05-03
In the name of God and peace and prayer upon the Prophet and his companions to the day of judgement. Many people are wondering about inhuman and illegal practices of security officers and gendarmes, as if the wombs of these services are sterile and can't give birth to impartial, honest and pious men, yes some of them dont even believe that one day they will stand between the hands of God who does not forget and will publish his book he will find it published before witnesses, without omitting the slightest thing, then the opressor will bite his hand. But some thanks to God are people who aren't diverted by such inhuman practices or collecting dirty money from doing their national mission satisfied with what God has allotted them and you see the benediction in their sons, spouses and livelihood; even their faces are sparkling with dignity and veneration. Congratulations to the eye who stays up for the sake of God. Congratulations to those who have not caused any suffering for the people . And God has said anyone who helps in killing a believer even with half a word, he will come on the day of judgement and on his forehead is written: desperate of the mercy of God, we seek refuge from God of that.
jamila Posted 2007-06-17
Salam, how are you, we thank you so much for this valuable information you offer us and for your great efforts you make, and thank you for offering us an opportunity to write about our opinions.
samy Posted 2007-06-23
I'm a young man, I don't have a driving license, I want to get one with the approval of my parents but I don't have an identity card, is that possible. Thanks.
bilalist Posted 2007-07-04
Thank you, everyone.
hajar Posted 2007-08-01
Thank you for this nice site, I hope that you'll add some information about driving techniques and the explanation of road signs, thanks. Bye bye bye...
احمد Posted 2007-08-09
In order to get a driving licence, you should have a national identity card, as the driver is responsible for his mistakes and not his parents.
mourad Posted 2007-09-14
Law and regulations of Moroccan public life = bribery + discrimination + shows+ (favouritism) + violence + nepotism + power this is the Moroccan law in reality, but what is written on papers is the grace of law, Moroccans should live in paper to rest in peace.
ملاك وجدة Posted 2007-09-22
Salam alaikoum, blessed Ramadan. The driving licence courses are just a question of skill. I took it easily without bribery. They really wanted to entrap me, they didn't say inchallah, hahaha, there were many people with me who thought that they understood well, but they all failed in the first time. In the second time they offered bribes. Thanks to God, I took it from the first time without bribery. And they thought that I understood nothing. One should just be good and God will help him in everything. Now I have it for six years. Salam alaikoum.
فيصل Posted 2007-09-22
Way to go, such an organized system, very nice, thank you, you spared no efforts. This is my email if you want to get in touch with me
حميد Posted 2007-09-23
What are the driving licences for taxis.
mounir elmoumen Posted 2007-10-18
Thank you so much for this interesting site for Moroccans...
lhbib Posted 2007-10-26
Ha ha ha ha ha the gendarmes are thieves
كميليا Posted 2007-11-14
May God guide them to have mercy on us :d :d
badr Posted 2007-12-04
Driving in Morocco is deteriorating ; therefore, in order to face its challenges, strict laws should be applied, corruption should be fought besides punishing everyone who receives bribery because when the citizen sees that when he violates traffic rules, he will offer bribery to officials and they will forgive him for what he did. So, he commits the violation and his conscience is at rest.
امين Posted 2007-12-11
Salam.
simo Posted 2007-12-25
Thank you for this nice site. I ask the officials responsible for driving licenses to fight terrorism so obtaining driving licenses becomes a little difficult and not allow anyone to drive, causing accidents. May God protect us.
مروان بوزنيقة Posted 2007-12-27
Good job.
ali dahmani Posted 2007-12-30
My opinion is that every violater must be punished.
wafaa gouriani Posted 2008-01-06
I got my driver’s license a year ago in Morocco. I live in Italy now. I want to switch it over, but they said I need the stamp for that year. Can I send for it in Morocco and have someone from my family take care of it?
amina Posted 2008-01-31
In the name of God. I thank everyone who contributed to this programme.
radia Posted 2008-02-03
This is not reasonable, they have exaggerated too much.
lokman douakkali Posted 2008-02-08
I have the driving licence of my grandfather- can I drive with it?
lkezim Posted 2008-02-24
I want to get a license
lkezim Posted 2008-02-24
I'm a young man who doesn't have a drving licence and want to have one with the approval of my parents, I have a national identity card, can I do that? Thank you.
mohamed Posted 2008-02-26
They have exaggerated too much, may God guide them for us.
ةشهرزان Posted 2008-03-05
I want questions and replies with sound and image to learn traffic and driving rules in Morocco. Thank you.
بن لحسن مبارك Posted 2008-03-07
I want to obtain a driving license via internet.
رشيد Posted 2008-03-08
I have only one eye, do I have the right to a driver's license?
Anonymous Posted 2008-03-30
Bravo.
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