How to withdraw your driving licence
How to withdraw your driving licence
"I had my licence withdrawn for a month. On my way to collect it, I was stopped by the police, who gave me a 15-month driving ban because I was driving while my licence was withdrawn, which is not true because the time limit had expired! Shouldn't I simply have been fined for driving without my licence?
Patrick, Geneva
In Geneva, the competent authority to impose a licence withdrawal is the Service des automobiles et de la navigation (SAN). The SAN determines the duration of the licence withdrawal on the basis of the seriousness of the offence, the driver's past record and any professional requirements. In its decision, it sets a time limit of six months for surrendering the licence. All withdrawal periods begin on the 15th of each month and run until the 14th of the following month.
At the end of the withdrawal period, the licence is returned by post; in principle, it is sent in sufficient time for the driver to be able to dispose of it on the day it is taken back. For older versions of the "blue" licence, an exchange form is sent with the withdrawal decision, which must be returned to the SAN with the requested attachments at least 10 days before the withdrawal expires. The right to drive resumes the day after the expiry date of the measure determined according to the dates shown in the withdrawal decision. So if, for example, you handed in your licence on 15 October, you will be entitled to drive again from 15 November, even if you have not yet received your licence back because of a problem with the post.
As a result, from the 15th of the month in which the withdrawal ends, you can drive even if you do not have your licence. However, under Annex 1 of the Ordinance on public fines, you are liable to a fine of CHF 20 for driving without your licence. Therefore, if the dates are respected, the second measure imposed on you is too heavy and you can contest it in writing to the SAN within 20 days.
