Road Traffic Act 1972

162 Power of constables to obtain names and addresses of drivers and others, and to require production of evidence of insurance or security and test certificates

(1) Any such person as follows, that is to say,—

(a) a person driving on a road a motor vehicle (other than an invalid carriage), or

(b) a person whom a constable has reasonable cause to believe to have been the driver of a motor vehicle (other than an invalid carriage) at a time when an accident occurred owing to its presence on a road, or

(c) a person whom a constable has reasonable cause to believe to have committed an offence in relation to the use on a road of a motor vehicle (other than an invalid carriage),

shall, on being so required by a constable, give his name and address and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle and produce for examination—

(i) the relevant certificate of insurance or certificate of security within the meaning of Part VI of this Act, or such other evidence that the vehicle is not or was not being driven in contravention of section 143 thereof as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

(ii) in relation to a vehicle to which section 44 of this Act applies, a test certificate issued in respect thereof as mentioned in subsection (1) of that section, and

(iii) in relation to a goods vehicle the use of which on a road without a plating certificate, goods vehicle test certificate or one or more certificates in force under section 47-of this Act is an offence under section 46(1) or (2) or 51(1) of this Act, any such certificate issued in respect of that vehicle or any trailer drawn by it,

and if he fails to do so he shall, subject to subsection (2) below, be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person shall not be convicted of an offence under subsection (1) above by reason only of failure to produce any certificate or other evidence to a constable if, within five days after the date on which the production of the certificate or other evidence was required, it is produced at such police station as may have been specified by him at the time when its production was required.

(3) A person who supervises the holder of a provisional licence granted under Part III of this Act while the holder is driving on a road a motor vehicle (other than an invalid carriage) or whom a constable has reasonable cause to believe was supervising the holder of such a licence while driving at a time when an accident occurred owing to the presence of the vehicle on a road or at a time when an offence is suspected of having been committed by the said holder in relation to the use of the vehicle on a road shall, on being so required by a constable, give his name and address and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle, and if he fails to do so he shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) In this section " owner ", in relation to a vehicle which is the subject of a hiring agreement, includes each party to the agreement.