Driving without a licence an offence

(1) Except as provided in this section, no person shall drive a motor vehicle on a road unless he is the holder of a Belize Driving Licence, and no person shall employ any person to drive 34 a motor vehicle on a road unless the person so employed is the holder of a Belize Driving Licence, and if any person acts in contravention of this provision, he commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars. (2) If the offender has been previously refused and has not been granted a Belize Driving Licence or is disqualified from holding or obtaining a Belize Driving Licence, he may be arrested forthwith without a warrant and he shall on summary conviction be liable to imprisonment for six months or to a fine of five hundred dollars. (3) For the purpose of learning to drive, a person not having a Belize Driving Licence may– (a) use a motor cycle upon such road and during such times as may be authorised in writing by a transport officer; or (b) drive any motor vehicle, not being a taxi or freight passenger vehicle carrying passengers or motor omnibus, upon such road and during such times as may be authorised in writing by a transport officer, if accompanied for the purpose of instruction by a person holding a valid Belize Driving Licence and sitting next to the driver, and in such case both the learner and person accompanying him shall be jointly and severally liable for any offence against this Act committed during the course of such instruction. (4) No driving licence shall be required in respect of a person driving a land tractor or vehicle exempted from the need for registration under section 9 (1) (d) and (e) or such vehicle or class of vehicles as may have been exempted under section 9 (1) (f), as the Minister may, by Order published in the Gazette, prescribe. Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic [CAP. 230 35