Cap. 65 Art. 15Driving motor vehicle without licence, etc.

(1) Any person who -

(a) drives a motor vehicle or other vehicle without a

licence or an unlicensed motor vehicle or other

vehicle, or in a reckless, negligent or dangerous

manner, provided that no licence shall be required in relation to a bicycle; or

(b) causes, suffers or permits his car to be driven by a

person not duly licensed to drive a motor vehicle or

other vehicle,or when the motor vehicle or other vehicle is not licensed

shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine (multa) not exceeding one thousand and two hundred euro (€1,200) or to imprisonment not exceeding one year.

(1A) Any person who makes use of an identification number other than that allotted by the police or by the Authority in relation to a particular motor vehicle shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine (multa) not exceeding one thousand and two hundred euro (€1,200) or to imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) Where the offence consists in driving a motor vehicle or other vehicle in a grossly negligent or dangerous manner, the court shall, in addition to the punishment under sub-article (1), disqualify the offender for holding or obtaining a driving licence, in the case of a first conviction for a period of not less than three months, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction for a period of not less than one year.

(3) In the case of any other offence under sub-article (1), the court shall, in addition to the punishment under that sub-article, disqualify the offender for holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than eight days.

(4) The Minister may by regulations under this article make provision whereby any disqualification to hold a licence or any revocation or suspension of a licence to drive a vehicle in a country outside Malta as may be designated in such regulations, shall have effect as if such disqualification, revocation or suspension was ordered by a Court or other authority in Malta to the extent and under such conditions as may be specified in such regulations, and no licence issued under this Act shall be valid in any period where in accordance with such regulations such person is deemed disqualified from holding any licence or has his licence suspended or revoked.

(5) Any person who makes or produces or permits to be made or produced any material involving or indicating any persons to be in breach of the provisions listed in sub-article (1) or produces, distributes, disseminates, imports, exports, offers, sells, supplies, transmits, makes available, procures for oneself or for another, or indicates that such persons are in breach of the provisions listed in sub-article (1) shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine (multa) of one thousand two hundred euro (€1,200), or to imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year:

Provided that for the purposes of this article, the offence shall also be deemed to have been committed where, irrespective of the declared intention of the person, the circumstances of the publication are such that they are reasonably likely to:

(a) normalise or diminish the seriousness of dangerous or excessive driving; or

(b) encourage the imitation of such behaviour by other persons: Provided further that if the person mentioned in this sub-article provides sufficient evidence before the courts for the identification of the person who is in breach of the provisions in sub-article (1), such person shall, upon conviction, be liable to a fine (multa) not exceeding two hundred fifty euro (€250).