8Requirement to hold driver licence

### 8 Requirement to hold driver licence > > (1)  A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a public street unless the person – > > > > > > (a) holds a driver licence under this Act authorising the person to drive a motor vehicle of the relevant class; or > > > > > > > (b) is exempt, under [subsection (2)](#GS8@Gs2@EN) , from the requirement to hold a driver licence under this Act authorising the person to drive a motor vehicle of the relevant class; or > > > > > > > (c) is exempted by the regulations from the requirement to hold a driver licence authorising the person to drive a motor vehicle of the relevant class. > > > > Penalty:  In the case of – > > > > > > (a) a first offence – a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units; and > > > > > > > (b) a second or subsequent offence – a fine not exceeding 40 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months. > > > (2)  Subject to the regulations, a person is exempt from the requirement to hold a driver licence under this Act authorising the person to drive a motor vehicle of a particular class – > > > > > > (a) if the person holds an Australian driver licence issued under a corresponding law authorising the person to drive motor vehicles of the relevant class; and > > > > > > > (b) if the person is an international visitor who holds a foreign driver licence authorising the visitor to drive motor vehicles of the relevant class in the foreign country in which the licence was issued and either – > > > > > > > > > > (i) the foreign driver licence is in English or accompanied by an English translation made by the authority that issued the licence or a person accredited to translate from the relevant language into English; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) the person also holds an international driving permit. > > > (3)  A person must not employ, cause or permit another to drive a motor vehicle on a public street contrary to this section. > > > > Penalty:  In the case of – > > > > > > (a) a first offence – a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units; and > > > > > > > (b) a second or subsequent offence – > > > > > > > > > > (i) for a body corporate – a fine not exceeding 200 penalty units; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) for an individual – a fine not exceeding 40 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months. > > > (4)  It is a defence to a charge of an offence against [subsection (3)](#GS8@Gs3@EN) to prove that the defendant did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have known, that the driver was driving contrary to this section.