Driver's Licenses Withdrawal

Today I was at Smart Village for a company meeting then headed for breakfast with friends in the area. Leaving smart village with my car, found a policeman telling me that I’m going against the street direction and he wants to withdraw my driving license.

I parked on the right and waiting to negotiate with two arguments:
- There isn’t a sign saying this is not an allowed entry
- It isn’t that big of an area against the street direction (Less than ½ meter)

Luckily I had my friend Bassem with me. He went out of the car and asked the policeman about the police officer responsible for the area. The policeman got so angry and started shouting and saying “Fine fine I’m not asking you for money (as in bribe) but for her driving license because she broke traffic rules.” And then he just asked us (almost yelling) to get back into the car and that he will revenge by writing me a ticket worth 500 EGP ($ 80).

I got confused (like most of you I guess) whether that’s better or worse. Usually when a driver’s license is withdrawn the driver has to wait for long time before it’s back.. Some people are lucky enough to get it and others never get that luck so I guess a 500 EGP isn’t that bad in comparison.

Bassem enlightened me with a new piece of information about the Egyptian traffic rules. A policeman has no authority to look into any driver’s license only a police officer has this right. Which means that anytime one is stopped by a policemen who wants to see the driver’s license are fooooling US the drivers out there.

ALL YOU DRIVERS OUT THERE hold on to your driving license. Policemen can only give you a ticket but are not even allowed to look at your driving license.