[Barefoot]

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS

The following information was prepared by the Canadian Loonies and Toonies Club leader, Dave Horsman, on 2/14/2013

"We have received over 100 emails this morning regarding the CTV report yesterday that requires all Non Americans to have a valid International Driver's License. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

We called all three of the sheriff's departments [and had opinions from lieutenants or deputies] that cover The Villages and not one of them had heard anything about this. All three of them explained that they would have gotten notification from the state capital if this was a major change in police policy. The most knowledgeable person we spoke was a Deputy in Lake County who told us that as long as we have an English language document we would NOT have a problem. The problem has arisen primarily because of Spanish language licenses and he did allude to the fact that some Canadian licenses issued in French could be a problem."

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Statement from Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
International Driving Permits

During the 2012 legislative session, the Florida Legislature amended section 322.04, Florida Statutes, to require visitors from outside the United States to have an International Driving Permit in order to drive lawfully in Florida. This change took effect Jan. 1, 2013.

It has come to the Department’s attention that this requirement may violate the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949), an international treaty to which the United States is a signatory. Treaties to which the United States is a party preempt state laws in conflict with them.

Therefore, the Florida Highway Patrol will defer enforcement of violations of the amended statutory section until a final determination of the alignment of the amendment with the treaty can be made. Non-resident visitors to Florida who wish to drive while here will be required to have in their immediate possession a valid driver license issued in his or her name from another state or territory of the U.S. or from their country of residence. However, the FHP will not take enforcement action based solely on the lack of an International Driving Permit.

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS

The following information was prepared by the Canadian Loonies and Toonies Club leader, Dave Horsman, on 2/14/2013

"We have received over 100 emails this morning regarding the CTV report yesterday that requires all Non Americans to have a valid International Driver's License. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

We called all three of the sheriff's departments [and had opinions from lieutenants or deputies] that cover The Villages and not one of them had heard anything about this. All three of them explained that they would have gotten notification from the state capital if this was a major change in police policy. The most knowledgeable person we spoke was a Deputy in Lake County who told us that as long as we have an English language document we would NOT have a problem. The problem has arisen primarily because of Spanish language licenses and he did allude to the fact that some Canadian licenses issued in French could be a problem."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Statement from Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
International Driving Permits

During the 2012 legislative session, the Florida Legislature amended section 322.04, Florida Statutes, to require visitors from outside the United States to have an International Driving Permit in order to drive lawfully in Florida. This change took effect Jan. 1, 2013.

It has come to the Department’s attention that this requirement may violate the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949), an international treaty to which the United States is a signatory. Treaties to which the United States is a party preempt state laws in conflict with them.

Therefore, the Florida Highway Patrol will defer enforcement of violations of the amended statutory section until a final determination of the alignment of the amendment with the treaty can be made. Non-resident visitors to Florida who wish to drive while here will be required to have in their immediate possession a valid driver license issued in his or her name from another state or territory of the U.S. or from their country of residence. However, the FHP will not take enforcement action based solely on the lack of an International Driving Permit.

When I was a Supervising Motor Vehicle Representative for the State of New York I received many inquiries about International Driver Licenses. One of the main things to know about IDL's are that they are actually not a drivers license. They are basically a translation into several different languages. Also they are not valid by themselves and must be carried along with your state or province issued drivers license. IDL's are issued by the American & Canadian Automobile Associations. You can learn more about them at these web sites:

Canada: CAA - IDP (includes statement of FL enforcement deferral)
United States: AAA - IDP

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by skyguy79

When I was a Supervising Motor Vehicle Representative for the State of New York I received many inquiries about International Driver Licenses. One of the main things to know about IDL's are that they are actually not a drivers license. They are basically a translation into several different languages. Also they are not valid by themselves and must be carried along with your state or province issued drivers license. IDL's are issued by the American & Canadian Automobile Associations. You can learn more about them at these web sites:

Canada: CAA - IDP (includes statement of FL enforcement deferral)
United States: AAA - IDP

Good info, Skyguy. I didn't realize they are actually not a drivers license! Thanks for the links.

[bimmertl]

Florida Driver's License Law May Violate Geneva Convention, Definitely Angers Canada

[ewstanley]

I have passed this information on to my brother.
Thanks Barefoot!

[Topper1]

Originally Posted by ewstanley

I have passed this information on to my brother.
Thanks Barefoot!

The Florida Gov't has backed away from this idea and will not require IDL's. This change was aired today on TV and Radio Stations in Montreal.

[Barefoot]

Good expanation on front page of today's Daily Sun ... "State won't enforce foreign-driver permits, citing Geneva treaty".

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Good expanation on front page of today's Daily Sun ... "State won't enforce foreign-driver permits, citing Geneva treaty".

Before I read a couple of the posts, I was going to say that the way I remembered the Geneva Treaty, it would be a violation for FL to require the IDL... except for one thing. IIRC, Quebec issues drivers licenses in both English and French, and if the Canadian driver presents a license strictly in French to a FL or another states' officer, they can then ask for the IDL just as much as they can for any other country under the treaty, where they can't understand the contents of the license. However, I wouldn't think that would happen very often if enough of the contents could be sufficiently figured out!