Canadians driving in Florida, head's up

[bevans6]

Just a head's up, Florida has passed a new law that means that any driver from outside the USA must have an International Drivers Permit as well as a valid provincial driver's license to drive in their fair state.  It seems that their politicians passed a new law without actually thinking about it, must have been in too much sun, or at the Tiki bar too long...  While the Florida State Patrol has said they won't enforce the law for Canadians at least, and possibly other nationalities, the fact remains that the law is on the books and I'd be worried about municipal law enforcement, and in particular insurance issues if you had a accident without a valid license for the locale.

Brian

[jjrbus]

iF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT (seldom does)  an international license/permit has no legal value and is just a translated version of the home countries license.   

I obtained my wife's international license from AAP  Automobile Association of the Philippines their version of AAA.

I believe US citizens can get international license from AAA.      JIm

[bobofthenorth]

That's absolutely right Jim.  I used to carry an international "license" whenever we drove into Mexico.  I figured if some crooked cop wanted my license I could just give that to him and carry on without it.  I got mine by showing my drivers license and paying CAA $25.  The problem is if the law says you have to have one and you are in an accident then an insurance company could weasel out of paying by saying you were driving illegally. 

[PCC]

Is an "international license" just another step toward giving up our sovereignty?  I have had one for years, because I have driven in many countries of the world.

But it seems we are giving a lot of our authority to organizations outside our control.

[bevans6]

The permit is not anything out of the ordinary.  It's an internationally recognized translation of your driver's license information into 10 languages.  It's isn't a license per se, it's just a translation guide.  Consider if your license was from Japan, in their script - it would be good to have an official english translation to prove that it wasn't a "buy five get one free" card from the Japanese version of Starbucks...

The Florida thing is just weird because it made them the only place in North America that didn't offer full reciprocity for driver's licenses.

Brian

[jbnewman]

At the moment, the law will not be enforced due to possible conflict with an international treaty. Based on the coverage it's getting, I suspect at a minimum it will be altered to exempt English-language licenses before it's ever enforced.

[crown]

 ok what about me my costarica drivers license its the only one i have .and there is no international
license hear to get? i have driven in many countries. what are the rental car places going to do stop
renting cars to anyone . thats not born in the usa . sounds stupid to me . years ago many countries
stop using them as they where useless you could buy them anywhere even online

[Len Silva]

Florida and Florida politics continue to be the laughingstock of the nation.  I wouldn't worry about it.  Just come on down, spend lots of money with us, then go home.  All will be well.

[Kwajdiver]

Attention Canadian Drivers, (as well as Ohio, New York and Michigan) please move to the right hand lane now.





Bill

[bubbaqgal]

They are backing down now.  They will not enforce the law and, if they decide to, as long as your license is written in English you are okay.

[lostagain]

Aren't driver's licenses from Quebec in French? And most Canadian tourists in Florida from Quebec? I can imagine how most cops would have a hard time reading them...

JC

[bobofthenorth]

I expect that's what caused the problem in the first place JC.  I think its very neighbourly of us to share our Quebec problem with Florida.  No matter how many press releases are issued to calm the waters I'd still consider myself without insurance unless I held an international driving permit. The law is the law, whether or not it gets enforced, until this law gets rescinded.

[Lin]

It makes sense to require that a driver's license or possibly even other ID be written in English.  I do not know what the rules are now, but many years ago I was required to have an international license to drive in India.