International Driving Permit Required for Florida - UPDATED

[Johnie]

If y'all would like a personal driver whilst in Florida, I would be glad to oblige justly me tag along lol

[robertcraig]

Thanks WENDY for the info just another good reason to be a member of SECRETS

[welshjim22]

Well i hope Alamo at Orlando are honouring rental agreements without IDP's in the short term as rental companies haven't given advanced warning. USrentacar only told late this evening.

Not quite sure how far the police could take the fact you don't have a document translating your English driving licence into (pause for effect) English. One of those things you could imagine a British judge making an example of the copper. But who knows in the US. The whole thing is farcical.

[Keith]

Well i hope Alamo at Orlando are honouring rental agreements without IDP's in the short term as rental companies haven't given advanced warning. USrentacar only told late this evening.

Not quite sure how far the police could take the fact you don't have a document translating your English driving licence into (pause for effect) English. One of those things you could imagine a British judge making an example of the copper. But who knows in the US. The whole thing is farcical.

It's crazy but unfortunately it's not gonna help when you're at the side of the interstate arguing with a trooper who just wants to see the IDP and knows it's the law. It's pretty clear that the offence would be driving without a full and proper license and that in itself is no small thing

In terms of the car rental companies, until they're TOLD they HAVE TO see an IDP before renting the vehicle, they'll simply let people drive without one but that wont be a defence if we get pulled over.

Completely crazy but for the cost of a document from the post office, I know what I'm gonna do.

[Mags]

Lots happening now and many car rental firms as well as holiday firms are currently updating their information. Virgin Holidays have updated (this morning) their incorrect advice given yesterday. Thomson say they are still revising it. ABTA have now released an advisory. Simon Calder's article has appeared in the Independent this morning and an interview with Lisa's husband is contained in the article if anyone would like to look at it. She has worked so hard to bring this to the fore and went armed with her IDP. It looks like car rental firms arent asking for the IDPs but there is no doubt now, it is the law.

Mags

[Wendy]

Thank you so very much Mags for the information and updates, it's really appreciated.

[Wendy]

You can read the article in the Independant here

[welshjim22]

Had this reply today from the Florida Department of Highway Safety:

Questions have recently surfaced aboutrequirements for international visitors to Florida. Effective January 1, 2013,section 322.04, Florida Statutes was amended to require foreign visitors whodrive in Florida to obtain an International Driving Permit in addition to theirvalid home country driver license. “The intent of the change in Florida lawregarding the International Driving Permit was to aid law enforcement inFlorida when interacting with drivers holding a license in a foreign language.The Department of Highway Safety will seek to clarify the law in the upcomingLegislative session, which begins next month, to make it clear that a licensealready written in English would be acceptable. Until the law is clarified,drivers should obtain an IDP,” said Kirsten Olsen-Doolan, Florida Department ofHighway Safety and Motor Vehicles spokesperson.

With luck common sense will prevail and a translation of English to English will no longer be required. Or maybe it is a translation of English to American?

[Wendy]

It would seem that this has hit the news in Canada as well and the Canadians are not happy at all as there will no doubt be Canadians or Snow Birds as they are referred to, in Florida at the moment.

The Florida Highways Site has released a Statement that says that prosections are suspended, the statement said:

Statement from DHSMV on 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.

More information will be available as soon as we know more. In the meantime, if anyone is visiting in the next few months, it might still be prudent to get an IDP just for peace of mind until a decision has been made.

[Keith]

jeez! what a mess