International Driving Permit for Florida

[alisonbestford]

Am I correct in thinking that this law is only for driving in Florida at the moment?
We fly to Ca in May
For the sake of £5.50 we will probably get one anyway but just wondering

 

[andrewilley]

Hi Andre
Is there no way you can get out of work and get one? not heard any reports of problems collecting cars yet but the rental firms are changing their terms on this so it will be required.

I've had to. On way to Birmingham post office in half an hour, hope I have everything I'll need as I'll have to fill the form in there (both parts of driving license, passport, photo of me, money - that seems to be it from the AA form I downloaded to check).

Andre

 

[tigger137]

I've had to. On way to Birmingham post office in half an hour, hope I have everything I'll need as I'll have to fill the form in there (both parts of driving license, passport, photo of me, money - that seems to be it from the AA form I downloaded to check).

Andre

You've got everything you need.
DH got his done at Birmingham Pinfold Street on Tuesday afternoon.
He was given the form and told to complete it, took it back, then had to wait to be called to a desk where the lady filled the IDP in and issued it to him. Took him about 15 minutes all told.

Plus the 40-mile round trip to get there of course!

 

[tigger137]

The IDP situation has now hit the Canadian press:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/14/florida_now_requires_canadian_drivers_carry_an_international_driving_permit.html

 

[wayneg]

Am I correct in thinking that this law is only for driving in Florida at the moment?
We fly to Ca in May
For the sake of £5.50 we will probably get one anyway but just wondering

Its Florida only as far as I know.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thank you Wayne

 

[andrewilley]

You've got everything you need.
DH got his done at Birmingham Pinfold Street on Tuesday afternoon.
He was given the form and told to complete it, took it back, then had to wait to be called to a desk where the lady filled the IDP in and issued it to him. Took him about 15 minutes all told.

Plus the 40-mile round trip to get there of course!

Yeah, just done it and back at work now. Went to Birmingham Pinfold Street (had to park in Mailbox car park - £2.50 for an hour!!!).

I got the form from the lady staffing the ticket-issuing machine (what's that about?!) and filled it in with pretty basic info to be honest - name, address, DOB, driver number and date travelling. She then gave me a ticket and when I got to the actual counter it took about ten minutes for the cashier to complete the paperwork. It's a very slap-dash little booklet, they just stick your photo onto the back page with a bit of paper glue. Certainly it can have no legal standing like a properly government-issued license. But hey, at least it's done now.

Apparently they last for a full 12 months from the date of travel that you put in the form, although you can buy it up to 3 months before you travel.

Its Florida only as far as I know.

Yes, that's my understanding too. I think someone in the Florida State Legislature goofed and misunderstood the basic purpose of the document, but it wasn't spotted until they had passed it - or rather about a month after it became law, as they forget to actually tell anyone who might need to know.

Andre

 

[CAROLINE4]

What is the point of this? if you have your driving licence and passport and come from an English speaking county what is the point of yet more documents? it doesnt issue you with a test on driving abroad ect, i just don't get it!

 

[Red-Snapper]

What is the point of this? if you have your driving licence and passport and come from an English speaking county what is the point of yet more documents? it doesnt issue you with a test on driving abroad ect, i just don't get it!

Nor does anyone else - but it seems we are stuck with it.

 

[wayneg]

What is the point of this? if you have your driving licence and passport and come from an English speaking county what is the point of yet more documents? it doesnt issue you with a test on driving abroad ect, i just don't get it!

It is a complete waste of money and time for everyone with a DL written in English but the lawmakers in Florida passed the law so we are stuck with it for now, I heard July 1st is the earliest it can be changed. Its just as frustrating for the Candians, it affects them in the same way.
Common sense would be for the lawmakers to admit they made a mistake and announce fthey will turn a blind eye to the rule until they can re-word it.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

It is a complete waste of money and time for everyone with a DL written in English but the lawmakers in Florida passed the law so we are stuck with it for now, I heard July 1st is the earliest it can be changed. Its just as frustrating for the Candians, it affects them in the same way.
Common sense would be for the lawmakers to admit they made a mistake and announce fthey will turn a blind eye to the rule until they can re-word it.

"Common sense" being the operative word ..... and I think that the Florida state law makers have shown that they don't necessarily possess very much of it

 

[wayneg]

"Common sense" being the operative word ..... and I think that the Florida state law makers have shown that they don't necessarily possess very much of it

Looks like they are having to rethink their law. Cound have violated the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949)

This is now on their website
http://flhsmv.gov/IDP.htm

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Looks like they are having to rethink their law. Cound have violated the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949)

This is now on their website
http://flhsmv.gov/IDP.htm

OMG it just gets better and better !

 

[going/again]

chmurf, I am afraid I disagree with you as I see the Florida statute as being the law that applies to those people required to hold a driver's licence in Flroida. I honestly don't believe that it applies to International visitors to the US who have a rental car. If it did, the rental companies would be aware (and they aren't) and there would be far more checks in place to make sure you had a valid IDP before you were allowed to drive a car.

In fact, the previous chapter to that quoted states when a non-resident is required to obtain a FL driving licence. As we would not be required to obtain a FL licence (as visitors to the state) then the exemptions actually would not apply either since we are not required to be licenced in the state (that made sense in my head but doesn't read so well when reading it back).

In other words, we don't need to meet the requirements to be exempt from obtaining a licence since we are not required to obtain a FL licence in the first place. Hope that makes more sense

Sorry Wilma you got it wrong read the thread on the US forums. you have to have one the, Florida senate have admitted they got it wrong and are looking at making an exception for Canada, what they are saying is you have to have An IDP translated into English even if yours is allready in English, got to go down as one of the dumbest laws ever.

 

[wilma-bride]

Looks like they are having to rethink their law. Cound have violated the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949)

This is now on their website
http://flhsmv.gov/IDP.htm

Beat me to it Wayne, I was just coming to post that

 

[wilma-bride]

Sorry Wilma you got it wrong read the thread on the US forums. you have to have one the, Florida senate have admitted they got it wrong and are looking at making an exception for Canada, what they are saying is you have to have An IDP translated into English even if yours is allready in English, got to go down as one of the dumbest laws ever.

Firstly, you are quoting one of my first posts in response to the thread. I did later admit that I got it wrong - so you didn't have to point that out for me, thanks

However, if you read the update on the FDHSMV website (as posted by Wayne above) you will find that the new statute violates the Geneva convention and therefore foregin visitors to Florida will not need an IDP. I will therefore NOT be getting an IDP

 

[going/again]

I think, is that they (Florida Senate) underestimated the uproar it would cause in the UK./QUOTE]

Its not going down well in Canada either.

 

[going/again]

Firstly, you are quoting one of my first posts in response to the thread. I did later admit that I got it wrong - so you didn't have to point that out for me, thanks

Wow sorry, I replied to that post as I read it, I didnt know you had to read every page then go back so thanks for your reply.

 

[chmurf]

OMG it just gets better and better !

It's even more obscure now.

In the DMV statement (link posted by Wayne) it is only clearly stated the position of the FHP.

FHP is not the only law enforcement agency regulating traffic.

What about local police, what about sheriffs, what about all of the other Law Enforcement Agencies.

It's an even bigger mess now, because it creates a false sense of safety and a false impression that it's now ok to drive without the IDP which is not, because the law is still there and only the FHP has issued the statement according to which they won't uphold the law. The others LEA didn't, and they're still at liberty to put you under arrest or give you a citation or a fine

 

[wilma-bride]

It's even more obscure now.

In the DMV statement (link posted by Wayne) it is only clearly stated the position of the FHP.

FHP is not the only law endorcement agency regulating traffic.

What about local police, what about sheriffs, what about all of the other Law Enforcement Agencies.

It's an even bigger mess now, because it creates a false sense of safety and a false impression that it's now ok to drive without the IDP which is not, because the law is still there and only the FHP has issued the statement according to which they won't uphold the law. The others LEA didn't, and they're still at liberty to put you under arrest or give you a citation or a fine

I think I'm gonna take my chances