International Driving Permit
Canadians on both sides of the border expressed
surprise and indignation Thursday upon learning new
rules require them to have an International Driving
Permit to motor around the Sunshine State.
But as word of the change began to circulate,
officials in the state that millions of Canadians
visit every year issued a release saying enforcement
was being deferred because the change may run afoul
of an international treaty.
Under the rules introduced Jan. 1, all visitors with
foreign licences must have an international permit
issued by their country of residence in addition to a
valid licence from home.
The quiet implementation of the regulations — which
apply to any vehicle, including rentals — resulted in
many Canadians being caught off guard.
“I had no idea, we’ve been coming down here for years
and never had a problem,” said David Whitford, a
Norwich, Ont., resident currently in Cape San Blas,
Fla., who realized he’d technically been driving
around illegally for the past few weeks.
“I can’t see what the problem is … for whatever
reason they’ve decided that we’re being made to feel
a little unwelcome here.”
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles has said the law was passed so police are
not faced with foreign licence documents in languages
they can’t understand.
An IDP translates existing driver licence information
into 10 languages and is valid for one year. It is
not a substitute for a valid driver’s licence but
rather, accompanies one.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, however,
the department said it learned its new requirement
might violate the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic,
an international treaty to which the U.S. is a
signatory.
“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,” the department said.
“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.”
The Canadian Automobile Association — which issues
international driving permits — called on Florida to
amend the law to exempt Canadians.
“No North American jurisdiction has ever asked for an
IDP before from another North American jurisdiction.
This is a first,” CAA spokesman Ian Jack told The
Canadian Press.
“They’ve subsequently told us that they’ve recognized
that it was a mistake to include Canada and that they
will be moving to exempt Canada, but on the other
hand, because it’s legislation and their legislature
doesn’t sit till mid-March, it’s going to take some
time for that to happen.”
While it has not had reports of Canadians being
censured for driving without an IDP in the state to
date, the CAA was still suggesting Canuck drivers
obtain an international permit until the law is
clarified.
Florida’s official state tourism marketing
corporation has identified Canada as its top
international market. Visit Florida said 3.1 million
Canadians travelled to the state in 2010.
As word of the change spread on Thursday, many
expressed astonishment at the lack of publicity
around the new rules. Even the CAA said it only
learned of the change when an American Automobile
Association worker in Florida called to discuss the
new rules two days ago.
“When I first heard I thought maybe it was a joke and
then obviously it’s not…it’s serious,” said Christine
Ellison, a Georgetown, Ont., resident who often
spends her winters in Florida.
“The driving down here is no different than driving
in Canada, our licenses are in English, surely they
can read them. I don’t understand why it would even
be necessary.”
The IDP costs $25 and can be obtained through CAA
offices. Canadians currently in Florida can apply for
one through the mail.
The association has been issuing the permits, which
are recognized in some 140 countries, since the
1920s.
surprise and indignation Thursday upon learning new
rules require them to have an International Driving
Permit to motor around the Sunshine State.
But as word of the change began to circulate,
officials in the state that millions of Canadians
visit every year issued a release saying enforcement
was being deferred because the change may run afoul
of an international treaty.
Under the rules introduced Jan. 1, all visitors with
foreign licences must have an international permit
issued by their country of residence in addition to a
valid licence from home.
The quiet implementation of the regulations — which
apply to any vehicle, including rentals — resulted in
many Canadians being caught off guard.
“I had no idea, we’ve been coming down here for years
and never had a problem,” said David Whitford, a
Norwich, Ont., resident currently in Cape San Blas,
Fla., who realized he’d technically been driving
around illegally for the past few weeks.
“I can’t see what the problem is … for whatever
reason they’ve decided that we’re being made to feel
a little unwelcome here.”
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles has said the law was passed so police are
not faced with foreign licence documents in languages
they can’t understand.
An IDP translates existing driver licence information
into 10 languages and is valid for one year. It is
not a substitute for a valid driver’s licence but
rather, accompanies one.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, however,
the department said it learned its new requirement
might violate the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic,
an international treaty to which the U.S. is a
signatory.
“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,” the department said.
“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.”
The Canadian Automobile Association — which issues
international driving permits — called on Florida to
amend the law to exempt Canadians.
“No North American jurisdiction has ever asked for an
IDP before from another North American jurisdiction.
This is a first,” CAA spokesman Ian Jack told The
Canadian Press.
“They’ve subsequently told us that they’ve recognized
that it was a mistake to include Canada and that they
will be moving to exempt Canada, but on the other
hand, because it’s legislation and their legislature
doesn’t sit till mid-March, it’s going to take some
time for that to happen.”
While it has not had reports of Canadians being
censured for driving without an IDP in the state to
date, the CAA was still suggesting Canuck drivers
obtain an international permit until the law is
clarified.
Florida’s official state tourism marketing
corporation has identified Canada as its top
international market. Visit Florida said 3.1 million
Canadians travelled to the state in 2010.
As word of the change spread on Thursday, many
expressed astonishment at the lack of publicity
around the new rules. Even the CAA said it only
learned of the change when an American Automobile
Association worker in Florida called to discuss the
new rules two days ago.
“When I first heard I thought maybe it was a joke and
then obviously it’s not…it’s serious,” said Christine
Ellison, a Georgetown, Ont., resident who often
spends her winters in Florida.
“The driving down here is no different than driving
in Canada, our licenses are in English, surely they
can read them. I don’t understand why it would even
be necessary.”
The IDP costs $25 and can be obtained through CAA
offices. Canadians currently in Florida can apply for
one through the mail.
The association has been issuing the permits, which
are recognized in some 140 countries, since the
1920s.
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