GrinTo Posted February 14, 2013 #1 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I leave for Florida and my Princess cruise tomorrow and was surprised by this today. I Have a car rented for a post cruise South Beach/Miami vacation. Driving in Florida? Canadians need an international permit State authorities are looking to exempt English-language licences from the new law, but it won’t be in time for March break. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/14/florida_now_requires_canadian_drivers_carry_an_international_driving_permit.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macmax Posted February 14, 2013 #2 Share Posted February 14, 2013 This has caught everyone by surprise. The car rental agencies are not even aware of it.:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueflicker Posted February 14, 2013 #3 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I also saw this on the news this morning... sheesh... The Gov't is trying to get the US to recognize Canadian driver's licenses. Apparently if you get stopped you can be charged with driving without a license. Geez... I can see it becoming an issue with the rental companies but wow, thanks for the heads up. For a whopping $25 you can pick up what is required at any CAA office. *rolls eyes* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 14, 2013 #4 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Wow Way to support the tourist industry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashhill Posted February 14, 2013 #5 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I leave for Florida and my Princess cruise tomorrow and was surprised by this today. I Have a car rented for a post cruise South Beach/Miami vacation. Driving in Florida? Canadians need an international permit State authorities are looking to exempt English-language licences from the new law, but it won’t be in time for March break. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/14/florida_now_requires_canadian_drivers_carry_an_international_driving_permit.html Does this apply if you live in Britain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 14, 2013 #6 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Does this apply if you live in Britain? Seems to apply to any out of the country (US) drivers license. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinTo Posted February 14, 2013 Author #7 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Yes it was a Brit that originally found out about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gelo7 Posted February 14, 2013 #8 Share Posted February 14, 2013 What's the point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caber Posted February 14, 2013 #9 Share Posted February 14, 2013 We have had Florida holidays many times over the years and always drove on our UK licences. I hope this is well publicised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueflicker Posted February 14, 2013 #10 Share Posted February 14, 2013 More info from Florida website.. effective Jan 1, 2013. http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/idp.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anubi Posted February 14, 2013 #11 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I'm wondering why only Florida?? Why not New York or Michigan or any of the other border states? :mad::mad: This is beyond dumb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONT-CA Posted February 14, 2013 #12 Share Posted February 14, 2013 What next? French driving licences when driving into Quebec? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueflicker Posted February 14, 2013 #13 Share Posted February 14, 2013 What next? French driving licences when driving into Quebec? Let's not even go there.. I drive home to Montreal every now and then.. qu'elle hassel that would be. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted February 14, 2013 #14 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Im not sure if the residents of Florida even have there own licenses. Driving standards there is terrible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted February 14, 2013 #15 Share Posted February 14, 2013 From what I have read Florida had intended to exempt Canadians, acknowledge that they forgot to do so and will making an amendment to the law soon. In the meantime law enforcement agencies will not be enforcing the law with respect to Canadians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 14, 2013 #16 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I'm wondering why only Florida?? Why not New York or Michigan or any of the other border states? :mad::mad: This is beyond dumb. Another way to suck $$$ out of tourists. Not that they don't make enough on rental car taxes already. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinTo Posted February 14, 2013 Author #17 Share Posted February 14, 2013 So i'm reading reports of car rental agencies refusing to rent to people without a IDP (now that this has hit the media). This effects any International traveler and those already in the state. It amazes me that they would not have looked into this before passing the law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo222 Posted February 14, 2013 #18 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Driving in Florida? Canadians need an international permit Even in Hollywood? Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinTo Posted February 14, 2013 Author #19 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I called my rental Company (Dollar) and they said just DL and Passport. But i'll drive very cautiously. I would encourage anyone else leaving Very soon to check with their rental company. PS: Happy Valentines day Eh ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Island wannabe Posted February 14, 2013 #20 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Another way to suck $$$ out of tourists.Not that they don't make enough on rental car taxes already. :rolleyes: Actually you don't purchase the international permit in FL, you have to purchase where your license is from. For any Snowbirds the requirement is to obtain one through the mail. My initial thought was that it was a money grab, but the explanation I saw in the news was that the police have trouble deciphering foreign drivers licenses. I really hope that the law is amended soon. It makes me think twice about FL for a long weekend away just due to the hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macmax Posted February 14, 2013 #21 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Just in from CFRB radio: #BREAKING No Need For Special Driving Permits Posted By: Newstalk 1010 · 2/14/2013 2:25:00 PM You can breathe a sigh of relief. If you're heading to Florida, you don't need one of those International Driving Permits. News broke on Thursday morning, that any driver who wanted to motor around the Sunshine State would need the special permits, sold in Canada only at CAA. Lineups at outlets in Toronto stretched as long as two hours just to file the papers. Early Thursday afternoon the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles sent an email: 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinTo Posted February 14, 2013 Author #22 Share Posted February 14, 2013 You beat me too it. ;-) The CAA made a lot of $ today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anubi Posted February 14, 2013 #23 Share Posted February 14, 2013 http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/florida-s-tourist-driver-law-may-break-geneva-convention-1.1156939 Somehow the Geneva Convention got brought into this. :rolleyes::rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macmax Posted February 14, 2013 #24 Share Posted February 14, 2013 just wondering....are Quebec driver's licenses bilingual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newport dave Posted February 14, 2013 #25 Share Posted February 14, 2013 just wondering....are Quebec driver's licenses bilingual? I live in Wales, UK, and my DL is bilingual. Bl00dy pain in the ar5e....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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