Francois_Dumas Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 Do I REALLY need an 'international drivers license' when cruising your streets, or is my Dutch license accepted as sufficient proof of skills ?? (It has pictures of me and cars/motors on it, apart from Dutch and *gasp !!* French text). (It's no biggie to get one I hear, but was just wondering).
Lawman Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 Francois, Don't worry about it...If you get put in jail just call Whip...He's very experienced in getting people out of jail..
upflying Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 Why even bother? In 30 years of LEO service, I can't think of one instance where I was shown an international drivers licesne. I can think of many circumstances where I was shown a foriegn drivers license. If anything, the Dutch drivers license will make you somewhat of a curiosity in the unlikely event your are asked for one by an American LEO. It is not likely you will be paying the fine or showing up for the court date if you live in Europe. I always gave international drivers a warning since writing a ticket was a waste of time and paper. BTW in Cali, I would estimate 15-20% of drivers do not have licenses. Personal experience was more like 50%.
Francois_Dumas Posted October 15, 2007 Author Posted October 15, 2007 All 3 answers are good Thanks folks
tallman Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 If you are visiting Florida for a short time and you plan on driving during your trip, you may use a drivers license issued by another state or country. Full text. http://driversed.com/dmv/florida-foreign-drivers.aspx
Francois_Dumas Posted October 15, 2007 Author Posted October 15, 2007 I am safe then... I have no intention of staying longer than a year !!
motorman587 Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 Why even bother? In 30 years of LEO service, I can't think of one instance where I was shown an international drivers licesne. I can think of many circumstances where I was shown a foriegn drivers license. If anything, the Dutch drivers license will make you somewhat of a curiosity in the unlikely event your are asked for one by an American LEO. It is not likely you will be paying the fine or showing up for the court date if you live in Europe. I always gave international drivers a warning since writing a ticket was a waste of time and paper. BTW in Cali, I would estimate 15-20% of drivers do not have licenses. Personal experience was more like 50%. Waste of paper, still good for the ticket count for the Sarge.
motorman587 Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 If you are visiting Florida for a short time and you plan on driving during your trip, you may use a drivers license issued by another state or country. Full text. http://driversed.com/dmv/florida-foreign-drivers.aspx Thanks Tim, wrote a guy from Sweden with is Sweden DL. 62 in a 45 and he was not on the rental agreement with Enterprice. Enterprice was not happy. Anyway wrote the ticket, but he was able to keep the rental car.
BailyD Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 You've never seen a paper International driver's license? You can get one a day around here! -Keep your passport w/your country's driver's license and you won't have any problems- Why bother giving a ticket, it's more interesting to talk about their country and trip here to the US of A! The curiosity factor would be high if you ran into a LEO with a European DL. BTW, anyone need a Mexican or any Central American DL? They are everywhere!!
Paul Mihalka Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 1981. Early USA experience still as a tourist out of Venezuela. Venezuelan DL and Hertz car. Location Alligator Alley in Florida, straight, two-lane, all you see is sawgrass, hypnotizing. I wake up out of my stupor when a cruiser flashing all lights comes the opposite way and makes one of those showy sliding U turns behind me. I stop, LEO comes up, asks for papers, OK with DL, and (would not happen today) invites me over to sit in his car next to him while he writes the ticket. He: I got you on radar at 80, limit is 55. I go into some conversation about not used to nice roads compared to where I come from, etc. bla, bla. He: I am going to write you for 79. Me: What's the Difference? He: Fifty bucks. Me: Thanks!
Schupo Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 Your Dutch license carries more weight than an "international" license. Those are actually issued by the motor club of their respective nations supposedly based on valid driving status in that country (or maybe bribes?). When I worked in patrol, both as an officer and as a supervisor, we came across those often. Usually they were presented by "foreign students" (pre 9/11) who maybe once held a student visa for a few minutes before entering this country. Often these "international licenses" were poor forgeries, sometimes even claiming to be issued by the UN. FWIW, I have never seen an "international license" presented by anyone who was a legitimate tourist (passport on person, valid vehicle papers, proper insurance, etc.); in my experience, it seems those only pop up in the aftermath of bar fights, drug deals, stolen vehicle recoveries, and general mayhem. But then that may only reflect the shifts and assignments that I have worked. You should be just fine with your Dutch passport, your Dutch license, and proper vehicle papers. Stay away from bar fights, drug deals, oh, never mind......
AZKomet Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 International DL???? AAA in the states issues them....have seen only one in 28 yrs. Most countries that have DL's suffice in the U.S.
Francois_Dumas Posted October 16, 2007 Author Posted October 16, 2007 Many thanks for all your answers. I'll save myself a trip to town, some expensive photos and a 13,50 Euro bit of surplus paper then.... Ya'll love my pink (!) 3-fold Dutch DL
GoGo Gadget Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 BTW, anyone need a Mexican or any Central American DL? They are everywhere!! Many of our illegals have fake International Drivers License's. They get conned into buying a piece of plastic that has their picture and says International Drivers License on it. They buy them thinking it makes them look more legitimite.
NoHeat Posted October 17, 2007 Posted October 17, 2007 OT, when I lived in Germany for 11 months, I bought a car and drove around with my Iowa drivers license with no problem. I was told that unlike our drivers licenses, German drivers licenses are not used as ID cards because they are never updated -- once you get one, you use that same piece of paper for life. A guy at work told me his mother, who was in her 80s, still had swastikas on her drivers license, and that when she was pulled over the Polizei really had a good laugh about that.
Switz Posted October 17, 2007 Posted October 17, 2007 I was told that I would need the "international license" issued by AAA when I wanted to rent a car in Europe. At Gatwick Airport in the UK (London area), Frankfort, DE and Spain they wanted both the "state" license and the AAA issued license. By having both they are self confirming, for example, the motorcycle endorsement shows up on both docuements. The passport proves the identity. That's just my personal experience within the last six years. So far, no need to chat with the local LEOs over there.
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