Authorities Refuse to Enforce New International Drivers Permit Law in Florida
The Florida Highway Patrol said the new law, which requires international drivers to obtain a $25 permit to drive in Florida, could violate the Geneva Convention.
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Some local law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced they are not going to enforce a new state law requiring international drivers to obtain a $25 driving permit to drive in Florida.
The new law was supposed to go into effect on Jan. 1, but authorities fear the new law violates the Geneva Convention on road traffic.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a statement Thursday afternoon:
"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."
We want to hear from you, New Port Richey area communities: Do you think the $25 driver permit fee for international drivers in Florida is fair? Join the conversation in the comments section below.
Brian
8:45 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Fire them all and hire new ones that do not pick and choose a law that want to enforce.
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
9:10 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
"Treaties to which the United States is a party preempt state laws in conflict with them"
So if the US signs a treaty legalizing rape, will Florida comply?
I do believe States rights trump EVERYTHING. When will people start realizing States are supposed to basically be a country unto themselves. Criminals in DC do not control Florida and criminal in the UN definitely do not either.
Jimmy James
11:24 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Bet Canada will require the same type of license. In any event this license requirement may put a damper on Canadian visitors/tourists to Florida, New Port Richey, et al.
Grace
4:48 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
There are over 1 million Canadian tourists and snowbirds who come down here every winter. I know, many of my neighbors have come down. The next couple of days from what the weather reports say, they will feel more at home than normal :-) This is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard of. Canadians pump billions into FL's economy. I don't know things about the Geneva Convention but I know that Canada and America signed NAFTA and in NAFTA it says that citizens of both countries can even get a DL from the other country, without hassles. Of course here to get one now you need to jump through hoops. In Canada, Americans can get a license with few problems, my neighbors told me. If we were all to go up there as sunbirds for 6 months a year, we could get one and nobody would say anything if we didn't have it. As long as you are authorized to drive in your home state (or country). So come on FL, quit trying to discourage tourism and quit trying to compete with some of the more wacko states in this great country. How about passing laws to fix the economy, help seniors and create jobs?