Florida now requires Canadian drivers carry an international driving permit

[Dougtone]

Florida now requires Canadian drivers carry an international driving permit.  Canadians are now required by law to have an international driving permit in addition to their regular licenses when driving in Florida.  The state law quietly came into effect on January 1, 2013.

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

[realjd]

The state, including the FHP, already said it won't enforce this for English language licenses.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/florida-patrol-now-says-it-wont-demand-international-licence/article8666459/

The rental car agencies also said they won't require an IDP for Canadians.

Interestingly, the state legal folks cited the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic as overriding this particular, poorly worded law.

[agentsteel53]

does Canada issue licenses which are solely in French?

[Dougtone]

does Canada issue licenses which are solely in French?

I would think that Quebec issues driver's licenses solely in French, and there are many Quebec residents who spend at least a part of the year in Florida.

[agentsteel53]

a quick search reveals that you're correct. 

what if an English speaker wants one?  do Canada's federal bilingual laws allow such a person to request one in English from the Quebec issuers?

[corco]

Even if it is in French- most of those words are cognates. If a cop can't figure out what those things mean except maybe the last block of text, they aren't smart enough to be a cop.

I get the point of requiring, say, a Japanese tourist to get an IDP because holy hell how would you read that license, but not a Quebecois.

[AsphaltPlanet]

Ontario's drivers licenses are bilingual.

[formulanone]

Can't we just hand out pamphlets telling them that the left lane is only for turning within 500 feet, and not for trundling about at 15mph under the speed limit?

[Big John]

Can't we just hand out pamphlets telling them that the left lane is only for turning within 500 feet, and not for trundling about at 15mph under the speed limit?

And translate that to 150m and 25km/h for them.

[bugo]

Florida is also the state that does not recognize Indian Nation license tags.

[allniter89]

Ontario's drivers licenses are bilingual.

I wouldnt be surprised to see bilingual drivers licenses in the states that border Mexico.

[corco]

I wouldnt be surprised to see bilingual drivers licenses in the states that border Mexico.

New Mexico historically is pretty open to the Spanish language, but Arizona was the most "we're in America and we speak English" state I've ever lived in- that might change if Latinos become the majority, but right now it's definitely not a state that's comfortable with Spanish speakers.

[J N Winkler]

New Mexico historically is pretty open to the Spanish language, but Arizona was the most "we're in America and we speak English" state I've ever lived in--that might change if Latinos become the majority, but right now it's definitely not a state that's comfortable with Spanish speakers.

There is a generational aspect to the story, as well as some aspects having to do with geography and interest-group politics which I have not yet seen fully explained.

Arizona did used to have bilingual signs, not just in the I-19 corridor--and in fact I think the MOAS still has a monolingual Spanish "CARRETERA SIN SALIDA" sign.



This design is not my own invention; the mockup is based on a sign panel detail sheet in the 1981 signing plans for I-19.

Arizona's population has increased by a factor of 30 since statehood in 1912 (204,000 in 1910, 6.3 million in 2010).  My theory is that a small nucleus of long-term residents who were used to the climate and to the cultural and linguistic legacies of old Mexico have now been drowned out by snowbirds from Northern states who rely on A/C and, for whatever reason, lean Republican while their home states lean Democratic.  (The immigration issue cleaves different ways in different states, but in Arizona tight immigration control is closely identified with the Republicans.)  In addition, the big push for SB 1070 came from Mormons (very conservative Republicans) in Tempe and Mesa, which I found surprising since the Mormon establishment in Utah has been pushing a more tolerant policy toward illegal immigrants.  The Arizona senate president who was a prime mover behind SB 1070 was closely identified with the Tempe-Mesa Mormon establishment.  He lost a recall election soon afterward but his successor, also a Mormon, publicly expressed support for SB 1070.  As for the Mormon and Tempe-Mesa connection to SB 1070, I am stumped for an explanation--I don't know why they thought it was in their interest.  Everybody else could tell in advance that it was going to be the worst self-inflicted wound since Evan Mecham talked about "pickaninnies."

[SP Cook]

what if an English speaker wants one?  do Canada's federal bilingual laws allow such a person to request one in English from the Quebec issuers?

They are out of luck.  Canada's constitution makes the Canadian federal government and the New Brunswick provencial government bilingual, and (excepting schools, which have a complex exception) leaves language in the other provences to the provence.  Since DL issuance is a provencial function, Quebec issues DLs, and all other government documents only in French. 

If you drive through Quebec, you will notice road signage in French only, except for some of the bridges.  Which were federal projects and thus have bilingual signage.

[cpzilliacus]

Florida now requires Canadian drivers carry an international driving permit.  Canadians are now required by law to have an international driving permit in addition to their regular licenses when driving in Florida.  The state law quietly came into effect on January 1, 2013.

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

I would hope that in response, the Canadian federal government and provinces declare Florida drivers licenses to be invalid north of the border, so Sunshine State residents are compelled to get an international license.

What an idiotic law.

[cpzilliacus]

Even if it is in French- most of those words are cognates. If a cop can't figure out what those things mean except maybe the last block of text, they aren't smart enough to be a cop.

I understand everything written on that Quebec sample license, and I do not speak French.

In my job, I have spent a fair amount of time with state troopers that enforce commercial vehicle laws, including weight and size enforcement.  We have a lot of trucks on our highways from Quebec, and the troopers sometimes stop them for inspection.  Even though there is sometimes a language barrier, the actual Quebec license (either a regular one for smaller trucks or a CDL for the heavier trucks and combinations) never seemed to cause any difficulties for the enforcement officer or the driver.

[formulanone]

Florida now requires Canadian drivers carry an international driving permit.  Canadians are now required by law to have an international driving permit in addition to their regular licenses when driving in Florida.  The state law quietly came into effect on January 1, 2013.

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

I would hope that in response, the Canadian federal government and provinces declare Florida drivers licenses to be invalid north of the border, so Sunshine State residents are compelled to get an international license.

What an idiotic law.

Never mind that Canadians aren't the only foreigners travelling on Floridian roads, by any stretch. Seems like an unequal application of the law, in my opinion. Don't give Canada any ideas, though. I have to travel to Canada on business there in the coming months.

Hey Canada...we apologize for our misguided governor. Well, half of us.

[Truvelo]

So where does that leave visitors like me? If the car rental agencies start enforcing it should I rent a car in an adjoining state should I ever wish to visit Florida?

Regarding Arizona I saw plenty of Spanish signs there. Most of them said PROPIEDAD PRIVADA

[agentsteel53]

snowbirds from Northern states who rely on A/C and, for whatever reason, lean Republican while their home states lean Democratic.

I'd say "whatever reason" is because they're older.

[kphoger]

Such a retarded law.  Especially since the international driving permit is not free and is only valid for one year.  I think both Canada and México should no longer accept Florida DLs in retaliation.

[Alps]

Interestingly, the state legal folks cited the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic as overriding this particular, poorly worded law.

Since when does American law abide by the Geneva Convention?

[DAL764]

So where does that leave visitors like me? If the car rental agencies start enforcing it should I rent a car in an adjoining state should I ever wish to visit Florida?

I wonder that as well. Granted, from the article it does sound like yes, people from other countries in general, be it the UK, Germany, Canada or wherever, are forced to have an IDP. But realistically, to be quite blunt, how in the fvcking blue hell are authorities supposed to control the millions upon millions of tourists who rent hundreds of thousands of cars in Florida each year?

Oh well, if this is true, I guess that means trips to Florida will now terminate in Atlanta for me instead of Jacksonville, even if it means an additional long drive.

[xcellntbuy]

There was a big article about this issue in the February 15 edition of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-canadian-driver-license-20130214,0,4186370.story

[realjd]

Interestingly, the state legal folks cited the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic as overriding this particular, poorly worded law.

Since when does American law abide by the Geneva Convention?

Since 1949 when we signed the treaty and it was subsequently ratified by the US Congress as per Article II Section 2 of the US Constitution.

EDIT: I forgot to add that this isn't the same Geneva Convention that spells out the rules of war. This one deals with road traffic reciprocity.

[lordsutch]

what if an English speaker wants one?  do Canada's federal bilingual laws allow such a person to request one in English from the Quebec issuers?

You'll note that there are numbers, not words, next to each item on the license; I'd expect (like EU driver's licenses) that translations are on the back.