Are You Planning A Holiday To Florida This Year?

[spudqueen]

If so then beware as I have just found out that as from 1st January 2013 if you have a drivers licence issued outside of the US then to drive in Florida you also need an International Driving Permit which you can get from some Crown Post Offices
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit

If you do not have one then you can end up in court if not jail. Scroll down here to R
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html

[KJN]

Thanks, wow they kept that quiet, have been having a look around and saw this :-
http://read.thestar.com/#!/article/511d259b7b1eacd50f095c37

So is the next step a law suit againt the Florida State for discrimination???

[mushroom25]

seems this state law change conflicts with the national government's commitment to an international convention on road traffic dating to 1949. Since national law takes precedence in this case, the requirement for the IDA has (for now) been recognised as being unenforceable, and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is recommending that the local law enforcement agencies do not enact enforcement action based solely on the lack of an International Driving Permit. That said, car rental agencies in Florida have already amended their rules to require IDA before rental commences. This is still applicable even if the car was booked up months in advance.

Best thing to do therrefore is contact your tour operator or rental agency for the lastest situation.

[spudqueen]

That link didn't work KJN as I'm using an old fashioned device called a computer! However I did find this
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/21215118/2013/02/15/florida-new-drivers-license-law-international-drivers-permit

[VHG]

This was mentioned on BBC Breakfast TV a few days ago.

If you have not got this International drivers license a Florida hire car company can refuse to give you a car.

They did mention though that only Florida of all the US states has implemented this so not sure why.

[kjn2]

Sorry re the link, never knew this happened, just used my laptop as did not understand what was happening and the message that I guess you saw came up, you learn every day .Hmmm Interesting.