Canadians Being Cited & Jailed for Driving in U.S. without International Driver Licence

The Lamborghini driver in the following video was ticketed and threatened with jail by a Beverly Hills police officer for driving in California with a Canadian drivers license.

The driver explains several times that as Canadians, we have a treaty with the U.S. that allows us to drive with our Canadian license as long as we are visiting and can provide other documentation (passport, etc.).  The officer disagreed and issued a ticket.

This comes on the heels of another incident where a Canadian named Emily Nield was arrested and jailed in Georgia for driving with a Canadian driver’s license. The officer who had stopped her thought the driver’s license was fake and brought her into the local station, despite not verifying the license beyond its appearance.

 

If you plan on shopping or vacationing in the United States, make sure you know the law; know what answers you are required to answer and what information you are not obligated to disclose, and have your documentation handy if asked.


International Driving Permit
An International Driving Permit, or IDP, is a special driver’s licence that allows licensed motorists to drive in other countries without further tests or applications. It is proof that the holder possesses a valid driver’s licence, issued by a competent authority, in his or her country of residence. The IDP provides you with additional photo identification and includes a multilingual translation of your valid Canadian driver’s licence. You must contact the Canadian Automobile Association to apply for an IDP.

The IDP is valid in all countries that have signed the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic and is recognized in many countries that are not signatories to the Convention. You may be required to have a valid IDP to drive in some countries and some foreign car rental agencies may require you to have one to rent a car.

A Canadian IDP is only valid outside Canada and is valid for only one year from the date of issue. You must reapply if you need another one.

International Driving Permit


Story:  Narcity.com
Video: Daily Driven Exotics