INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT NOW REQUIRED IN FLORIDA

Silvana Aceto, CAA, says company is urging Florida officials to amend the law & exclude Canadians

Zachary-Cy Vanasse

As of this past Jan. 1, all Canadians renting a vehicle or driving their own vehicle in the state of Florida are required to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). The requirements are a result of a new law passed by the Florida senate in 2012 that came into law for 2013.

CAA, the sole provider of IDPs in Canada, said it was made aware of the situation just a few days ago and is opposed to the legislation.

According to Silvana Aceto, media relations and PR specialist, CAA South Central Ontario, the company is "urging the Florida officials to amend the law and to exclude Canadians from this."

"The intent of the Florida law in regards to the IDP was to help law enforcement in Florida with drivers who have a license in a foreign language," she told TRAVELHotNews.com. "My understanding is that the state is going to try and clarify the law in the upcoming legislative session, which is not until next month and clear up exactly whether or not a license written in English will also be acceptable."

That said, even if changes are made, it could potentially still affect travellers from Quebec.

An IDP is a special driver's license that allows motorists to drive in other countries without further tests or applications. It provides proof that the holder possesses a valid driver's license, issued by a competent authority, in his or her country of residence.

The IDP also provides travellers with additional photo identification and includes a multilingual translation of the traveller's valid Canadian driver's license. IDPs are valid in all countries. Canadians IDPs are only valid outside of Canada and are valid for one year from the date of issue.

They cost $25 and those requesting and IDP must provide two passport size photos and their official drivers license. CAA is the only organization in Canada authorized to issue IDPs.

IDPs can be obtained by printing the application - available from the CAA website in the Travel Documents section - and submitting it to a CAA Club. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

The CAA National Office in Ottawa has requested a meeting with senior officials for the State of Florida in order to raise awareness of the negative impact that this legislation will have on substantial number of Canadians who travel to Florida for vacation every year.

In Q1-Q3 of 2012, 2.7 million Canadians travelled to Florida, of which 48.7 per cent - or 1,184,000 - did not travel by air, according to Visit Florida.

CAA is advising travel agents with affected clients to contact a CAA store and have their clients acquire and IDP.

"At this point, it's better safe than sorry and any drivers who will be travelling to Florida are prepared just in case," said Aceto.

Reprinted from  TRAVELHotNews.com