new florid dot laws / medical card? etc

[3930dave]

are you saying fl wanted a canadian to have an international license?

Big 10-4 on that (personal vehicle, not talking Commercial, I don't know that world). Something over 3 million Canadians visit Florida every year, I'd suspect the Biz groups down your way have been screaming, esp. in this just-now-staggering-back-to-its-feet economy.

I get the intent.... with WDW, there is a lot of International Travel. If I was a LEO in FL, and pulled over somebody from the other end of the planet, I'd really wouldn't know if I was looking at the guys non-English (OK, I can get by in French, but that's about it.....) Driver's License, or his gym membership.

It really sounds like this was sleeper (buried bill) legislation that caught virtually everybody off guard when it recently kicked in. The twist with Canadian licenses is that the Quebec ones are issued in French, and a lot of Quebecers winter in FL - if FL only exempts English Canadian licenses, well I'd hate to be the Visit Florida exec trying to put a spin on that one !

As I understand it now, until FL legislation changes (sounds like early Summer, earliest), if I hop in my personal vehicle and drive to FL w/o an International License document, I could be charged by a LEO, if he/she really wanted to.

I don't fear the FL LEOs in this scenario, rather the winning-the-lottery odds of having a major accident in FL. A minor traffic ticket would be just "Cost of the Trip"; the big problem would be my insurance company deciding to take a pass on personal injury/medical costs State side just because I didn't have a stupid piece of redundant paper.

Is what it is, but it did blind side many people, on both sides of the 49'th.

Rgds, D.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The "self cert" falls under 49 CFR 383.71 . Kind of confusing to me to read because it seems to fall under new CDL permit applicants but it does apply to drivers renewing their existing CDL license. I covered my bases by spending the fifty bucks for my physical even though I don't need it at the moment. I did pack in the haz mat endorsement though when I renewed.

 

[duroc]

The "self cert" falls under 49 CFR 383.71 . Kind of confusing to me to read because it seems to fall under new CDL permit applicants but it does apply to drivers renewing their existing CDL license. I covered my bases by spending the fifty bucks for my physical even though I don't need it at the moment. I did pack in the haz mat endorsement though when I renewed.

I retired and when it came time for me to renew my CDL I went to Sec State and they told me that I had 2 weeks (til my expiration date) to have a physical and have my med card updated. In previous years it was not nec to have a med card to "renew" my CDL A endorsement at the Sec State, but better not get caught driving without it. I wasn't about to spend the money for a physical because I had not needed the CDL since retiring, so I chose to let it lapse instead. Now I wish I had it, even tho I don't need it any more. It's just one of those things, I guess!

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. looks like with no med card and the self cert.. they will downgrade your license immediately..

 

[tcartwri]

yep.. looks like with no med card and the self cert.. they will downgrade your license immediately..

I just got through this with the MOT. They send you a pretty alarming looking letter saying that you will be downgraded unless you get your physical, but then after you calm down a little, you see further on that you have 2 months to do it. Made the blood pressure spike for a few minutes though!

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. digging thru the code it says they will start the process to downgrade the license with no mention of time.. etc..

 

[oldyellr]

The Florida law, on the books since Jan 1, required all drivers from outside the US to have an International Driver's License because it's in English, so as not to confuse the cops. This upset a lot of Canadians when they found out. The law now exempts Canadians. However, Quebec is probably still a problem because of their anti-English language laws.

 

[Soundguy]

i kinda think contigous countries should honor each others credentials anyway.

 

[creekbend]

Our SIL is a truck driver and is on the road around 6 weeks at a time. Rest assured that I understand both sides of the issue. When I moved from Florida around 4 years ago, there was a bad accident at the I-75 and 301 exit in Ellington. A truck driver coming off I-75 and exiting at the 301 exit went through the traffic signal at the exit at Rush Hour killing the truck driver and several other people. The following investigation showed that the driver was Diabetic. The Company that he worked for was unaware of his medical condition. After the authorities questioned the Driver's immediate Family, they discovered that the Driver had called his Family several days before and told them that he had been out of insulin for a couple of days. Just a thought.

 

[duroc]

i kinda think contigous countries should honor each others credentials anyway.

And, reciprocation to our gun laws! :banghead: