Legal driving and insurance.

[TOOBER_SDQ]

Originally Posted by Dolores

Position from the US Consulate:

"Legal residents here get documented as such, get a cedula, and can then get a DR license. People not applying for legal residence are supposedly here only on a temporary visa and likely have no need of a permanent drivers license here. As you noted, the U.S. license is good up to 90 days. If any amcits here plan to be here longer than 90 days in tourist/business status, they can always apply for the International Drivers Permit. That’s valid for a year and can be applied for again each year as need be."

I hate to say it, but ............ I TOLD YOU SO...

[Dolores]

See International Driving Permit for the form and how to apply.

[La Mariposa]

Originally Posted by Dolores

Position from the US Consulate:

"Legal residents here get documented as such, get a cedula, and can then get a DR license. People not applying for legal residence are supposedly here only on a temporary visa and likely have no need of a permanent drivers license here. As you noted, the U.S. license is good up to 90 days. If any amcits here plan to be here longer than 90 days in tourist/business status, they can always apply for the International Drivers Permit. That’s valid for a year and can be applied for again each year as need be."

Well well. The international driver license or permit is only a traduction of your driver license. Try to obtain an international driver license if , lets say, your Florida driver license is suspended. The int. driver license does not give you more right than your regular driver license does. Somes countries won't let you drive without it (the international) others like the D.R. yes (see the D.R. law).

Ask the U.S. Consulate which D.R. law says that you can drive in the D.R. for more than 90 days with an international driver license.

[TOOBER_SDQ]

Originally Posted by La Mariposa

Well well. The international driver license or permit is only a traduction of your driver license. Try to obtain an international driver license if , lets say, your Florida driver license is suspended. The int. driver license does not give you more right than your regular driver license does. Somes countries won't let you drive without it (the international) others like the D.R. yes (see the D.R. law).

Ask the U.S. Consulate which D.R. law says that you can drive in the D.R. for more than 90 days with an international driver license.

Yes La Mariposa, it is true that you must have a valid license in your home Country in order for your International Permit to be valid. But doesn't that follow logic anyway?

The US Consulate will probably cite that the Dominican Republic, and most other nations were party to the The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 .

I have used this International Permit to drive in more countries than I can count on my digits. I never had a problem and it was always honored.

As Robert suggested in a previos post on this thread, insurance companies may see wiggle room here and assert cause not to indemnify a driver not carrying a DR License. Its a good point, but at the end of the day, they are on the hook.

[La Mariposa]

Originally Posted by TOOBER_SDQ

Yes La Mariposa, it is true that you must have a valid license in your home Country in order for your International Permit to be valid. But doesn't that follow logic anyway?

The US Consulate will probably cite that the Dominican Republic, and most other nations were party to the The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 .

I have used this International Permit to drive in more countries than I can count on my digits. I never had a problem and it was always honored.

As Robert suggested in a previos post on this thread, insurance companies may see wiggle room here and assert cause not to indemnify a driver not carrying a DR License. Its a good point, but at the end of the day, they are on the hook.

http://http://www.caaquebec.com/Voya...al.htm?lang=en

From the CAA site:'''Essentially, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of your driver's licence into a dozen languages, which makes it very useful when you travel abroad. You won't necessarily be asked for it when you rent a car, although it is required in some countries (inquire with your CAA-Quebec travel counsellor). But it's not hard to imagine how useful it can be if you're pulled over for a traffic violation by a police officer who can't understand a word of English… So, as you can see, your IDP helps facilitate communication, especially if you're stopped by the police, and also serves as extra ID. It goes without saying that an IDP can never replace your passport, no more so than it replaces your "real" licence. Think of it as a handy addition.'''

The fact that the int. permit is valid for one year doesn't change the D.R. laws, Does it ? neither the Geneva conventionon traffic changes the D.R. laws.

A few years ago the people at the CAA-Quebec travel(they delivers the permit) told me that the int. permit doesn't give more power than the laws of the country you will use it will give you.

I always drive with my foreign driver license in the D.R.( even after 90 days) and never had problem but.......as would Robert says: till something big or bad arrives.

[Robert]

I would not trust an International drivers license. As you say, it just a translation, it doesn't give you any additional rights, privileges or supersedes any DR laws.

If the insurance company can wiggle out of it they will.

When you get slapped with a "impedimento de salida" so you cannot leave the DR until it's resolved or paid, then your going to wish you stuck to the local laws and aired on the side of caution etc.

[J D Sauser]

I just called a lawyer and asked him to check if we could get a driver license for a Swiss National without a cedula (no residency permits whatsoever). He just called me back and told me that he had called "the office" in Santiago as well as the one in Santo Domingo and the one needed to have a cedula in order to get a driver license.

I am not inclined to take that as a definite no, because I don't trust the power of asking and especially not by phone.
I told him that the law said otherwise. He thought that it may but that these secretarias had poder reglementaria... which effectively would allow to do as they see fit? I don't buy that yet either.

Anyway. I am herewith offering USD 200.oo + taxes, fees and costs to whom ever will help me to effectively get a LEGAL DR driver license for my non-resident Swiss business partner. We provide the original legal Swiss driver license, authenticated by the Swiss consulate and certified by canceleria in Santo Domingo.

... J-D.

[MikeFisher]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

I just called a lawyer and asked him to check if we could get a driver license for a Swiss National without a cedula (no residency permits whatsoever). He just called me back and told me that he had called "the office" in Santiago as well as the one in Santo Domingo and the one needed to have a cedula in order to get a driver license.

I am not inclined to take that as a definite no, because I don't trust the power of asking and especially not by phone.
I told him that the law said otherwise. He thought that it may but that these secretarias had poder reglementaria... which effectively would allow to do as they see fit? I don't buy that yet either.

Anyway. I am herewith offering USD 200.oo + taxes, fees and costs to whom ever will help me to effectively get a LEGAL DR driver license for my non-resident Swiss business partner. We provide the original legal Swiss driver license, authenticated by the Swiss consulate and certified by canceleria in Santo Domingo.

... J-D.

J.D.,
i did not study the drivers license law of the DR, but had one little side experience when i did my own permanent DR drivers license. i did so in La Romana. where i presented my finally completed/needed documents to finish that stuff the guy asked me first for my passport and a copy of it, it surprised me b/c nobody told me that i would need that, so i did not have it handy, i told him : hey, why i need my passport in addition to my cedula? and the answer been clear: ooh, excuse me, i did not know that you have a cedula. i bet if i would not be a permanent resident with cedula i would have gotten my same drivers license that day with my passport b/c i am a foreigner.

to the posts about the international drivers license:
that is not a real drivers license, it is just a translation of your original home/local drivers license and gives in no way any additional rights to what the non-translated license does. it is just a helpful translation when pulled over by a cop who does not read your mother's language written on the original license of your homecountry. in case of insurances it is only worth for the same time period than your original home license is worth/valid.

J.D., forget the lawyers, drive with your friend to your nearest office of obras publicas where they issue the licenses and ask for the needed 'requisitos' to get a dominican drivers license, that's the first hand notice from the persons who issue the license.
Mike

[NotLurking]

JD, I think the problem is with interpreting both the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. Transit law #241 in article 30(a) grants ALL PERSONS properly authorized to operate a motor vehicle in any foreign country where the requirements are similar to those established in DR law #241 for the concession of a driver's license, and who poses, and carries an authorized and valid foreign driver's license, the privilege to operate a motor vehicle of the same type authorized by the foreign driver's license in the Dominican Republic for up to 90 days from the date of arrival.

LEY 241 DE TRÁNSITO DE VEHÍCULOS
Art. 30.- Personas exentas del requisito de licencia.
a. Toda persona que esté debidamente autorizada para conducir un vehículo de motor en cualquier país extranjero donde se exijan requisitos similares a los establecidos por esta Ley para la concesión de licencias de conductor, y que posea y lleve consigo una licencia autorizada y en vigor en dicho país extranjero, estará autorizada para conducir tal tipo de vehículos de motor en la República Dominicana, durante los primeros noventa (90) días desde su arribo.

If we briefly analyze Law #241 Art. 30(a) it would become obvious that the phrase 'Toda persona' (all person) refers to all person that LEGALLY entered DR. This phase implies that the migratory status of 'ALL PERSON' granted the previllage to operate a motor vehicle in the DR under Law #241 Art. 30(a) is in compliance with all migration laws and regulations.

I think that law #241 Art. 30(b) is written with the same spirit and that 'Toda persona' means: All person in the country in compliance with all migration laws and regulations. I think there is some confucion in law #241 Art. 30(b) in the following fragment, "...sin cumplir otro requisito..." (...without satisfying any other requirement...). The fragment is specific to Law #241 and the requirement excemptions pertain ONLY to transit law #241 and not any other law or regulation. I think the state must first recognized you legally before any state documents are issued you.

If a person is here on a tourist visa/card the 90 days granted by Art. 30(a) to operate a motor vehicle with a foreign license is more than enough. If more than 90 days is required Law #241 Art. 30(b) may be used to exchange the foreign driver's license but the person must first adjust their migratory status (apply for residency)

LEY 241 DE TRÁNSITO DE VEHÍCULOS
Art. 30.- Personas exentas del requisito de licencia.
b. TodaLEGALLYprivilege perconfusionsona que poseyere una licencia de conductor de las señaladas en el inciso anterior, podrá solicitar y obtener una licencia de conducir, sin cumplir otroexceptions requisito que el pago de los derechos correspondientes, presentando una certificación del representante diplomático o consular del país de donde procede dicha licencia, acreditado en la República Dominicana, certificando que la referida licencia es válida, y un certificado médico expedido según se dispone en el inciso a) del artículo 32.

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

I just called a lawyer and asked him to check if we could get a driver license for a Swiss National without a cedula (no residency permits whatsoever). He just called me back and told me that he had called "the office" in Santiago as well as the one in Santo Domingo and the one needed to have a cedula in order to get a driver license.

I am not inclined to take that as a definite no, because I don't trust the power of asking and especially not by phone.
I told him that the law said otherwise. He thought that it may but that these secretarias had poder reglementaria... which effectively would allow to do as they see fit? I don't buy that yet either.

Anyway. I am herewith offering USD 200.oo + taxes, fees and costs to whom ever will help me to effectively get a LEGAL DR driver license for my non-resident Swiss business partner. We provide the original legal Swiss driver license, authenticated by the Swiss consulate and certified by canceleria in Santo Domingo.

... J-D.

NotLurking

[La Mariposa]

If a person is here on a tourist visa/card the 90 days granted by Art. 30(a) to operate a motor vehicle with a foreign license is more than enough. If more than 90 days is required Law #241 Art. 30(b) may be used to exchange the foreign driver's license but the person must first adjust their migratory status (apply for residency)

Or ask for a prorroga