以下贴一封信,国外驾照可以在Georgia 开一年车。但是,如果,已经成为Georgia 居民,必须在30天内更换驾照。你或许可以用这个规定以你自己具体情况向法官解释,最好还是咨询律师。注意的是,千万不能撒圆不了的谎,那样,会有更严重的结果。
SPECIAL MESSAGE:
Visitors to Georgia from foreign countries are allowed to drive in Georgia for up to one year if they have a valid
driver’s license issued by the driver’s licensing agency in their home country and they are lawfully admitted to the
United States. Rocha v. State, 250 Ga. App. 209, 211-212 (2001), Schofield v. Hertz Corp., 201 Ga. App. 830, 832
(1991).
This Summer, there have been complaints from several of the foreign consulates in Atlanta that law enforcement
officers have issued citations to their citizens for driving without a license because they didn’t have their passport with
them when they were stopped for a traffic violation. According to the Office of the Legal Counsel of the United States
Department of State, there is no Federal law or regulation that requires foreign visitors to the United States to have
their passport on their person at all times. There also is no Georgia law that would require foreign drivers to keep their
passport on their person at all times.
In 2008, the legislature, in an attempt to make it easier for police officers to recognize valid foreign driver’s licenses,
amended O.C.G.A. § 40-5-21 to add a requirement that if the foreign driver’s license is a language other than English,
the driver must also have in his or her possession an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) in addition to their home
country license. This amendment became effective on January 1, 2009.
The IDP is a translation of the foreign license which generally must be obtained in the driver’s home country before
departing for the United States. It is valid for one year from the date of issuance. Driver’s from English speaking
countries, such as Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Great Britain, Guyana, Fiji, Ireland, India, Jamaica, New Zealand,
Nigeria or Uganda, do not have to carry an IDP.
However, if during that time, a foreign national becomes a legal resident of Georgia, they must obtain a Georgia
driver’s license within 30 days of becoming a resident. O.C.G.A. § 40-5-20. However, they no longer have to
surrender their foreign driver’s license. O.C.G.A. § 40-5-20(c)(2).
Charles. C. Olson
General Counsel
Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia
Suite 400
104 Marietta St.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-969-4001
Fax: 404-969-0020
email: colson@pacga.org
URL: http://www.pacga.org/ |