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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
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    Default Can You Drive on a Foreign License if Your State License is Suspended

    My question involves a driver's license issued by the State of: Ohio
    I have a valid Chinese driver's license but a suspended Ohio license. I have lived in China for 5 years, and I just am visiting family and then return to China. I can drive using my Chinese driver's license and be okay if I am pulled over? Will be driving in Florida and Ohio.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    If your privilege to drive is suspended in Ohio, it doesn't matter where you got your license, you cannot legally drive in Ohio. I would assume, if it was not suspended in Florida, you could drive temporarily in Florida Unless some how Florida learns of the Ohio Suspension

  3. #3
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    Oct 2016
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Quote Quoting doucar
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    ...you could drive temporarily in Florida Unless some how Florida learns of the Ohio Suspension

    That does not matter. If your privilege is suspended in one state (if you don't hold an actual license from that state) you can drive elsewhere.

    The OP needs to just specify if he actually had an Ohio license somehow, or if he is referring to a "driving privilege".

  4. #4
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    Nov 2013
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Quote Quoting Highwayman
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    That does not matter. If your privilege is suspended in one state (if you don't hold an actual license from that state) you can drive elsewhere.
    Did you mean can or cannot?

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Quote Quoting budwad
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    Did you mean can or cannot?
    Just what I said - "can".

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Quote Quoting Highwayman
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    That does not matter. If your privilege is suspended in one state (if you don't hold an actual license from that state) you can drive elsewhere.

    The OP needs to just specify if he actually had an Ohio license somehow, or if he is referring to a "driving privilege".
    Even if an Ohio license was suspended, if he has a valid license from some other jurisdiction he can still drive in Florida. If he had no other valid license then whether it was his license or privileges to drive in Ohio although licensed in another jurisdiction would make a difference.

    The only possibility that would make a difference is if his privileges to drive in Florida were revoked based on activity in Florida.

  7. #7
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    Oct 2016
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Florida does not require an International Drivers License. So you can use your Chinese license. The only problem would be if there is a warrant out for you based on your issue in Ohio.

  8. #8
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    Jan 2006
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Quote Quoting PayrolGuy
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    Florida does not require an International Drivers License. So you can use your Chinese license. The only problem would be if there is a warrant out for you based on your issue in Ohio.
    Nobody requires an international driver’s license because, well, there is no such document as an international driver’s license. There is an international driver’s permit but in reality all that is is a translation of a person’s actual driver’s license. It helps avoid confusion as I suspect there aren’t a lot of police in Florida that are fluent in the Chinese language.

    Since China is not signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention that the idp stems from and as such I don’t believe they issue idp’s that are valid as an idp as issued by a signatory member, I wonder what would happen if op drove in a state that did reauire an Idp.

    I have yet to find any state that requires an idp though but it is recommended for any driver whose license is not in English. It’s a matter of convenience and not law in many circumstances.

    That is a good point about the warrant though. Maybe the op should investigate that matter before even coming to the states.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Quote Quoting Highwayman
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    That does not matter. If your privilege is suspended in one state (if you don't hold an actual license from that state) you can drive elsewhere.
    Just to clear, the Ohio suspension means the OP cannot drive in OH. The OP may drive in most other states with the Chinese license, however, (assuming that his/her privilege to drive has not been suspended or revoked in that state). There are, however, a few states which adopt a rule that you cannot drive in that state if your right to drive is suspended or revoked in ANY state. Florida is not one of those, but since the rules do vary a person with a suspended/revoked license in one state needs to understand the laws for each state in which he wishes to drive with a license that has been issued by some other state or country.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
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    Default Re: Valid Chinese License/Suspended Ohio License

    Quote Quoting law2know19
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    I can drive using my Chinese driver's license and be okay if I am pulled over? Will be driving in Florida and Ohio.
    You may not drive in Ohio as your right to drive there is suspended. But it appears that the Chinese license will be good enough to drive in Florida so long as your right to drive there is not suspended or revoked. The IDP discussed by others is not required. Just the Chinese license. The applicable Florida statute states that among those not required to have a Florida license is “(d) A nonresident who is at least 18 years of age and who has in his or her immediate possession a valid noncommercial driver license issued to the nonresident in his or her home state or country operating a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, in this state.” F.S. § 322.04(1)(d). If the license is only in Chinese, however, an IDP or other official translation of the license would be helpful, I'm sure.

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