Can I legally display my foreign license if pulled over in the USA if I already have USA license?

Can I legally display my foreign license if pulled over in the USA if I already have USA license? - Photo of Hotel Monte Vista Signage

Am I required by law to have my USA license on me if I drive in the USA, or can I also have my foreign license? If pulled over, must I tell the police that I have a valid USA license or can I just display my foreign license? Foreign licenses can't accumulate traffic points, that's why i want to show my foreign license. I am a US citizen, and I used to live in NY, and still have a NY state license, but I live most of the year out of the country, and visit the USA from time to time. So do I legally have to show my NY license or can I show my valid foreign license so i don't get points?



Best Answer

In New York State, you can legally drive using your foreign drivers license and the state does not require that you carry an International Driving Permit. That you retain your NY license becomes coincidental, as you would no longer be considered a resident. That may become an issue when renewing, but that's off topic.

Should you be stopped, and present your foreign license, the police will run your name in their in-vehicle computer. The first search will be in the DMV database, which has information on where you 'live,' your driving record, and, in some states, your biometrics, including a photo. Other databases that may accessed during a traffic stop reveal any outstanding arrest warrants and criminal history, either in local police records or the Federal National Crime Information Center.

So the answer is, yes, you can show only your non-US driving license. Doing so might avoid repercussions on the sole occasion. However, a record will be created of the offense against the license you present. If the officer does not connect you to your DMV-issued license, you got lucky. If/when the connection to your State-issued license is made... well then, you know the rest.




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Can you drive with a foreign license in the US?

People who drive in the U.S. must have a valid driver's license. If you're a foreign visitor, some states require you to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) and a valid license from your own country.

Can I exchange my foreign license for a US license or do I have to take the test?

How to Get a U.S. Driver's License. A newcomer might be able to exchange a home country license for a U.S. license, but others will be required to test for their licenses. There are two tests required to earn your driver's license in all 50 states\u2014the written exam and the road test.

Can you drive with a picture of your license in the US?

Answer provided by. A police officer may use a picture of your driver's license as a way to run the license number to see if it is valid, but this is not common. A driver is required to keep an active license with them any time they are driving a car.




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