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Crackdown on fraudulent 'international' licenses
Richmond.com
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Under a new Virginia law, effective July 1, 2006, it will be a Class 1 misdemeanor to sell or distribute documents claiming to be a license to operate a motor vehicle (other than by DMV) with the objective or knowledge that it will be used as a valid driver's license.

"There is a distinct difference between a driver's license, issued only by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which allows one to drive in Virginia and the authentic International Driver's PERMIT (not license), which is a translation of one's American driver's license into 10 languages and is honored in over 168 countries," stated Martha Rowe Mitchell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

"The purpose of the International Driver's PERMIT (IDP) is to serve as a reliable license translator when traveling abroad and is only issued to those who hold a valid driver's license and are at least 18 years of age," Mitchell added.

The promotion of the unauthorized International Driver's License over the Internet in recent years has resulted in sale of the documents to unknowing residents, many in the Latino community, who believe that they are purchasing a document that allows them to drive in Virginia. The counterfeit documents are useless and are expensive, ranging form $35 to $100 or more. The real deal, or International Driver's Permit, is regulated at a cost of a mere $10. Pursuant to the United Nations Convention of 1949, AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance are the only two organizations authorized by the State Department to sell IDPs.

Michel Zajur, president and CEO of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is also concerned. "We are pleased to join forces with AAA Mid-Atlantic in warning members of the immigrant community about the illegal sale of fraudulent international drivers' licenses," he said.

In addition to the protection which the new laws provides, Zajur stated he was pleased with the punishments inflicted upon scam artists saying, "This new law protects all potential buyers by severely punishing a business practice that takes advantage of new residents unaware of the laws of their new state of residence."