I would prefer DR1's legal expert to comment. Anyone? Do we still have one?
- Thread starter JD Jones
- Start date
Renewed My Driver's License
What difference would it make? Those here who have overstayed their tourist card will drive for as long as they like on a foreign license w/o any problem from the authorities.
I know people driving here for 30 years on a foreign license. They have bought and sold cars, had accidents and collected Insurance, etc. And some of the foreign licenses have been expired for 25 of those years...................
He only said it to bust chops. He knows the answer and the reality. At least I hope so.
I agree that no one will ever have any problems overstaying illegally or driving illegally.
I wouldn't go that far. I drove for a loooong time illegally. On a few occasions my excellent colloquial espanee and knowledge of this culture got me waived through by the comandante (i.e. schmoozing) I would say those incidents were very few and far between, however I would never recommend driving under "non-regular" conditions.
editing to add: and one certainly doesn't want to be involved in some sort of traffic accident/incident as a non regular driver
But, but, everyone that has had traffic accidents while driving illegally on foreign licenses and never had a problem. Just check back in this thread on all that success. Not one instance of any legal problems or the insurance company not paying has ever been documented.
Surely that is proof there can never be an issue while driving on a foreign license that is not valid after the given time?
No one believes you are serious now. You're supposed to post the research - I post the annoying sarcastic responses. What's going on?
Additional legal answers were not forthcoming so I had to use empirical evidence. Which other people live by, it appears.
I am sticking to my story that a foreign license is valid for 6 months regardless if someone is actively trying to become a resident or not until a legal expert says otherwise.
How dare they only offer the test in their native language?
Where are our DR1 Intellects screaming "xenophobic assholes" when we need them?
Windy - our research man again
https://drlawyer.com/espanol/ventajas-del-permiso-de-residencia-en-republica-dominicana/
last bullet point is very clear when translated and confirms the Resolution wording as we read it.
· The resident foreigner can obtain a Dominican driver's license, as well as car insurance; The non-resident foreigner can drive with the license of their country of origin, as well as obtain insurance, but only for the period of their legal stay in the Dominican Republic.
https://drlawyer.com/espanol/ventajas-del-permiso-de-residencia-en-republica-dominicana/
last bullet point is very clear when translated and confirms the Resolution wording as we read it.
· The resident foreigner can obtain a Dominican driver's license, as well as car insurance; The non-resident foreigner can drive with the license of their country of origin, as well as obtain insurance, but only for the period of their legal stay in the Dominican Republic.
It would make no sense at all that a foreigner on an expired tourist visa(or any extension), as well as any on a student visa, work visa, or tourist visa, would be considered to be in a "regular" immigration status. There's nothing regular about that at all. You're then in an "irregular" immigration status.
Given the way the legal opinion is worded a person on a 30 day tourist card can drive legally for 30 days. Get the extension to a maximum of 120 days and the license is valid for 120 days. Sounds good to me as knowing the source of that clarification. That means there are lots of people driving illegally.
Regarding driving and car accidents, 10 years of living here full-time and I've never heard nor read about an incident where this mattered....not once.
I agree and it would not surprise me at all if this were to change during this administration.