Is this legal?

[HelloIDistance]

I've never heard of this before...please advise.

Canadian citizen driving in the US with a Canadian driver license. Cop pulls her over for going 5 over on the freeway (literally) and takes her license and tells her she is lucky to not go to jail. WTF? This is even legal? I've never heard of a cop taking a driver license like this. She holds a dual citizenship btw, so she is an American citizen if that counts for anything. He says she can't get her license back until she pays the ticket. I seriously ******* hate most Americans and the superiority they feel towards other countries (btw I am American).

 

[in stitches]

ask harvey birdman but sounds bullshit to me

 

[huy]

this is a common practice in IL

 

[AR_Six]

The answer is effectively, no, but what are you going to do about it?

 

[HelloIDistance]

Originally Posted by AR_Six

The answer is effectively, no, but what are you going to do about it?

I think the correct thing to do in this instance would be to kill the officer.

 

[in stitches]

Originally Posted by HelloIDistance

I think the correct thing to do in this instance would be to kill the officer.

but a bit much. i would though ask for his name and badge number.

 

[RSS]

Originally Posted by HelloIDistance

He says she can't get her license back until she pays the ticket.
Although it was many years ago, this happened to me. The ticket serves as her license until she pays the ticket and gets her actual license back.

 

[acidboy]

I do not understand why "she's lucky she's not in jail" I've used my non-American license there and its no issue at all, and if its going beyond the speed limit by 5 miles, I certainly do not think that warrants any jail time. the officer might have the right to confiscate her license, but he's obviously power tripping and abusing his badge.

 

[unjung]

Uh bond state... I've been pulled over in MT and the very friendly (actually!) trooper told me I could either pay immediately in cash or he'd tow me to the cop shop, where I could then pay him, but I couldn't drive another inch until he was paid. Simply because I was from out of state. Happily the ticket was $40 or something.

The jail comment is fubared though.

 

[dacox]

Originally Posted by huy

this is a common practice in IL

I'm from Chicago too, and this is pretty much SOP. Like someone else said, the ticket acts as a license until the fine is paid. The "she is lucky to not go to jail" comment is ridiculous and just some asshole cop trying to assert his authority, but the license confiscation seems normal enough to me.

My experience has always been with American licenses though, so I don't know if her having a Canadian license makes the situation any different (I'd assume it's the same though).

 

[odoreater]

Sounds like she may have had a warrant.

 

[Sazerac]

Legal means whatever the guy with the gun and the badge want it to mean.

 

[in stitches]

Originally Posted by Sazerac

Legal means whatever the guy with the gun and the badge want it to mean.

yeah man! fight the power!

 

[jreigen]

Originally Posted by unjung

Uh bond state... I've been pulled over in MT and the very friendly (actually!) trooper told me I could either pay immediately in cash or he'd tow me to the cop shop, where I could then pay him, but I couldn't drive another inch until he was paid. Simply because I was from out of state.

Happily the ticket was $40 or something.

The jail comment is fubared though.

This happened to my dad in MT as well, a number of years ago. He thought he was being asked for a bribe. The ticket amount there used to be $5 and story was many folks just carried a stack of $5 bills on their visors.

 

[intent]

Originally Posted by bkstone

I didn't even know someone can drive in the US with a Canadian driver license. Is this a special situation for Canadians or does same apply to any foreign driver license?

You can, but up to a certain point in time. If you're staying longer and not a visitor then you'll need an US state license.