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Information concerning obtaining "foreign drivers licenses" is most commonly marketed on the internet, but may also show up in advertisements and by mailed flyers in some industries.
In these cases, by sending in a fee, the "secrets" of obtaining this International Driver's License will be provided. Typically this ads will read like this:
Need a new driver's license? Too many points or other trouble? Want a license that can never be suspended or revoked? Want ID for nightclubs or hotel check-in? Avoid tickets, fines, and mandatory driver's education. Protect your privacy, and hide your identity. The United Nations gave you the privilege to drive freely throughout the world! (Convention on International Road Traffic of September 19, 1949 & World Court Decision, The Hague, Netherlands, January 21, 1958) Take advantage of your rights. Order a valid International Driver's License that can never be suspended or revoked. Confidentiality assured.
Anyone can get these International Driver's License without knowing any "secrets." In fact, in the U.S. they are available at any AAA office.
What these ads fail to mention is that these "licenses" must be obtained in the country of residence, but are not valid there. In fact, they really have no validity anywhere and must be used only in conjunction with a legitimate official driver's license. The International Driver's License is simply a convenience because details are shown in several languages.
The International Driver's License is not a stand alone document, but is recommended as being beneficial for folks traveling abroad.
Another spurious document which is available from some sources is an official photo passport from a foreign country, bearing a false name. This is a different situation completely and the marketing we have seen concerning these is in no way deceptive or misleading.
These passports are, in fact, official passports--but they are passports from countries which no longer exist. An example would be a passport from Ceylon, which is now Sri Lanka. These passports generally sell for $100 U.S.D. or more and are not represented as valid passports.
Some U.S. executives may carry these passports on their persons (while keeping their U.S. passports in a briefcase or luggage) when visiting foreign countries where they feel they might be considered vulnerable because of their nationality in the event of a skyjacking or similar event. However, in most cases, these are probably purchased as a novelty.
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