Exchanging an expired US license into a Finnish one?

[Pursuivant]

Jimmy, you've been here too long. You were supposed to do that within a year.... now what they require is a bit questionable (tests or the whole 9 yards) but you go and ask.... and go with a bus, don't drive

[Osbi]

Admittedly, a pretty bad idea. Not trying to necessarily deceive anyone, it just seemed possible to acquire a new right to drive, without being barred by past mistakes, and knowing that taking new driving lessons would be pretty redundant. If only I could have taken lessons on when and how to pay insurance ;P.

I guess I'll just wait until I have the funds to do it the legitimate way anyway, regardless of how incredibly high-priced. When I came hear and learned that getting a license was so expensive, I really bawked at it, but I suppose that Finnish kids nearing that age, or their parents, are already prepared and saving up that money, if they intend on ever driving. The same as in the states we start saving for college. Being prepared for such an expense makes it seem less ridiculous. Like a Finn moving to the States and expecting free University studies, or free school food, or, free health care. Just ain't gonna happen. America's free thing is refills. And driving lessons from dad.

[AldenG]

Don't leave those fines unpaid in the U.S. unless you never, ever intend to return there even for family funerals and such. I know someone personally who left a traffic violation citation unpaid. At first, his license wasn't even suspended, so he started out in a less serious position than you. Unbeknownst to him, the fines and warrants were escalating all the while in the background. He got arrested several years later in a routine stop, spent several days in jail, and it took a year and thousands of dollars to sort out the whole mess. He was lucky he didn't spend more time in jail.

At this point you may need a lawyer to clean this up. But I promise it's never going to be cheaper to fix than it is right now. If you go the beginner's route for a Finnish driver's license, then the mess in the U.S. might not prevent you from getting your Finnish license -- I don't know enough about the requirements and practices in Finland today to say one way or the other. But it sure as heck would be likely to come up if you ever applied for EU citizenship. Then they will check you out with U.S. authorities. And it could very well result in your being denied. Or possibly expelled, I don't know. Finland doesn't like people coming with criminal records. And at some point, failure to pay traffice fines can become a criminal offense.

If you get a serious enough warrant issued against you in the U.S., you could be arrested at U.S. Immigration when returning to the USA for a visit.

You say "Silly me [then]," you drove without insurance. You think THAT was "silly," just wait [no -- don't, actually] just wait and see what kind of mess you get into if you are similarly irresponsible about cleaning up the current mess.

I am not a lawyer. But even if I'm wrong about some of this, you are at a point where you need to talk to one. If you don't have the money to fix this, it's time to call in some markers (or just plain beg) from family. Further avoidance now will bite a huge chunk out of your ass down the road.

[rinso]

There is no way Finns will exchange a expired non-EU driving licence for a Finn licence. They probably won't find out it is suspended because they won't bother to look further into it. That is lucky for you, since if they knew, you won't be able to get a new licence, even after passing the exam.

Is that really so? I mean, if you’ve lost your license in a non-EU country due to unpaid insurance or fines or whatever, what does that really have to do with obtaining a new license in Finland the hard way – by going to a driving school, attending all the classes, paying for them, and passing the required tests?

If they suspend your driving licence, it is because they don't want you to drive any more. It is either a safety measure or a penalty. Taking a new driving test doesn't change that situation.

[Osbi]

Don't leave those fines unpaid in the U.S. unless you never, ever intend to return there even for family funerals and such. I know someone personally who left a traffic violation citation unpaid. At first, his license wasn't even suspended, so he started out in a less serious position than you. Unbeknownst to him, the fines and warrants were escalating all the while in the background. He got arrested several years later in a routine stop, spent several days in jail, and it took a year and thousands of dollars to sort out the whole mess. He was lucky he didn't spend more time in jail.

At this point you may need a lawyer to clean this up. But I promise it's never going to be cheaper to fix than it is right now. If you go the beginner's route for a Finnish driver's license, then the mess in the U.S. might not prevent you from getting your Finnish license -- I don't know enough about the requirements and practices in Finland today to say one way or the other. But it sure as heck would be likely to come up if you ever applied for EU citizenship. Then they will check you out with U.S. authorities. And it could very well result in your being denied. Or possibly expelled, I don't know. Finland doesn't like people coming with criminal records. And at some point, failure to pay traffice fines can become a criminal offense.

Good advice, thanks. I don't have the means to clear up the situation now, but I can surely stay out of America until I do. Because I certainly can't afford for things to get worse.

[Jukka Aho]

If they suspend your driving licence, it is because they don't want you to drive any more. It is either a safety measure or a penalty. Taking a new driving test doesn't change that situation.

Of course, but I was questioning the international treaties between the US and Finland in that regard and the standard operating procedure of the Finnish authorities in such situation (if we assume you’d be willing to retake the driving ed from scratch here), not the morality aspect of it. After all, I’m sure there are many other things beyond driving permit and the related issues where you might have rendered yourself unable to do something legally in one country (say, start or run a company – cue in liiketoimintakielto or business prohibition in English) but which do not have the slightest legal effect if you move to live in another country.
 

[Pursuivant]

Suspension within the EEA is valid. Third world countries don't count.

[Stephen B]

As the OP has already told that she is banned from driving in the US, and has expressed an intention to obtain, by deception, a license to drive here in Finland, in the interest of prevention of a crime, I'm considering copying her post to

http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... k?OpenForm

Informing the Police that they may soon receive a fraudulent application from a woman claiming to have a US driver's license. There are less than 1000 US citizens resident in Finland, I can't imagine they get more than 100 driving license applications per year, hopefully they will keep a particular eye out for this person.

I see some of rodents that crawl out from a sewer have migrated of here to Finland for the summer season

P.S don't tell my mom i was rude with you

[Stephen B]

hmmm whats that word that ryms with hat??

ok i'm sory i just don't like a tattle tale

[Stephen B]

so i got up on the rong sid of the bed today,...i apoligize and try to ignore my rud coments.

would you belive i am realy a nice guy?

honest i am

[Karhunkoski]

Pour yourself a drink you fag

Remember

"Religious Holiday" in Finland = "Let's get pi55ed"

[MissAlice]

But my situation is complicated. My license from the States has expired a couple of years ago, and there's no way I can get it un-expired, since it is also suspended. Bad me got caught driving without insurance a couple too many times, and unless I pay some large amount of fines, I'm not getting it back.

You should have gotten insurance... its a bitch... I've paid it before.... BUT car insurance provides protection against financial losses incurred as a result of an accident, theft or damage. ALSO even if you get the minimum level of insurance (what I had) it protects 3rd parties (like people other then yourself! in the car)/ or a property that is damaged in an accident. 12 year experience doesn't mean anything, anything could happen.

Well you better go back to the states and figure it out, it would be faster that way!
Re read wat you posted we aren't EU, so its better if you go back to the states, then after you will have to ask for a (IDP)

http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpapplc.ht ... 2&secure=N is the application for the permit (yes finland and 149 other countries allow IDP) should cost you something like $20

BUT do your research first

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/saf ... _1179.html

read everything and you should be able to get a international drivers permit in no time...... after you settle everything out.


and try to RESPECT the countries laws by reading up on traffic laws and etc... only saying this because you can't even respect your own countries laws....


cheeriebye.

[Stephen B]

Pour yourself a drink you fag

Remember

"Religious Holiday" in Finland = "Let's get pi55ed"

yes lets go have a drink,...where would you like me to meet you?
It sure would be nice to put a face to some of these posts.

[Karhunkoski]

It sure would be nice to put a face to some of these posts.

That's a good point The Helsinki crew seem to have an active meet-up, but it happens less often outside of the capital.

[onkko]

It sure would be nice to put a face to some of these posts.

That's a good point The Helsinki crew seem to have an active meet-up, but it happens less often outside of the capital.

Look out that stephen, hes probably radioactive