Foreign License

[mjcuk]

I am a British national visiting Minnesota. I was previously a resident of MN for 18 months under a J-1 visa and gained my MN drivers license during that time. I have since returned home to the UK, until now when I am visiting friends. Yesterday I was pulled over for a speeding offense, which I accept was stupid on my part. However, when the officer ran my license he said that my MN license had been canceled, and that I was unable to drive in MN using my UK license. I never received any notification that my MN license had been canceled, and everything I had read before I came over said that if I am a visitor, I am entitled to drive on a foreign license for up to 1 year. They are now charging me with driving after cancellation, and will not recognize my UK license. Is this right or am I allowed to drive on my UK license as I understood it?

 

[seniorjudge]

Do you have any reason to believe the cop was wrong?

If so, hire a lawyer and plead not guilty. Then you can have a jury trial.

 

[mjcuk]

The statute I found (171.03) reads "a non-resident who is at least 15 years of age and in immediate possession of a valid drivers license issued to the non-resident in the home country may operate a motor vehicle in this state".

When I was here before, and my MN license was not canceled, I was a resident, but this time I am just a visitor, and so an non-resident. Surely that means I can drive on my UK license? I don't think I can afford a lawyer, and I need to get it all taken care of before I have to leave the country again to go home.