"Michael Cash" <mikecash@sunfield.ne.jp> wrote in message
news:sfihov47p1rqtq20u4juv2irlkvbn7its6@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 20:05:13 -0700, "Bryce"
> <fukuzzz@takethisout.hotmail.com> belched the alphabet and kept on
> going with:
>
> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >First of all, you shouldn't have a Japanese license in the first
place.
> >>
> >> I find it to be something of a necessity.
> >
> >Granted.
> >
> >>
> >> >You should just renew your int'l license once a year out of the
country.
> >>
> >> I only leave the country once every 5 years or so on average, so there
> >> goes that idea.
> >>
> >> >Then you don't have to worry about points in the first place. All this
> >only works
> >> >if you have an int'l license. If you don't have an int'l license, and
> >> >actually got screwed into taking an actual driving class and test
200-300
> >> >thousand yen, well, life sucks.
> >>
> >> When I got my Japanese license, I didn't have to do any of that. I
> >> just gave a translation of my Tennessee license, took an eye exam, and
> >> that was it.
> >>
> >
> >That is a good situation.
> >
> >> >You've gotta live with what you got yourself
> >> >into. Rules regarding int'l licenses and who may use them have changed
> >this
> >> >year I am reading on a website right now... kanji is a little rusty,
but
> >it
> >> >looks like you must prove now that you have left the country more than
> >once
> >> >a year in order to continue using an int'l license.
> >>
> >> From the National Police Agency's website:
> >>
> >> ■ 日本において運転できる期間
> >> 1)日本の免許証：有効期間内
> >> 2)国際免許証及び外国の免許証：日本に上陸した日から1年間又は当該免許証の
有
> >効期間の
> >> いずれか短い期間（ただし、住民基本台帳法に記録されている者が出国の確認
を、
> >外国人
> >> 登録法を受けている者が再入国の許可等を受けて日本から出国し、３か月未満
のう
> >ちに帰
> >> 国した場合においては、当該帰国（上陸）の日は国際免許証等による運転可能
期間
> >の起算
> >> 日とはなりません。）
> >>
> >> I don't have the means to remain outside Japan for over three months
> >> at a time, especially just so I can try to pull some touristy scam
> >> with an international drivers license.
> >>
> >Well, I for one am the first to suggest that you should play by the
rules.
> >As far as touristy scam goes... I don't think many tourists really know
> >about the situation. Maybe it's the "ugly gaijin" scam?
>
> Maybe it's the "gaigin with no fixed address who dashes in and out of
> Japan before the cops and prosecutors get around to chasing his ass
> down and hauling him in" scam.
>
> Unfortunately, that won't work for most us, especially us newbies.
>

No, I do have an address in Japan. And I'm paying big for it too. But yes,
it would work for lot's.

O well. It is better to play it safe though I suppose.

Also, you know those orange gizmos they tie around your mirror with the
cable that has the ticket in it?

Solution? bolt cutters from your local hardware store. I know it sounds
silly, but if you just say "I don't remember seeing one of those on my car",
well, you don't get a ticket for it. I know it sounds unbelievable... but
really, that works to for parking. (unless of course they are waiting by
your car for you to come back). Again, I don't *promote* this of course...

>
>
>