[Montgomery, Ala.] -- Representatives of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) on Friday, Oct. 16, at the state Capitol to sign an agreement regarding the mutual recognition of driver licenses.
Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier, along with Alabama's Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, met with Huei-Yuan Tai, the Director General of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Atlanta, in the Capitol's Old House Chamber.
Secretary Collier said, "We are pleased to collaborate with the Republic of China (Taiwan) on this plan to streamline the exchange of valid non-commercial driver licenses for the citizens of Alabama who may be living in Taiwan and for the people of Taiwan who may be living in our state."
Lt. Gov. Ivey agreed and warmly welcomed the Director General and his assistants and other guests, some of whom are Taiwanese nationals who call Montgomery home.
The agreement, which Alabama also has made with Korea and Germany, benefits the state as it promotes business investments and other opportunities for each of the nations involved. Each of the parties will acknowledge that their respective governments have established comparable knowledge and driving skills requirements that must be demonstrated by a driver license applicant under comparable standards for testing knowledge and driving skills prior to a driver license being issued.
Simply put, in both Alabama and Taiwan, individuals must visit a driver license office and present a valid driver license along with any necessary documentation. They are not required to take a road skills test.
Secretary Collier said, "As Mr. Tai pointed out following the signing, Alabama and Taiwan have been sister states since 1983, and this driver license reciprocity agreement should further encourage students and business professionals to consider moving to Alabama and vice versa."
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