Invalid IDP

This topic has been posted several times on this forum, but I would like to know if anyone has had this happen to them and what the process was like for them and the end result, such as fines, temporary driving bans, and visa situation. A few months ago, I was stopped while driving for a headlight being out. I was then asked for my license and was informed of the 1 year IDP validity rule for residents. My US drivers license and IDP permit date were still valid. I have had to meet with the police several times since then. I was told by the investigating officer I was not arrested, so I will not get deported or sent to jail, and most likely the prosecutor will not take the case because of my ignorance, and there being no car accident or any reckless driving. However, they said if the prosecutor chooses to prosecute, I might have to go to court. I read about some people getting off with no ramifications such as Ryo Ishiikawa and others get fined 500,000 yen(Osunaarashi). So has anyone been in this situation or does anyone have a friend or acquaintance, who has had this happen? The more information the better, thanks.

Question: Are you living in Japan? What is your visa?

Ignorantia juris non excusat: ignorance of the law excuses not

The information about IDP and driving in Japan as been explained and repeated for years now. It is fully documented on US embassy website:
https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-c...
gResidentsh are expected to convert or obtain a Japanese drivers license. Persons using an international drivers license who are resident in Japan can be subject to fines or arrest. The exact boundary between gresidenth and gnot residenth is unclear. In practice it seems to involve more than simply visa status or length of stay in Japan and is determined by the police.

We have heard from several Americans who were told by the police that using an International Driverfs License for more than a year, or using one after exiting and then returning to Japan, or using one when you are residing in Japan, or after you have obtained an Alien Registration Card, or after 90 days in Japan, or using a license obtained by mail
while you are in Japan, is illegal. In two instances, following accidents, Americans were charged with driving without a license, a serious offense. Driving without a license may also void your insurance coverage.

I noticed it happens almost exclusively to US drivers and not to other westerners. Strange isn't it? Wait! Maybe because US drivers perfectly know they HAVE to go through the full process to get a Japanese driving licence unlike the French or the German for example who just have to convert their licence to a Japanese one.

Justmyday- I have Instructor visa for two more years, but I will be moving out of Japan this year or changing to a specialist in Humanities.


No Excuse- I already said in my original post, I now know the rule. Which Americans are you referring to? You may be right about that, but it would not have made a difference in my case. I just did not do enough research.

Update

The police sent the case to the prosecutor and they decided to not prosecute, so I was not fined. I also asked if this would affect my Japanese driver's license in the future if I were to get one and they said there will be a record of this case, but they do not believe so.

Given this outcome, I am surprised to see that others have been fined and or have gotten 1 or 2-year driving bans

I believe that in case of Osunaarashi, he was involved in an accident, so there was no way the police would just let him go (also AFAIK he initially tried to evade the charges by saying that the wife was driving).

In case of Ryo Ishikawa, he got a license in the States and got an IDP off it and drove with it in Japan, but didn't know that he had to have lived in that country continuously for at least 3 months before he could drive with that IDP in Japan. He was let off probably because he was a minor at the time and immediately apologized.

I guess the fines (and the police/prosecutor's decision) would depend on how long you've been driving with IDP in Japan/living in Japan, if it was repeatedly done (like returning to the home country once a year for a short time to get the IDP renewed), if the person truly sounds like they didn't know the rule (ignorance doesn't excuse, true, but it is not an "obvious" rule) or sounded like they were not respecting the local rules, if they apologized immediately, etc.