Out-Of-State DUIs in Florida
While many people travel down to Florida during the summer, us Floridians also take many trips to other states around the country. After the last year we’ve all had, we’re all eager to get traveling again. However, sometimes you party a little too hard on vacation and find yourself with an out-of-state DUI. You may be wondering, are the penalties only valid in the state where you were arrested? When you return home to Florida, will that DUI affect you?
Interstate Compacts
When you get an out-of-state DUI, Florida will be alerted. There are a few main systems in place to share this information.
Non-Resident Violators Compact of 1997
Florida is a member of this compact along with 43 other states. Per this agreement, states are required to report any serious traffic violations to the driver’s home state.
The home state will uphold the penalties associated with the traffic violation or charge. For example, if the driver owes fines to Georgia, Florida may suspend their license until they pay those fines.
However, if the violation happens in a state that is not a member of the compact, the driver’s home state license will not be affected.
Non-member states include:
- Alaska
- California
- Michigan
- Montana
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
Driver License Compact
This is another agreement between states to share driver violations. Under the driver license compact, states are required to keep full driving records for their residents that other states can see at any time.
Most relevant to DUI is that, as part of this compact, any out-of-state DUI will be treated like a Florida DUI. Any sanctions put in place by the state where the DUI happened will be upheld in Florida. A common example of this is license suspension.
National Driver Register
This national database holds information about drivers’ records. This will include if your license has been suspended, revoked, or if you have been convicted of a DUI.
DUI Defense
As you can see, there are many systems in place that allow states to share information about drivers with their home state. If you are convicted of a DUI in any state, it’s best to assume that Florida will know about, and uphold, the penalties of the DUI.
If you’re facing drunk driving charges, contact Hager & Schwartz, P.A. today. We can provide the legal guidance needed to fight your charges.
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