Out-of-State Drivers and the Interstate Compact

Picture this: you are on vacation in the sunny state of Florida, and you have just been pulled over for a traffic violation. Beyond dealing with Florida laws and regulations, you may have to deal with your own state if it’s part of the inter-state Driver’s License Compact. Depending on where you are from, your DMV may not or may not be notified if you commit an out-of-state offense. You may be subject to license suspension or revocation, and points may be added to your record for qualifying offenses. If you have committed a criminal traffic violation such as DUI, it’s important that you contact an experienced Tampa DUI attorney at Pallegar Law, P.A. We have many clients who reside out-of-state, and we do everything possible to ensure that you are able to remain in your home state with your family while we defend your case.

The Driver License Compact was introduced in 1960, when the state of Nevada became the first member. The compact was created in order to exchange traffic information throughout the United States. If a driver commits a traffic violation out-of-state, the compact would ensure the home state receives that information. According to the National Center for Interstate Compacts (NCIC), the theme of the compact is “One Driver, One License, One Record.” Say that you recently received a traffic violation in Florida, but you live in Delaware. Your home state would then apply their own laws to the out-of-state offense, taking action against violations ranging from assessing points for minor speeding or moving violations, suspended licenses, or even DUI. However, your home state must have an equivalent statute for your out-of-state offense. For example, some states do not have careless driving offenses. If you are charged with careless driving out-of-state, but your home state does not have an equivalent offense, no action will be taken against you.

The Driver License Compact includes almost all of the 50 states. However, Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts are not members of the compact. Some states only adhere to the compact for major violations (DUI, felonies involving motor vehicles), like Pennsylvania, New York, Nevada, Maryland, and Colorado. If you or someone you know has been arrested for a criminal traffic violation, call an aggressive Tampa DUI attorney at Pallegar Law, P.A. today.

The Driver License Agreement is a compact written in the late 1990’s to replace the Driver License Compact. This compact requires states to report traffic convictions and maintain an accurate and complete driver’s history with all violations committed in any state. Member states that receive information from non-member states treat that information as if it came from a member. The Driver License Agreement was strengthened after the September 11 attacks, and Connecticut was the first state to join in 2002. Connecticut, Arkansas, and Massachusetts are currently the only member states of the Driver License Agreement.

If you have been arrested for a criminal traffic violation, call a knowledgeable Tampa DUI attorney at Pallegar Law, P.A. today. Call 813-444-3912 for your free consultation.