The potential punishments for DUIs are hefty. Receiving one such charge in your home state is often problematic enough, but if you are declared guilty of an out-of-state DUI, the situation may be even more worrying. Depending on the circumstances, you may end up facing consequences in two states. Consult with a Bergen County, New Jersey DUI lawyer if you have been charged with driving under the influence. Our law office has extensive experience with traffic defense cases like DUIs and will do our utmost to get your charges dismissed.
Understanding DWIs, DUIs, and DWAIs in New Jersey
There are two main abbreviations used in the United States for the action of consuming a substance that alters your ability to receive and process sensory information for a limited time: DWI and DUI. DWI is short for driving while intoxicated and DUI is short for driving under the influence. Usually, the substance being referenced is alcohol, but other substances like prescription medicine and controlled drugs also fit under the definition of the law in New Jersey.
What Happens if I Get an Out-of-State DUI?
Most states belong to the Interstate Driver’s License Compact, otherwise known as the IDLC. However, this compact does not include Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
An important function of the IDLC is facilitating the ability of members to share information regarding driving arrests and convictions. When someone who lives in an IDLC state commits a driving offense, like a DUI, that information will very likely be shared. This means you may face legal aftermath in both your home state and the state where the offense took place.
The result may be losing your driving privileges in that state, and also the revocation or suspension of your license in your home state. DUI charges in New Jersey can also include prison time and community service. Furthermore, if you had a DUI in your home state before visiting New Jersey, then local courts might not treat you as a first offender, even if this is your first DUI in New Jersey.
But if your driving offense happened in one of the five states outside of the IDLC, it’s possible those states would not report this to your home state, leaving you to deal with the charges just in the non-IDLC state.
The bottom line is that if you’re currently facing DUI charges, whether out of state or not, you need a competent legal team in your corner who can effectively fight for your future. Fortunately, you are in the right place. Contact the Law Office of E. Gregory M. Cannarozzi today so we can get started working on your case.