With a valid state driver's license, you can lawfully drive in any other state. But, of course, all drivers must abide by the driving laws of the state where they're operating a vehicle. Also, if you move to another state, you can drive with an out-of-state license only temporarily.
So, what happens if you get a traffic ticket while driving out of state? Most states are parties to interstate agreements designed specifically to keep track of out-of-state violations. Here are some of the basics of how these agreements work.
In most instances, getting a traffic ticket out of state is about the same as getting a ticket in your home state. You'll have to pay the fine, and the conviction will affect your driving record the same way as an in-state ticket would.
However, there are a few states where it doesn't work this way. If you live in one of these states, an out-of-state ticket might not impact your in-state driving record.
Below we explain how two interstate agreements control the impact of out-of-state traffic tickets.
Most states are members of the "Driver's License Compact" (DLC) and the "Nonresident Violator Compact" (NVC). All states except Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin are members of the DLC. And, all states except Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Wisconsin are members of the NVC. So, that leaves only two states—Michigan and Wisconsin—that aren't members of either agreement.
States that have signed on to one or both of these compacts have essentially agreed to share information about traffic offenses committed by out-of-state drivers.
The states that are members of the DLC have all agreed to report all traffic convictions of out-of-state drivers to the home state of the driver. The Department of Motor Vehicles (or the state agency in charge of driving licensing and the like) then generally treats the out-of-state conviction as if it had occurred in the driver's home state.
In other words, the out-of-state violation will affect the driver's record in the same way that an in-state violation would. So, in states that have traffic violation point systems, the out-of-state ticket will result in the DMV assessing points to the driver's record. However, the fines for the out-of-state violation are collected by the state where the violation occurred.
When an out-of-state driver gets a traffic ticket, the state where the violation occurred generally doesn't have much influence in getting the driver to pay the fine. The NVC was created to remedy this problem. The states that are members of the NVC have agreed to suspend the license of any driver who fails to pay an out-of-state fine until that fine is paid or the ticket is otherwise resolved.
Most states have traffic violation point systems. However, the number of points assigned for a violation varies by state. For instance, running a stop sign in one state might result in five points, while the same offense could be three points in another state.
States that are part of the Driver's License Compact will assign points for an out-of-state violation as if the violation occurred in the home state.
Beating a traffic ticket in court is the best-case scenario for a driver who receives a citation. If you win in traffic court, you won't have to pay a fine or worry about the ticket affecting your driving record.
Contesting a traffic ticket normally requires you or your attorney to come to the traffic court several times. So, unless you live close to the state line, it can be inconvenient to fight an out-of-state ticket unless you want to hire a traffic attorney to go to court for you.
Some states allow drivers to contest a traffic ticket by written declaration rather than coming to court in person. Of course, this method makes it easier for out-of-state drivers to contest a ticket.
Some jurisdictions also allow drivers to appear in court remotely. By appearing remotely, you can present defenses and make your arguments without leaving your home.
Every case is different, but appearing remotely is probably preferable to contesting your ticket by written declaration in most cases. Many traffic cases get dismissed because the officer simply doesn't show up. If you choose to fight your ticket with a written declaration, the officer generally doesn't need to come to court, and you miss out on the chance of an easy win due to officer absence.
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