Can You Move Out of State With a Pending DUI?
A DUI charge is disruptive on its own but can be much more so if you were planning to leave the state when you were arrested. Can you move out of state with a pending DUI? If you do, will the DUI/DWI charge follow you and cause interruptions in your life? Below, we answer these very important questions.
If you have been charged with a DUI in New Jersey, contact the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC to discuss your rights and legal options with an experienced New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer.
Driver’s License Compact
Contrary to popular belief, if you are charged or convicted of a DUI in New Jersey and move to another state, your DUI will follow you. This is because, like almost all of the states, New Jersey participates in the DLC (Driver’s License Compact) and the NVC (Nonresident Violator Compact). These are interstate compacts wherein states agree to share driving convictions of its drivers with each other.
Because states share driver convictions, any state you move to which participates in the DLC and NVC can be notified of your charges or conviction by your home state and vice versa.
Can You Ignore the DUI?
There are many reasons you may want to leave the state, including to go to school or pursue a new job. While at the time it might seem like a good idea to ignore your New Jersey DUI, it can come back to haunt you. For example, if your license gets suspended in New Jersey, the licensing agency in your new state will access the suspension and deny your application for a license in that state until you have met all of New Jersey’s sentencing requirements and have your New Jersey driving privileges reinstated.
Similarly, should you ignore your New Jersey court dates, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest. A simple encounter with law enforcement in the other state could lead to the discovery of your warrant, arrest, and incarceration.
Handling a DUI/DWI Court Case After You’ve Moved Out of State
After you’ve moved out of state, you will still need to attend the court hearings for the DUI/DWI in New Jersey. You can either return to New Jersey for the hearing or make arrangements through the court to attend virtually online if the court permits it. However, you will need a New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer to appear in court on your behalf if you attend the hearing virtually,
That said, you may still be required to attend certain proceedings in person, which you should always discuss with your attorney.
Contact a New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer
Can you move out of state with a pending DUI? Yes, you can, but you might still have to attend the court hearings An experienced New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer can advise on what to do before you leave and how to defend your DUI.
Matthew V. Portella has been defending the rights of criminal defendants in New Jersey for over 25 years. When he takes on your case, his main focus is to minimize or eliminate the consequences of your arrest or prosecution while calming your fears about the legal process. If you have been charged with a DUI, contact his office at 856-245-5904 to discuss your case.