Some people are under the impression that traffic citations acquired outside of their home state won't have much bearing on their license. But this isn't true. Getting a traffic citation in another state will affect you in a similar, if not worse, fashion as would a ticket issued at home.
Traffic tickets can lead to harsh penalties like the suspension of your license, costly fines, and other repercussions that can ruin your vacation. This is why tourists who have been issued a traffic citation in New Jersey should be informed. Only with the help of an attorney can you resolve these issues, and ensure that your traffic issues in New Jersey don't follow you back home.
In this article, we'll dive into what happens when you get cited with a traffic violation while out-of-state in New Jersey and how an attorney can help you.
Driver's License Compact (DLC)
Tickets can follow you from state to state mainly due to an agreement known as the Driver's License Compact (DLC). This compact is a method of maintaining driving accountability across participating states.
When you register for a driver's license in your state, you implicitly accept a number of conditions that may be in the fine print. Among these conditions, is your state's active involvement in the DLC. In compliance with this agreement, most states, including New Jersey, vow to share information documented about your driving record. This way, if you acquire a citation in New Jersey, your home state will be notified.
Once your home state is notified, the traffic violation will be documented and added to your driving record. The majority of violations and their penalties will cross over. So, if the traffic ticket you acquired in New Jersey gave you just enough points to enforce a license suspension in your home state, your license will be suspended. Details about documentation and repercussions are accessible through a national database maintained by the DLC, known as the National Driving Register.
The good news is that in some states, minor moving violations may not follow you back home. A minor speeding ticket, like driving 6 to 10 miles over the posted speed limit, for example, may not be transferred if you're lucky. It all depends on how lenient your state is.
It's important to note that insurance companies will be notified of violations in all instances. They will likely apply surcharges that raise your insurance premium regardless of if a traffic violation was cited in-state or out-of-state.
New Jersey Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney
Being cited with a traffic ticket in the state of New Jersey while visiting may follow you home. No matter how minor the violation may seem, it is recommended that you contest it with the help of a legal professional. Joseph D. Lento is devoted to helping his clients successfully overcome traffic infractions and the potentially serious consequences they carry. For more questions about his representation, or for a case evaluation, contact him today at 888-535-3686.
