Consequences of Traffic Violation in a Different State

Interviewer: If your home base is in, I don’t know, Louisiana, but you get cited in Ohio. It’s still going to affect your license?

Dale: Absolutely. Absolutely, and every state is different. For instance, there’s a way you can get a no point violation. If you’re on a roadway that the speed limit is 60 miles per hour plus, as long as you’re not 5 miles over, it will be what they call a “no point violation.” But, for instances in North Carolina, it makes no difference if it’s a zero point offense. The fact that you were speeding is enough and they will account it against you in North Carolina on your driver’s license.

Interviewer: So if the driver lives in another state and they get pulled over and cited in Ohio. They need an Ohio attorney like you, but they may have consequences in their home state that go beyond what happens to them in Ohio?

Dale: Yes, I will often check with an out of state attorney to see what would be a good reduction. In other words, a charge that will not affect your driving record in say Illinois, Georgia, or North Carolina.

Interviewer: Do they need two attorneys or just one?

Dale: Well, every state is different Okay. Most states belong to the driver’s license compact, which means that they will honor what goes on in another state. However, the effect of what happens in the other state might be totally different. You might have a penalty in Ohio, there might be a separate penalty in North Carolina, or say for instance, Texas. I give you an example for driving while intoxicated in Ohio, you will get a suspension and you will get a fine. In Texas, when that information gets back down to Texas your suspension will start all over again once you are convicted in Texas. And you’ll have to pay, like $8000 thousand reinstatement fee. So when you have an out of state driver you have to worry about both states.

Interviewer: But in the very least, you need an attorney in the state where you were cited, at the very least.

Dale: Yes.

Interviewer: Okay. So, even for traffic offenses, is it always worth it to have an attorney to defend them? Even if it’s a speeding ticket or a red light ticket?

Dale: It’s always worth it, yes. Always, in the long run it is. Because the effect it’ll have on your insurance. If you’ve had a clean record with no points for 5 or 6 years your rates drop dramatically.