If you are a driver from somewhere other than California and received a DUI in Vista, you will face largely the same consequences as a California driver who is arrested for drunk driving -with one exception. Out-of-state drivers who receive DUIs in California will not have their license taken away by the arresting officer. That’s because California police cannot take away something that belongs to another state -like a driver’s license. Be aware though that you cannot drive in California with your privilege to drive suspended, even if you still have a valid out of state license.
While this does mean you will retain your license for a while longer, most states recognize the penalties set forth by the California DMV. If you renew or obtain your out-of-state license, your local motor vehicle department may be aware of a California suspension and require you to clear it before issuing you another license. Your home state DMV may also take action against you right away if it becomes aware of a California DUI conviction.
Fortunately, you still have the right to fight the DUI charges and the DMV license suspension even if you reside in another state. While the process can be particularly intimidating and frustrating for someone who lives far away from the Vista courthouse, a skilled Vista DUI lawyer like Peter M. Liss can help make the process as easy as possible for you. In fact, in many cases, your attorney can appear in court for you, minimizing the number of times you will need to travel to San Diego County.
Additionally, if you are convicted, the sentencing you received may be arranged to occur in your home state with the help of your DUI lawyers. Vista courts will generally allow these penalties to be transferred to occur locally so the fines, jail time, alcohol treatment programs and any other penalties you incur can be handled from your home state and you will not need to travel to California to serve your sentence.
While an experienced Vista DUI attorney can make fighting the criminal charges and the DMV license suspension as easy as possible, you need to act quickly. California drunk driving laws only provide a ten day window to challenge a driver’s license suspension, so call (760) 643-4050 for a free initial consultation today.
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