If I Get a DUI in New Jersey, Will My Florida License Be Suspended?
- As of 2011, states have discretion to determine whether to notify the home state of an infraction on an out-of-state license, according to the DUI Attorney Tab website. The home state's DMV then can take action, such as suspending your driver's license in accordance with its laws.
- If you are convicted of a serious traffic violation such as a DUI, you will be listed in the National Driving Registry. When you apply for a license in another state, the DMV checks the registry. And if you are listed because of a conviction for DUI or other serious offenses, the DMV in your new state can refuse to grant you a license. Thus, if you move to Florida after getting a DUI in New Jersey, you may not be able to get a license. You can clear your name from the National Driving Registry by satisfying all legal requirements in the state you were convicted of DUI in.
- When convicted on a DUI charge in New Jersey, you must serve a jail sentence and may lose your license for anywhere from three months to 10 years depending on the seriousness of your offense and whether you have been convicted of DUI before. Thus, you will not be able to get a license in Florida during the suspension period if you move; if you live in Florida, you will still lose your license for at least that amount of time as you were convicted in a New Jersey court.
- In New Jersey, you can be convicted of DUI even if you are not driving. If you have the key in the ignition while legally intoxicated, you can be arrested for DUI. In addition, you can be arrested if you refuse to take a field sobriety test. Avoid the driver's seat if your sobriety is in doubt to avoid the possibility of getting a DUI while you are visiting.