Orange County Lawyer Defending Out of State DUI Arrests

Out of State DUI Arrest Lawyers in Orange County

When a person who lives in another state is arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in California, he or she will need a California DUI attorney. The lawyers at Gold & Witham have over forty years of combined experience in criminal law and are qualified to handle out of state DUI charges for clients throughout Orange County and Southern California.

An out of state DUI will result in criminal penalties and DMV penalties in the state where the DUI occurred, as well as DMV penalties in the driver’s home state. All but five states are participants in the Interstate Driver’s License Compact (DLC) and will impose DMV penalties when a driving under the influence conviction occurs in another state. This is part of the theory: “One Driver, One License, One Record.” The five states not involved in the DLC are Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Georgia. California and all other states are members and will report citations, DUI arrests and other traffic violations to one another.

DUI Penalties for Out of State Arrests

At Gold & Witham, we know the ins and outs of California drunk driving laws and understand how to effectively represent clients throughout the DUI court process and at DMV hearings. Out of state DUI charges can be difficult, particularly when the defendant needs to go back to his or her home state. Our attorneys will do our best to represent you without your having to be present, and this is most often possible in misdemeanor DUI cases. Felony DUI charges will more than likely require your presence in court.

An out of state DUI conviction in California will result in the implementation of criminal penalties, DMV penalties and the driver’s home state DMV penalties. In California, a first DUI offense will result in a 120 day license suspension, up to six months in county jail, fines and court fees, and more. Although the driver does not have a California driver’s license, and the police officer who makes the arrest cannot confiscate an out of state driver’s license, the California DMV can suspend the driver’s driving privileges in California. The driver’s home state will then impose their own license suspension or revocation penalties based upon state law, regarding the individual’s driver’s license.

Contact an Orange County DUI lawyer at Gold & Witham to see how we can help you reclaim your most valuable possession – your peace of mind.