Out of State Drivers & California DUI
The implications of a California DUI don’t differ significantly for residents versus out of state visitors. The legal standard is the same for both: a DUI can be charged for driving while intoxicated and/or with an excessive BAC. And the court-imposed penalties are the same for a DUI conviction.
The differences arise with respect to drivers license issues. The California DMV lacks authority to suspend or revoke a license issued by another state. Therefore, an out of state driver with a California DUI cannot get his/her drivers license suspended directly by the DMV.
However, California and most states belong to the “Interstate Compact.” This is an agreement among 45 of the states’ DMVs to share information and honor each others’ drivers license suspensions. This means that the California DMV will report nationally any action it takes against a foreign license. Most often, the sister state issuing the license will respond by imposing its own restriction, suspension or revocation.
