Pennsylvania traffic is nothing short of hellish. Tourists visiting the state won't have to drive far before running into congested roadways, rapid speed limit changes, and an abnormally heavy police presence. If you aren't accustomed to this type of atmosphere, it's easy for you to end up with a traffic ticket.
Some people are under the impression that traffic citations acquired outside of their home state won't have much bearing on their license. But this isn't true. Getting a traffic citation in another state will affect you in a similar, if not worse, fashion as would a ticket issued at home.
Traffic tickets can lead to harsh penalties like the suspension of your license, costly fines, and other repercussions that can ruin your vacation. This is why tourists who have been issued a traffic citation in Pennsylvania should be informed. Only with the help of an attorney can you resolve these issues, and ensure that your traffic issues in Pennsylvania don't follow you back home.
In this article, we'll dive into what happens when you get cited with a traffic violation while out-of-state in Pennsylvania and how an attorney can help you.
Driver's License Compact (DLC)
Tickets can follow you from state to state mainly due to an agreement known as the Driver's License Compact (DLC). This compact is a method of maintaining driving accountability across participating states.
When you register for a driver's license in your state, you implicitly accept a number of conditions that may be in the fine print. Among these conditions, is your state's active involvement in the DLC. In compliance with this agreement, most states, including Pennsylvania, vow to share information documented about your driving record. This way, if you acquire a citation in Pennsylvania, your home state will be notified.
Once your home state is notified, the traffic violation, however it's documented, will be added to your driving record. The majority of violations and their penalties will cross over. So, if the traffic ticket you acquired in Pennsylvania gave you just enough points to enforce a license suspension in your home state, your license will be suspended. Details about documentation and repercussions are accessible through a national database maintained by the DLC, known as the National Driving Register.
The good news is that in some states, minor moving violations may not follow you back home. A minor speeding ticket, like driving 6 to 10 miles over the posted speed limit, for example, may not be transferred if you're lucky. It all depends on how lenient your state is.
It's important to note that insurance companies will be notified of violations in all instances. They will likely apply surcharges that raise your insurance premium regardless of if a traffic violation was cited in-state or out-of-state.
Pennsylvania Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney
A traffic ticket in the state of Pennsylvania while visiting may follow you home. No matter how minor the violation may seem, it is recommended that you contest it with the help of a legal professional. Our Criminal Law Team is devoted to helping our clients successfully overcome traffic infractions and the potentially serious consequences they carry. For more questions about his representation, or for a case evaluation, contact us today at 888-535-3686.
