What Happens When I Am an Out of State Resident and I Get a Chicago DUI

Perhaps you are visiting the great state of Illinois and you get pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence. There are many out-of-state drivers who think that just because they are not in their home state, this will be nothing more than a traffic violation or a slap on the wrist.

What really happens when I am an out-of-state resident and I get a Philadelphia DUI? The answer might surprise you.

Similar Charges Across the Country

Despite you being away from the state where your driver’s license was issues, you face serious consequences when you are arrested under suspicion of DUI in Philadelphia. Every state now has similar DUI penalties on the books, whether you reside in Illinois or elsewhere in the country. Thanks in part to the Congressional Highway Fund, the legal driving limit is the same in every state. If you are tested and your blood alcohol level is over 0.08, then you are considered driving drunk, regardless what part of the country the offense occurred.

Although the regulations are the same for the amount of alcohol in the blood in each state, the penalties might not be because every state handles the DUI cases differently. Just like how one judge may rule differently for two similar DUI cases, so too are the penalties handed down from state to state.

Understanding the Complexities of the Law

There are many out-of-state drivers who get arrested in Philadelphia for DUI and try to defend themselves because they think they are off the hook when they get back home. Not only can the DUI charges be different in each state, the sanctions will also be affected concerning where the offense took place. What may come as a surprise to many out-of-state residents arrested in Philadelphia for DUI is that they may be subject to double the punishment in some circumstances. Despite the ruling in the Philadelphia court, these drivers might have to deal with a whole new set of troubles once back in their home state.

Don’t allow this one mistake to ruin your financial future, the DUI attorney will work tirelessly on your behalf to discredit the evidence present by the police so that the chances of having to pay for it twice won’t occur.

Keeping Your DUI a Secret

Drivers who are arrested for DUI in Chicago might think that they can deal with the consequences here and keep the incident a secret from the state where the license has been issued. The thinking here is that I made a mistake in Illinois, so now I can’t drive there, but I should be fine everywhere else. Not understanding the complexities of the DUI laws and entering into a plea-bargain with the hopes of it staying a secret could be more costly than imagined. The majority of states are included in an interstate license compact, which in a sense alerts your local state police if you have been arrested for a variety of crimes out of your home state.

Your Philadelphia DUI attorney will explain how all the information pertaining to your arrest and conviction can be forwarded to the police in the city in which you reside. The trouble now escalates because it is at the discretion of your local police to punish you even further under the laws governing your own state.

The Cost of Getting a Philadelphia DUI

Getting a DUI in Philadelphia is costly enough for residents of Illinois, out-of-state drivers may be subjected to far more financial burdens than they first anticipated. When you hire a skilled Philadelphia DUI attorney, they will take the time to walk you through all the details of this case, including the costs that could be incurred even when you return home. There are a number of states that already have reciprocity agreements that will require the state where you reside to implement additional punishments for getting a DUI out-of-state. Even though the state does have the option to punish you further, it is usually on a case-by-case basis.

Although the state of Illinois can not take away your out-of-state driver’s license, there are plenty of harsh punishments the court can impose on the driver. The Philadelphia judge presiding over your DUI case could impose significant fines, including towing and storage of your vehicle, court fees, and even recommend jail time. The judge could revoke the driving privileges for the state of Illinois.

When you reside out of the state of Illinois and get a DUI in Philadelphia, it is imperative you begin working with a skilled DUI attorney sooner than later. Getting the charges dismissed or the case dropped will go a long way in reducing the negative financial impact this incident can have when dealing with your state government back home.

FAQ: What Happens If You Get a DUI in Philadelphia as an Out-of-State Driver?

1) Can I get serious DUI charges in Illinois if I’m from another state?

Yes. Even if you are visiting Illinois, you can still face serious DUI consequences if you are arrested in Philadelphia for driving under the influence. Being an out-of-state driver does not make it “just a traffic ticket.”

2) Is the legal DUI limit the same in every state?

According to the content, yes. The legal driving limit is the same nationwide, and if your blood alcohol level is over 0.08, you are considered driving drunk regardless of where the offense occurred.

3) Are DUI penalties the same in every state?

Not always. While the blood alcohol limit may be consistent, the penalties can vary because each state handles DUI cases differently, and even judges may rule differently in similar cases.

4) Can out-of-state drivers face more complicated consequences than Illinois residents?

Yes. The content explains that out-of-state drivers may face additional complications because both the state where the offense happened and the driver’s home state may impose consequences.

5) Can I be punished twice for an out-of-state DUI?

In some circumstances, yes. The content warns that out-of-state drivers may be subject to “double the punishment,” meaning consequences in Illinois and additional trouble when they return to their home state.

6) If I go back home, can I just ignore the Illinois DUI charge?

No. The content explains that some out-of-state drivers mistakenly think they are “off the hook” once they return home, but DUI charges and sanctions can follow them.

7) Can I keep my Illinois DUI arrest a secret from my home state?

Most likely not. The content explains that many states participate in an interstate license compact, which can alert your home state when you are arrested for certain crimes out of state.

8) What is the interstate license compact?

It is described as an agreement among many states that helps share information about arrests and convictions, including DUIs, between states.

9) Can my home state punish me even if the DUI happened in Illinois?

Yes. The content explains that once the arrest or conviction information is forwarded to your home state, your local authorities may choose to impose additional penalties under your home state’s laws.

10) Can Illinois take away my out-of-state driver’s license?

The content states that Illinois cannot take away an out-of-state driver’s license, but Illinois can still impose harsh penalties and restrict driving privileges within Illinois.

11) What penalties can an Illinois court impose on an out-of-state driver?

According to the content, the court may impose penalties such as:

• Significant fines

• Towing and storage costs

• Court fees

• Recommended jail time

• Revoking driving privileges in Illinois

12) Why can a Philadelphia DUI be more expensive for out-of-state drivers?

Out-of-state drivers may face additional financial burdens because they may have to handle penalties in Illinois and also deal with extra sanctions or reciprocity agreements in their home state.

13) What are reciprocity agreements and how do they affect DUI cases?

The content explains that some states have reciprocity agreements that may require the home state to implement additional punishments after an out-of-state DUI. These consequences are often handled on a case-by-case basis.

14) Why should an out-of-state driver hire a Philadelphia DUI attorney quickly?

Because hiring an attorney early may help discredit the evidence, fight the charges, and potentially get the case dismissed or dropped. The content explains that reducing or eliminating the Illinois case can reduce the negative impact back home as well.

15) What is the biggest risk for out-of-state drivers charged with DUI in Illinois?

The biggest risk is underestimating how serious the situation is and assuming it will not affect them once they return home. The content emphasizes that the consequences may follow them and become more costly than expected.