Getting charged with driving under the influence (DUI) is always a bad idea; it's even worse if the charges stem from an out-of-state incident. Here are some things you should know about out-of-state DUI charges.

The Laws of the State Apply

The first thing you should know is that the DUI laws of the state in which you were arrested are the ones that will determine your case. This means there is a chance you will be subjected to harsher DUI penalties than you would have faced in your home state because DUI laws differ by state. For example, the minimum monetary fines, the necessity of ignition interlock devices, the minimum license suspension, and the minimum jail time all vary by state.

This means you should familiarize yourself with the laws of the state in which you have been arrested so that you know exactly what awaits you in the criminal process. The best way to do this is to hire a lawyer in that state, preferably one who can practice both in that state and in your home state.

Your Home Police Will Hear About It

Just because you have been arrested out of your state, it doesn't mean that the authorities in your home state won't have a record of your DUI. This is because most states have reciprocal DUI laws that allow them to exchange information with each other. Therefore, if you are arrested for DUI in a foreign state, you may face additional penalties from the police in your home state. For example, you may have to pay a fine in your home state, too. This means many people convicted of out-of-state DUI actually end up getting punished harder than those who commit DUIs within their states.

Prepare For a High Defense Cost

As previously mentioned, the DUI laws of the state in which you committed the DUI are the ones that will determine your case. For example, you will face an administrative license suspension in the foreign state (at the very least, you may face a similar thing in your home state, too). You will also face DUI criminal proceedings in the foreign state. If you decide to contest both of these issues, you have to incur the expenses of traveling back and forth between your home state and your foreign state, among other things. Generally, expect the expenses to be higher than you would have incurred for an in-state DUI charge.

For more information, reach out to companies like Robert A Murray.