The Driver License Compact is a lengthy, complex legal agreement between most of the states in the United States.

For those licensed in another state who are arrested in the Rochester area for drinking and driving, it means any conviction will be reported to their home state.

For Rochester drivers traveling elsewhere in the United States, it means a conviction for drinking and driving in another state will be reported to New York State.

There are five states that are not currently parties to the Driver License Compact: Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Tennessee.

All other states and the District of Columbia have entered into this agreement.

With regards to drinking and driving laws, the primary purpose of the compact is to ensure that a driver convicted of an alcohol-related offense in one state who is licensed by another state does not simply return home and face no meaningful penalty regarding his or her driving privileges.

While a state can bar a person from driving within its borders following a DWI conviction, it cannot suspend or revoke a driver license issued by another state.

The states that are party to the Driver License Compact have agreed to report drinking and driving convictions to the state where the driver’s license was issued.

The state which issued the license will then take some action against the convicted driver’s license based on the out-of-state conviction.

What specific actions will be taken depends on the particular laws of the driver’s home state.

For New York State drivers, it means that an out-of-state drinking and driving conviction will result in a suspension or revocation of their New York State driver’s license.

The laws surrounding drinking and driving offenses can be complicated.

If you need the help of an experienced DWI lawyer, call us at 585-484-7432.