What a California DUI Means for Arizona Residents

Southern California is a picturesque area ideal for those looking for the perfect vacation destination. Visitors from across the country come to celebrate the summer and soak in the lifestyle. For those in neighboring Arizona, a trip to California is not too far away, and thus it is a frequent hotspot for short vacations.

It can be easy to get wrapped up in all this fun and travel back to Arizona with an arrest for DUI on your record. But does an arrest for DUI in California have any affect on you if you are an Arizona resident?

Will My Arizona Driver’s License Be Affected by a California DUI?

When you are arrested for DUI in California, you will have 10 days to request a DMV hearing. If you do not request a hearing or you lose your hearing, your driver’s license will be suspended or revoked. However, the process is different if you are an out-of-state driver.
California doesn’t have the jurisdiction to take away your Arizona license, but your driving privileges in

California will be revoked if you are arrested for DUI. The California DMV is immediately notified once you are charged with DUI, and then will forward this information to the DMV in your state. Arizona is a part of an agreement called the Interstate Driver License Compact, and thus has the ability to impose the same consequences regarding your license that you would face if you were charged with DUI in Arizona.

Will an Arizona Resident Have to Appear in California Court?

Your criminal case will move forward even if you return to Arizona. It will be of great benefit to you to hire an experienced California DUI attorney. Your attorney will be able to appear in court on your behalf so that you will not have to leave Arizona. Your DUI attorney can also help you build a winning defense to the charges you are facing.

If your case does not result in a conviction, it will likely have no impact on you in Arizona. However, if you are convicted of DUI, you will have to return to California to complete your sentence.

Contact an Experienced DUI Attorney in Southern California

If you are an Arizona resident facing charges of DUI in California, you need to speak to an experienced lawyer immediately. Hiring an attorney can help you relieve the stress of having to travel across state lines multiple times for your criminal case. In addition, you will not want to have to return to California to complete your sentence if you are convicted, so you need a knowledgeable attorney who may be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed completely.

At Wallin & Klarich, our skilled attorneys have over 40 years of experience representing clients in DUI cases across all of Southern California. We’ve helped thousands of clients in their time of legal need, and we can help you now.

Call our offices today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.