Interstate Driver’s License Compact

What is the Interstate Driver’s License Compact (IDLC)?

The Interstate Driver’s License Compact (IDLC) is an agreement by 45 states to share information about driving-related arrests and convictions.  This means, for example, that an individual arrested for drunk driving in California may face a suspended license and/or a fine in the state that issued the driver’s license.

How does the IDLC affect my driving rights?

Simply put, if you are arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in one state, your license may be suspended in your home state and you may incur additional fines or penalties as well.

That said, the way the IDLC works can be confusing and it’s not always clear what impact it will have on your ability to legally drive.  An experienced New York DWI defense attorney can advise whether the IDLC will affect a driver’s privileges in your home state and elsewhere across the United States.

Have you been charged with a DWI or DUI offense in New York?

Contact us today for a free consultation: (212) 679-1990

Other states will only take action after being notified of a DUI / DWI court conviction. Among the states that will only act upon a court conviction, some will only take action if the burden of obtaining a criminal conviction in the other state is equal to the home state. Some states may add additional penalties, and some will impose fewer consequences than New York.

The good news for DUI drivers licensed in states that belong to the Interstate Driver’s License Compact is that despite promises to notify one another about driving-related crimes, communication between the states remains poor. If New York never communicates the driver’s loss of privileges to the licensing state, no other action will be taken. If the driver’s home state takes no action to rescind privileges, the driver still holds a valid license, and can continue to drive legally in every state except New York.

The following states have agreed to notify one another when a driver is arrested or convicted of DUI / DWI.

State Citation Year Of Joinder
Alabama Code of Ala. 1975 Secs. 32-6-30 to 32-6-36 1966
Alaska Alaska: AS Secs. 28.37.010 to 28.37.190 1986
Arizona A.R.S. Sec. 28-1851 1963
Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. Secs. 27-17-101 to 27-17-106 1969
California West’s Ann. Cal. Veh. Code Sec. 15000 et seq. 1963
Colorado C.R.S. Secs. 24-60-1101 to 24-60-1107 1965
Congress 72 Stat.635 1958
Connecticut C.G.S.A. Secs. 14-111c 1993
D.C. DC Code Secs. 50-1001, 50-1002 1985
Delaware 21 Del. C. Secs. 8101, 8111, to 8113 1964
Florida West’s F.S.A. Sec. 322.43 et seq. 1967
Hawaii HRS Secs. 286C-1, 286C-2 1971
Idaho I.C. Secs. 49-2001 to 49-2003 1963
Illinois 625 ILCS 5/6-700 et seq. 1970
Indiana IC 9-28-1-1 to IC 9-28-1-6 1967
Iowa I.C.A. Secs. 321C.1, 321C.2 1965
Kansas K.S.A. 8-1212 et seq. 1965
Louisiana LSA-R.S. 32:1420 et seq. 1968
Maryland Md. [Transp.] Code Ann. Secs. 16-701 to 16-708 1987
Massachusetts ALM GL 90:30B 1988
Minnesota M.S.A. Sec. 171.50 et seq. 1989
Mississippi Code 1972, Secs. 63-1-101 to 63-1-113 1962
Missouri V.A.M.S. Secs. 302.600, 302.605 1985
Montana MCA Title 61, Ch. 5, part 4 1963
Nebraska R.S.N. Vol. 2A Appendix Sec. 1-113 1963
New Hampshire RSA 263:77-263:81 1986
New Jersey N.J.S.A. 39:5D-1 et seq. 1967
New Mexico NMSA 1978 Secs. 66-5-49 to 66-5-51 1963
New York McKinney’s Vehicle & Traffic Law Sec. 516 1965
North Carolina G.S. Secs. 20-4.21 to 20-4.30 1993
Ohio RC 4507.60-4507.63 1987
Oklahoma 47 Okl. St. Ann. Sec. 781 et seq. 1967
Oregon ORS 802.540, 802.550 1983
Pennsylvania 75 Pa. C.S.A. Sec. 1581 et seq. 1996
South Carolina Code 1976, Secs. 56-1-610 to 56-1-690 1987
South Dakota SDCL Sec. 32-12-56.1 1986
Tennessee T.C.A. Sec. 55-50-702 1979
Texas V.T.C.A. Tran. 523.001 et seq. 1993
Utah U.C.A. 195353-3-601 to 53-3-607 1965
Vermont V.S.A. 23 Sec. 3901 et seq. 1987
Virginia Code 1950, Secs. 46.2-483 to 46.2-488 1968
Washington RCW 46.21.010 et seq. 1963
West Virginia W. Va. Code, Secs. 17B-1A, 17B-1A-2 1972
Wyoming W.S. Secs. 31-7-201, 31-7-202 1987

If you have been arrested for a DUI or DWI-related crime, contact an experienced New York DWI lawyer who can advise you and help you better understand your rights.

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