Moving Out Of State After Getting A DUI In California

Information may not be reliable

There are two reasons why residents of California may face this issue. The first is that they may have already planned to move out of the state before the DUI charges and are now wondering how to manage these charges while in another state. Less common but also likely is that some may consider moving out of the state in order to escape the worst of the California DUI charges. The truth of the matter is that moving out of state will do little to reduce the effects of the DUI charges. This means that moving out of state to escape the consequences of a DUI will not work and may in fact make matters worse for you.

Here is what you need to know about moving out of the state after a DUI and some of the things to look out for.

DUI Charges

When you are charged with DUI in California, you are typically required to appear in court. This applies even if you have moved to another state. Failure to appear in court may lead to the judge issuing a warrant of arrest for you. In some cases, especially when it comes to felony DUI, the court may even have you extradited from your new home and returned to California to face charges. Even if it doesn’t get this far, you do not want pending warrants of arrest as it may affect your professional and social life.

Representation

If you have moved to another state and you are facing DUI charges in California, one of the things to consider is how you will appear in court to answer the charges. Fortunately, the court allows you to have a lawyer stand in for you, so you don’t have to make the trip to California. However, if the court levies some penalties on you (such as jail time) you may have to make the trip back to California. This is because there is a tendency by DUI courts to require people who are convicted on DUI charges to serve their sentences in California. However, you can request the court to allow you to serve time in the state that you are in. Your lawyer will typically make an argument to this effect, which may be premised on a variety of factors such as proximity to your family and so on.

Suspended Driver’s License

If your driver’s license has been suspended by a California court due to DUI charges, chances are that you will be unable to obtain a driver’s license in the state that you have moved into. This is why we recommend that you work your way through any DUI charges in California even if you have moved out of the state. Of course, driving without a license in your new home will result in even more charges being levied against you, further complicating your ability to get your license back.

DUI Classes

It is common for people charged with DUI to be required to attend DUI classes. Even if the court does not demand it, it is still a great idea that can help reduce the penalties that you have to deal with. If you have moved out of California, the big question might be how you would attend these classes. You could request the court to allow you to attend online classes which will make it convenient for you. Fortunately, licensed DUI schools such as Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group have state-approved classes for multiple offenders as well as first offenders. We offer online classes for groups and individuals. This way, you don’t have to struggle to get your court-mandated DUI schooling.