Delaware Drivers with PA Traffic Tickets

For Delawareans visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, traffic can be a living nightmare. In the blink of an eye, you're caught up on congested roadways with confusing traffic signs, and overeager law enforcement on every corner - a recipe for disaster. This environment makes acquiring a traffic ticket incredibly easily.

I know what you're thinking, “I'm in another state, a ticket won't affect my ability to drive at home, right?” Wrong. It's a common misconception among drivers that traffic offenses that are cited outside of your home state are to be dealt with in the visiting state, and can't follow you home. But this couldn't be further from the truth. 

If you are from Delaware and have been issued a traffic citation in Philadelphia, there are a few important things you should know. For one, you absolutely need legal representation. Depending on your driving record and the laws in each state, a traffic ticket can carry pretty harsh penalties that can empty your pockets, ruin your trip, and even inconvenience you in your home state. An attorney can help you solve your issues and make sure you avoid making your situation worse and ensure that most of the problems you encounter don't haunt you back in Delaware.

Specifically, it's imperative you get a basic understanding of what's going on and the gravity of your situation.

Driver's License Compact (DLC)

A ticket can follow you state to state because of an agreement known as the Driver's License Compact (DLC). When a person receives a driver's license in Delaware, they accept the conditions affiliated with it; of these conditions is Delaware's involvement in this agreement. In compliance with the DLC, the majority of states in the United States, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, exchange information concerning traffic convictions. Look at the DLC as a uniform way to keep drivers accountable while visiting other states.

Since Pennsylvania is a part of the DLC, a violation will invoke the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to notify Delaware's authorities of the violation. This violation will be based on Pennsylvania's Point System and will show up in the form of points on your driving record. If the traffic violation is major, serious penalties such as license suspension or revocation, or the installation of an ignition interlock device may be imposed in Delaware for a violation you received in Pennsylvania. To see details about your suspension and other possible repercussions, you can visit a database known as the National Driving Register.

The Exclusion of Minor Violations in Delaware

The good news is that in Delaware, minor moving violations may not cross over from state to state. For example, if you are caught speeding and cited in Pennsylvania, you, as a Delaware driver, will not accumulate points on your driving record based on this minor moving violation. But major violations, like a hit and run or driving under the influence, will be transferable. Regardless, being charged or cited with a traffic violation will be recorded onto your driving record, even if the points aren't added.

Are You An Out-of-State Driver? The LLF Law Firm Can Help 

Motorists rob themselves of a favorable outcome when they refuse to take advantage of their right to an attorney. What may seem like a minor traffic ticket can lead to major consequences. As a Delaware driver in a foreign city and state, you'll be forced to navigate a system that is unfamiliar to you. An attorney can help you gain an understanding of how traffic violations are managed in Pennsylvania, and possibly identify defenses, like if your citation was lawful or if any of your rights were violated.

LLF Law Firm is devoted to helping clients successfully overcome traffic infractions and the consequences they carry. For more information, contact them online or by phone at  888-535-3686.

Contact Us Today!

The LLF Law Firm Team has decades of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the LLF Law Firm today! Our Criminal Defense Team will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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