Out-of-State Suspensions (NDR)
Sometimes the Registry of Motor Vehicles will receive notice via the National Driver Register that you have, or may have, committed an offense out of state that led to a suspension in another jurisdiction. Massachusetts is part of an interstate pact that will honor the suspension of another jurisdiction, even if your record in MA is clean.
What to do after an out-of-state suspension
Interstate suspensions can be quite a complicated and confusing situation, difficult to untangle and resolve. Often this is because the motor vehicle laws in other states do not necessarily translate or correspond exactly to Massachusetts Laws.
Sometimes a suspension in another state may not rise to the level of a suspension in Massachusetts. For example, the way some states handle certain aspects of DUI Law may not cut it in Massachusetts to cause a suspension here.
For example, if another state lists a DUI on your driving record, but you never actually pled guilty or attended an alcohol program, it may not rise to the level of what is called a “like offense” to serve as an OUI here to raise an OUI 1st Offense to an OUI 2nd Offense.
Many times it is necessary to contact the suspending jurisdiction directly in order to confirm the exact reason for the suspension. It usually also requires research into your driving record in the jurisdiction which is suspending your license, as well as reading up on the laws and penalties in that locale. And the applying them to Massachusetts laws and procedures, if possible. Sometimes the situation arises for some unanticipated reason, such as forgetting to reinstate your license in another state when you were eligible to do so.
These types of cases definitely require the assistance of an attorney who has had experience navigating these complicated and confusing details.
Your best defense
The Law of Office of Mike Rusconi has handled Out-of-State Suspensions many times and we know how best to proceed.