It is not uncommon for a Kentucky resident to receive a traffic citation or be charged with a DUI while traveling through another state. This is common when taking a vacation, or when a student with a Kentucky driver's license receives a DUI while attending college out of state. The Kentucky driver will often plead guilty to an offense, reasoning the conviction won't affect their Kentucky driver's license since the offense happened in another state. The driver pays their fine and assumes the matter is behind them. A few months later, the driver receives a letter from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet informing the driver their privilege to drive in Kentucky has been suspended. What the driver did not realize is that Kentucky had a reciprocity agreement with the state where the violation occurred. That state's Transportation Cabinet contacted Kentucky to inform Kentucky of it's driver's violation. Kentucky then issued their penalty against the driver's license of it's resident. If a driver from the other state was convicted of a traffic offense in Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet would likewise notify the other state. Due to these reciprocity agreements, a Kentucky driver receiving a violation in another state should first obtain counsel in the state of the violation and then contact Kentucky counsel to understand the consequences of a plea on their driver's license. Understanding the consequences of a guilty plea is vital to making a good decision.
CATEGORIES: Criminal Law