Information sharing happens instantly today, impacting just about every aspect of our lives… for better or worse. For example,that regrettable text message you sent after drinking with friends is now an Internet sensation, much to your horror. Along the same lines, that DUI you got in Vegas last year… it did not stay in Vegas. In fact, if you are a California resident and you are convicted of drunk driving, your Vegas DUI will probably come back to haunt you, and stick around longer than any intoxicated text message.
California and Nevada both participate in the “Interstate Driver’s License Compact,” which means both states share information on traffic violations, including your DUI. If you live in California and are found guilty of a DUI after your Vegas DUI (or, any state), you will likely face the consequences for a second or subsequent DUI, depending on how many total convictions you have at that point. California will count any out-of-state DUI or drunk driving convictions in your total number, as long as those convictions are “equivalent” to a California DUI. Since the national blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drunk driving is .08 percent, it is highly likely that any out-of-state drunk driving conviction will be used to determine the consequences for your California DUI, including a car breathalyzer or ignition interlock requirement.
Your Vegas DUI is not going to stay in Vegas, and it is not worth the risk to even try. Instead, enjoy your time and don’t take a gamble on your life, or the lives of others. Having a safety plan when drinking is your best way to avoid those regrettable text messages or bad choices to drive home after a few too many hurricanes. With information always on the go, you can use your phone to call up a taxi, or text your designated driver for a safe ride to your next destination, and leave the intoxicated regrets out of your vacation, entirely.
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