US driving law question

Am I right in assuming that if someone gets a ban (DUI, speeding, whatever) in one US state, that ban doesn't apply in any other state they may drive in?

Example: I lose my license in California. Can I still drive legally in Oregon?

All info gratefully received

If your drivers license is suspended, you can't legally drive, no matter what state you're in.

I'm assuming that "suspended drivers license" is what you mean by "ban"?

No.

OK, thank you; that answers it. I'm slightly surprised - I rather expected licenses to be administered on a state-by-state basis - but yes, you've answered my question.

Licenses are administered on a state-by-state basis in some ways -- your drivers license is issued by the state where your primary residence is. For instance:

I live in California, so the state of California is the only state that may issue me a valid drivers license. However, that license is valid throughout the entire United States. If I want to drive through Arizona, I don't need to get an Arizona license, because my California license is recognized as valid in every state.

If, in any state, I commit a crime that requires my license to be suspended, California suspends my license, and I may not legally drive in any state, because your home state is the only state that can issue you a drivers license.

If I moved to Oregon while my license was suspended, it is unlikely that Oregon would issue me a new license while my license was still suspended in California, because I'd committed a crime that indicated I was a dangerous driver and did not deserve a drivers license.

Does that make sense?


Every time I've moved to a new state and have gone to get a new license, the licensing agency has asked for my old license and have cut it in half so it can no longer be used.

Ah, OK, got it. It seems a trifle clumsy, but yes it makes sense and I can see why it's done that way. Nicely explained; thank you

Unless the flip side of being able to drive in California with a suspended Arizona license is not being able to drive in California with a valid Arizona driver's license, i.e. needing to be licensed by every state you drive in. Then it's actually pretty convenient. See also the Full Faith and Credit clause of the US Constitution.

As I said.

And, thanks for the link.

Especially since it's such a fucking pain to do anything at the DMV. I have been putting off going to the DMV to fix my car registration, because I will either have to take time off work to go stand in line, or I'd have to go at 8AM on the one Saturday a month it's open (between 8AM and noon) and stand in a huge line with everyone else who can't take time off work during the week.

Wow, they only open one Saturday a month?

Here in Louisiana, they have hours every Saturday, as did Maryland when I lived there.

Going to the DMV is like a game here. There seem to be certain, random windows during the course of the day when there are nearly no people there, versus certain times when the lines run out the door.

I mean, really? Is there that much business that needs to be done? And at this particular office? C'mon, people.

it depends. californian DMVs can be hell on earth. the best luck i've ever had was far, far up north in eureka. hit any metropolitan area and you're as good as fucked.

If it's like California, each window only has certain things that it handles. As an example, Windows 1-3 handle vehicle registration. Wondows 4-7 handle license renewel. Windows 8-10 handle testing. Window 11 takes pictures. That's over simplified somewhat, but it should give you the idea.

they do that in south carolina, too.

And if you're lucky, the windows will even be clearly labelled!

Standing in a line for 45 minutes just to find out you've been standing in the wrong line sucks.

Wow. Maryland really had their shit together then. The one where I lived had an information desk that you went to right when you walked in. You told them what you were there for, they told you which window you needed to go to, then gave you a ticket for that series of windows. Then you went and sat down and waited and read a book or something till your number was called.

HEhe, I just went through this! If you loose your license, its lost, however before you loose it, if you trade it in for a Non-compact drivers license state, you can continue to drive. I know MA, MI, WI for sure, TN is a maybe There are 5 total. These sates have no agreement with any other state over enforcing suspensions or issuance of licenses. However all states want proof of residency. And without any other drivers license you'd have to go throught the whole process as if you were 16. Your driving privliges would still be revoked in the state where the infraction occured, but you would be legal in the rest of them.
There are pay services for mail which give you a legal address, although these are intended for people living abroad, they have become popular with RVers and should satisfy DMZ requirments for an address.

Some truckes talk of doing the drivers license switching, they transfer there license through various states untill certain infractions are removed, allowing them to continue to work. I don't know what states to use.

O our local DMZ is only open on Thursdays and one Saturday a month!

I did that 2 weeks ago, but it was an hour and a half of waiting.

The waiting and wasting of a Saturday is specifically why I do not have a Driver's License.

Despite all those typos and referring to the DMV as the de-militarized zone, this guy is actually right. More info here.

The bottom line is that clearing up your suspension is likely going to be less hassle than getting a license without clearing it up.

I've done that. Mostly because i was told to stand in the wrong line. ugh.
seriously, its so bad at California DMV's that they actually have the current waiting time listed on their website!!!
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/fo/offices/appl/fo_data_read.jsp?foNumb=504

Useless story about my experience.

Go into the DMV and take the number, 203 our whatever look up at the # being served, 59

5 minutes per person I went to get something to eat and came back.

Typing and spelling arn't my strong points neither is proof-reading

The DMV here in Santa Rosa isn't too bad. I go every quarter to deal with registrations. They give you a number and you have a seat. They call your number, you go to the window.

I make an appointment when I can, and if I can't, I get there right before they close. If they close at 5, I'm there at 10 minutes to 5. They lock the door at 5 and take care of everyone inside.

If it's not for a business vehicle, I go to AAA for registrations.

I've never had the pleasure of going to the DMV in L.A.

The DMV nearest me used to be pretty horrible, but like a lot of other people are saying, now you go to one desk and get a numbered ticket and the forms you need and just sit on a seriously uncomfortable bench until your number is called.

What I would like to know is, why is it that I, not a terribly handsome man, always seem to be the best looking person waiting at the DMV? Every time I go there it's like the ugliest people on long island picked that day to get their DMV shit done.

It's always been like that in every state I've lived in. Maybe there's a super hot people's DMV that we don't know about.