What’s NRVC?

Let’s say you’re an Arizona licensed driver and receive a DUI in another state.  Do you have to worry that the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division will find out about this violation and take action?  While we can’t ever say with certainty that it will make it’s way back to Arizona (any time humans are involved, errors do occur), if everything is working the way it should, it will. 

This is all due to the Nonresident Violator Compact (NRVC) which is an agreement between jurisdictions to promote highway safety by sharing and transmitting driver and conviction information and is utilized to make sure non-residents and residents comply with the terms of the citations when cited in any state which is a member NRVC.  In addition to reporting a conviction, the compact allows participating jurisdictions to inform each other’s motor vehicle administrations when a resident of one jurisdiction did not comply with the citation’s terms.  Once the home jurisdiction motor vehicle division administrator receives notice of a resident’s citation noncompliance, the procedure for license suspension is initiated.

So, as an example, you’re cited and convicted of a DUI in the State of Illinois.   Thanks to the NRVC, in addition to the penalties you will receive in Illinois as a result of the conviction, once the conviction is reported, additional penalties by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division await you in the way of a suspension of your driving privileges, requirement for the installation of an ignition interlock device, SR-22 insurance and traffic survival school.  

Currently, there are six states NOT a part of NRVC:

Alaska
California
Michigan
Montana
Oregan
Wisconsin

By no means should you assume that if you are an Arizona licensed driver and get a violation in one of the States not part of the NRVC,  that you will escape additional penalties.  It does happen.  Or if your driver’s license is suspended, cancelled or revoked in the State of Arizona, that you can simply go to one of these other states to apply for a new license.    All applications will contain similar questions:  “Is your driving privilege now suspended, disqualified, canceled, denied or revoked?” Or,  “Do you have a license from more than one state or jurisdiction?”  In Arizona, if you provide false information on a driving application, your Arizona driver’s license will be canceled and you may face criminal charges.

The Law Office of Craig W. Penrod has been involved in criminal and DUI defense for more than 20 years.  Contact the DUI lawyers at the Law Offices of Craig W. Penrod for a free initial legal consultation if you find yourself facing criminal charges or possible MVD action against your driving privileges.