The following blog post was co-authored by Avery and Adam Rosenblum, Esq., the founder of TrafficTickets.com, a traffic ticket law firm that practices in both New York and New Jersey. If you’re ever ticketed out east, look them up. Below, you’ll find more information about what can happen if you are traveling out of Minnesota and you end up with a traffic citation.
Studies have shown that, on average, drivers from Minnesota are generally more careful and safer than those from other states. On a per capita basis, they have lower instances of careless driving and speeding. This is a good thing when visiting other states. Unbeknownst to most drivers, getting a speeding ticket (or other traffic violations) while out of state can have serious consequences. In addition to the fine, out-of-state speeding tickets carry a risk of having one’s right to drive suspended and seeing auto insurance rates go up.
How Does Minnesota DVS Find Out About Out-of-State Tickets?
Minnesota is a member of what’s known as the Driver’s License Compact. The 42 participating states agree to keep records of drivers from outside their state who are convicted of traffic tickets by the local courts. In addition, participation means the convicting state will inform the licensing state of the violation. For example, the Minnesota Department of Vehicle Safety (DVS) will receive a message from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles whenever a Minnesota driver is convicted of a speeding ticket in NY.
Do Out-of-State Tickets Appear on MN Driving Records?
While not all states will note out-of-state tickets on driving records, most do, including Minnesota. In addition, those convictions can count toward total convictions needed to be classified as a habitual offender.
How Can an Out-of-State Ticket Result in a Suspended MN License?
Minnesota drivers who are convicted of four or five moving violations in 24 months can have their license suspended for 30 days. Additional moving violations in 24 months can result in longer suspensions. Since an out-of-state speeding ticket conviction will appear on one’s MN driving record, it can increase the risk of a suspended license.
There are other ways an out-of-state speeding ticket can cause someone to lose their driving privileges, such as:
- Failing to pay. While another state cannot suspend a MN driver’s license, it can suspend or revoke the right to drive in the state in question for not paying the ticket.
- Accruing points. Minnesota may not use a point system, but other states do. For example, New York State will suspend the right to drive in NY of any out-of-state driver who is convicted of 11 points worth of speeding or other traffic tickets. Speeding 21 mph over the limit is worth 6 points in NY, which means it takes just two convictions to be suspended.
- DWI or other traffic felonies. Many states will suspend or revoke driving privileges following a conviction for serious traffic offenses such as drunk driving, hit-and-runs, or a vehicular manslaughter.
It’s important to realize that having one’s driving privileges suspended or revoked in another state does not necessarily mean the driver has lost his/her license. However, states like Minnesota that participate in the Driver’s License Compact may reciprocate a suspension issued in another member state.
Can MN Drivers Request a Continuance for Dismissal for Out-of-State Tickets?
In Minnesota, drivers can keep speeding and other traffic tickets off their record by getting a continuance for dismissal. If granted, the driver agrees to pay a higher fine but the conviction won’t count toward their total for a suspension. Unfortunately, a continuance for dismissal is issued by the court in the jurisdiction where the offense took place. Most states don’t have something like this, which means drivers must decide to either fight the charge, plead guilty and pay, or (where applicable) attempt to plea it down to a lesser charge.
How Does an Out-of-State Speeding Ticket Affect MN Auto Insurance?
Since a speeding ticket from another state can still appear on one’s Minnesota driving record, there’s no reason to believe it will be treated differently than an Minnesota speeding conviction. A recent study of Minnesota auto insurance carriers found that a single speeding ticket can increase rates by as much as $125 per year for each year that the violation is on a person’s record. Since convictions stay on MN driving records for five years, that’s $500 more for a single ticket.
How Can MN Drivers Fight Out-of-State Speeding Tickets?
Minnesota drivers facing a speeding ticket from another state should hire an attorney licensed to practice law in that state. Depending on the state, an attorney may make it possible to fight the ticket without appearing in court. For example, in most cases for New York speeding tickets, an attorney can appear in court in lieu of the driver, saving them a return trip.
