If you got arrested in Florida on vacation, going home does not end the case. Your case continues in Florida after you leave the state. A drug, traffic or driving under the influence (DUI) charge may still affect your court dates or license after you return home.
Your next steps depend on the charge and the stage of the case. You might need to attend some proceedings in person, but the court may allow other appearances by video.
When can you appear from out of state?
You may ask, “do I have to return to Florida for court?” Florida requires you to attend some stages of a criminal case in person. However, you will not necessarily have to travel back for every court date.
When Florida rules allow it, local defense can ask the court to let you appear by Zoom. Your counsel may also handle some routine appearances without you. Depending on the charge and the court’s rules, parts of a drug possession, traffic or DUI case may continue while you stay in your home state. You may still have to return for proceedings that warrant your personal appearance.
What happens to your license back home?
An out-of-state DUI Florida case may affect your driving privileges outside Florida. Florida belongs to the Driver License Compact, which allows participating states to exchange records of certain driving convictions.
If Florida reports a DUI conviction, your home state generally uses its own laws to decide what happens to your license. Your state could suspend or restrict your license if its rules call for that result. Florida may also take action against your right to drive in Florida even when another state issued your license.
Preparing for what comes next
Consider keeping your bond papers and court notices together after you return home. You may want to check each court date to see if you have to attend in person and review how a DUI conviction could affect your license. These steps can help you keep track of your Florida case and avoid trips that the court does not require.