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Many college students from Plymouth, Canton, and the surrounding area travel for spring break in March or April. Some return to Michigan without realizing that an arrest in another state or country can still affect them at home. The summons, the warrant, or the formal charge often catches up to them in May or June — right when they're home for the summer.

Out-of-State Charges Can Follow You to Michigan

If you were arrested in another state — Florida, Texas, Mexico, or anywhere else — the charge continues to exist whether or not you are physically in that state. Several things can happen:

  • A bench warrant is issued for missing your court date in that state.
  • Interstate driver's license consequences can hit your Michigan license under the Driver License Compact, which allows states to share information about traffic and OWI offenses (Michigan participates).
  • A future background check — from an employer, a graduate school, a professional licensing board — can reveal the out-of-state arrest or conviction.
  • Extradition is possible for more serious cases, although it is rare for misdemeanors.

Common Spring Break Charges That Follow Home

  • Out-of-state OWI/DUI. Many states share OWI information with Michigan under the Interstate Driver License Compact. An OWI in another state can lead to action against your Michigan license, including suspension or required treatment.
  • Drug possession. Many spring break destinations aggressively prosecute marijuana, MDMA, and other drug offenses. Felony drug convictions in another state can affect Michigan licensing and employment.
  • MIPs and fake ID charges.
  • Assault, disorderly conduct, and trespass.
  • Resort property damage and theft.

How Michigan Handles an Out-of-State OWI

Under the Driver License Compact and Michigan's vehicle code, an out-of-state OWI is treated almost the same as a Michigan OWI for purposes of:

  • License consequences,
  • Future OWI charge enhancements (Michigan uses a lifetime lookback for prior OWIs),
  • Insurance rates, and
  • Required treatment.

A third OWI in your lifetime — even if one happened in another state — can be a Michigan felony.

International Arrests

Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and other common spring break destinations handle criminal cases very differently than the U.S. Some convictions can affect your ability to enter other countries in the future (Canada is famously strict about prior convictions, including DUI). U.S. and international law enforcement also share certain information through Interpol and other channels.

What You Should Do

  • Don't ignore the case. Failing to appear in the other state can lead to a bench warrant.
  • Hire an attorney in the state where the arrest happened to address the case directly there.
  • Hire a Michigan attorney to help you with license consequences, prior-offense issues, and anything that follows you home.
  • Be cautious about background checks during the summer hiring season.

Call Boria Law Today

If you have an out-of-state charge that is affecting you in Michigan, attorney Aaron J. Boria of Boria Law can help. Boria Law works with clients dealing with license consequences, prior-offense issues, and the Michigan-side fallout of an out-of-state arrest.

Call (734) 453-7806 today for a free consultation.

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