Compact Terms - Driver License Compact - Vehicle - CA

Section § 15020

This section explains that keeping roads safe depends on drivers following state and local traffic laws. If someone breaks these laws, it shows they might be a danger to others on the road. To keep a driver's license valid, drivers must follow these rules wherever they drive. The policy encourages all drivers to follow motor vehicle rules no matter where they are, and ensures that driver's licenses are only given or kept if these rules are followed well.

(a) The party states find that:

(1) The safety of their streets and highways is materially affected by the degree of compliance with state laws and local ordinances relating to the operation of motor vehicles.

(2) Violation of such a law or ordinance is evidence that the violator engages in conduct which is likely to endanger the safety of persons and property.

(3) The continuance in force of a license to drive is predicated upon compliance with laws and ordinances relating to the operation of motor vehicles, in whichever jurisdiction the vehicle is operated.

(b) It is the policy of the party states to:

(1) Promote compliance with the laws, ordinances and administrative rules and regulations relating to the operation of motor vehicles by their drivers in each of the jurisdictions where such drivers operate motor vehicles.

(2) Make the reciprocal recognition of licenses to drive and eligibility therefor more just and equitable by considering the overall compliance with motor vehicle laws, ordinances and administrative rules and regulations as a condition precedent to the continuance or issuance of any license by reason of which the licensee is authorized or permitted to operate a motor vehicle in any of the party states.

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Section § 15021

This section defines key terms used in a legal compact related to motor vehicle operation. It clarifies that a "state" includes all U.S. states, territories, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The "home state" is the state that issued a driver's license and can suspend or revoke it. "Conviction" refers to any legal judgment related to motor vehicle laws, including offenses or bail forfeiture, that must be reported to the licensing authority.

As used in the compact:

(a) “State” means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(b) “Home state” means the state which has issued and has the power to suspend or revoke the use of the license or permit to operate a motor vehicle.

(c) “Conviction” means a conviction of any offense related to the use or operation of a motor vehicle which is prohibited by state law, municipal ordinance or administrative rule or regulation, or a forfeiture of bail, bond or other security deposited to secure appearance by a person charged with having committed any such offense, and which conviction or forfeiture is required to be reported to the licensing authority.

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Section § 15022

This law requires that if someone with a driver's license from one state is convicted of a traffic violation in another state, the convicting state must report the details of the incident to the driver's home state. The report needs to include the convicted person's identity, the specific law that was broken, the court involved, the plea entered, and any special findings, such as bail forfeiture.

The licensing authority of a party state shall report each conviction of a person from another party state occurring within its jurisdiction to the licensing authority of the home state of the licensee. Such report shall clearly identify the person convicted; describe the violation specifying the section of the statute, code, or ordinance violated; identify the court in which action was taken; indicate whether a plea of guilty or not guilty was entered, or the conviction was a result of the forfeiture of bail, bond or other security; and shall include any special findings made in connection therewith.

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Section § 15023

This law states that if you are convicted of certain serious driving offenses in another state, like vehicular manslaughter or DUI, your home state will treat it just like it happened at home and may suspend or revoke your driver's license. These offenses include negligent homicide with a vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, felonies involving a vehicle, or not stopping to help after an accident causing death or injury.

For other types of driving convictions from another state, your home state will handle them according to its own laws. If another state describes these offenses slightly differently, they still need to treat them the same way for legal actions like license suspension.

(a) The licensing authority in the home state, for the purposes of suspending, revoking, or limiting the license to operate a motor vehicle, shall give the same effect to the conduct reported, pursuant to Section 15022 of this compact, as it would if such conduct had occurred in the home state, in the case of a conviction for:

(1) Manslaughter or negligent homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle;

(2) Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a narcotic drug, or under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders the driver incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle;

(3) Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used;

(4) Failure to stop and render aid in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another.

(b) As to any other conviction, reported pursuant to Section 15022, the licensing authority in the home state shall give such effect to the conduct as is provided by the laws of the home state.

(c) If the laws of a party state do not provide for offenses or violations denominated or described in precisely the words employed in subdivision (a) of this section, such party state shall construe the denominations and descriptions appearing in subdivision (a) hereof as being applicable to and identifying those offenses or violations of a substantially similar nature, and the laws of such party state shall contain such provisions as may be necessary to ensure that full force and effect is given to this section.

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Section § 15024

When someone applies for a driver's license, the state must check if they have or ever had a driver's license from another state. California won't issue a new license if: (1) their previous license is suspended and the suspension isn't over; (2) their previous license is revoked and not yet restored, but they can reapply after a year if allowed; (3) they have a valid license from another state unless they give it up.

Upon application for a license to drive, the licensing authority in a party state shall ascertain whether the applicant has ever held, or is the holder of a license to drive issued by any other party state. The licensing authority in the state where application is made shall not issue a license to drive to the applicant if:

(1) The applicant has held such a license, but the license has been suspended by reason, in whole or in part, of a violation, and if such suspension period has not terminated.

(2) The applicant has held such a license, but the license has been revoked by reason, in whole or in part, of a violation, and if such revocation has not terminated; except that after the expiration of one year from the date the license was revoked, such person may make application for a new license if permitted by law. The licensing authority may refuse to issue a license to any such applicant if, after investigation, the licensing authority determines that it will not be safe to grant to such person the privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the public highways.

(3) The applicant is the holder of a license to drive issued by another party state and currently in force, unless the applicant surrenders such license.

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Section § 15025

This section states that unless explicitly required by this compact, the individual states can still enforce their own driving license laws. It also clarifies that this compact does not interfere with any agreements about driver licenses that a state may have with nonmember states.

Except as expressly required by provisions of this compact, nothing contained herein shall be construed to affect the right of any party state to apply any of its other laws relating to licenses to drive to any person or circumstance, nor to invalidate or prevent any driver license agreement or other co-operative arrangement between a party state and a nonparty state.

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Section § 15026

This section states that the person in charge of licensing in each state that is part of the agreement will act as the administrator of this compact for their state. These administrators from all participating states can work together to create procedures for sharing information.

Additionally, each state administrator must provide the necessary information or documents to administrators in other states to help manage the compact effectively.

(a) The head of the licensing authority of each party state shall be the administrator of this compact for his state. The administrators of all party states, acting jointly, shall have the power to formulate all necessary and proper procedures for the exchange of information under this compact.

(b) The administrator of each party state shall furnish to the administrator of each other party state any information or documents reasonably necessary to facilitate the administration of this compact.

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Section § 15027

This section explains how the compact becomes a law within a state. It also outlines how a state can withdraw from the compact, which involves passing a repeal statute and notifying other states. The withdrawal becomes effective six months after notification. However, any reports of conviction before the withdrawal are still valid and applicable by the remaining states.

(a) This compact shall become effective as to any state in which this compact becomes effective as the law of that state.

(b) Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing this compact as the law of that state, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until six months after the executive head of the withdrawing state has given notice of the withdrawal to the executive heads of all other party states. No withdrawal shall affect the validity or applicability by the licensing authorities of states remaining party to the compact of any report of conviction occurring prior to the withdrawal.

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Section § 15028

This section explains how the compact, which is a type of agreement, should be interpreted and enforced. It emphasizes that the compact should be understood in a way that fulfills its intended purposes.

If any part of the compact is found to violate the constitution of any state or the United States, that part can be removed without affecting the rest of the compact. If a state's constitution conflicts with the compact, the compact still applies to the other states and any parts not in conflict with that state's constitution.

The compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of the compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provisions of the compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If the compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

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