Getting charged with a driving under the influence (DUI) crime outside your home state can be scary, but this doesn't mean you are doomed just because you aren't in your resident state. With only a few exceptions, you will need to handle the accusations just as you would in your home state. With that being said, here are three things to do to take care of your out-of-state DUI charges: 

Understand the DUI Laws of the State

The first step is to acquaint yourself with the DUI laws of that state. Many states have similar DUI laws, but there are also a few variations. Know what these variations are so that you don't assume things are similar to your home state. For example, a first offense may only get your license suspended for 90 days in Arizona, but it can be as two years in Indiana.

Knowing the potential punishment should you be convicted is important because it allows you to prepare your defense and also prepare for the worst case scenario. Normally, an online research would suffice for educating yourself on DUI laws by state. When you have just been arrested, however, you may have faster results by consulting an attorney through resources like Santore & Santore.

Know Where the Court Is & Don't Miss Your Appearances

If you have been charged with DUI, you may have to make some court appearances. However, if you are in an unfamiliar state, you may be ignorant of the relevant court handling your case. Unfortunately, your ignorance isn't a valid excuse for missing court appearances, so it's up to you to know where the court is and make your appearance. Failure to make an appearance may result in an arrest warrant or even new charges being leveled against you. You may be able to get the contact and addresses for the county that will be handling your DUI online, or you can seek the assistance of an attorney. Use the contacts to learn when you should make your court appearance.

Get a DUI Attorney from the Same State

Lastly, you will help yourself a great deal by getting a local DUI attorney to handle the case. This will help you in more ways than one. For one, going back or calling for an attorney from your home state will just waste time and resources. Secondly, a local attorney may have some experience dealing with local attorneys and prosecutors. This means a local attorney is more likely to negotiate a better deal (if it comes to that) than an attorney from your home state.