By John Cichowski
A Paramus reader thinks she may have found a "state's rights" loophole in New Jersey's driver suspension law when she asks this question: Can't you keep driving if you hold an out-of-state license?
The answer, of course, is no.
"Not under any circumstances," said state Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sharon Harrington. "If you hold a license in another state, you're governed by that state's laws, but you still can't drive in New Jersey while suspended."
But the reader persists: "What if you apply for a license in another state and continue to drive here?"
These issues are all covered under state motor vehicle statute 39:3-40. They're good questions, though, because laws and practices differ by state. Moreover, "An individual state does not yet have the electronic capability to verify a motorist's driving history in other states -- except for commercial licenses," said Jason King, a spokesman for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
This loophole will likely be resolved in the next decade or so, as states like New Jersey upgrade their equipment and the federal Real ID program kicks in.
But it barely matters. As King and Harrington explained, states already cooperate with one another. For example, drivers convicted of serious traffic offenses, as well as those with suspended licenses, are reported to the National Driver Register.
"The register will show the suspension and you won't be issued a license," said Harrington.
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