An administrative suspension typically begins within 30 days of arrest.
California law penalizes driving under the influence (DUI) crimes harshly. There are a range of penalties for anyone convicted of this crime, from potential jail time to steep fines and penalties to community service to mandatory DUI classes. In addition, California requires that anyone who has even been arrested for a DUI be subject to an administrative suspension of their driver’s license — a serious penalty that many drivers are unaware of until they receive a notice from an arresting officer.
As experienced Los Angeles DUI attorneys, we understand how difficult it is to be faced with the prospect of losing your driver’s license. It is often a shock for our clients to learn that they may not be able to drive for an extended period of time. That is why we strongly believe that it is vital to fight DUI cases at every step of the process — to secure your rights and to protect your freedom.
The question that many clients have is how quickly they will lose their license if they are arrested for a DUI. While there is no set answer, the typical situation is that after you are arrested for a DUI, the police officer confiscates your California drivers’ license and hands you a pink notice of suspension. This notice will serve as your license for a period of 30 days, after which time your four month administrative suspension will start. On this notice, there will be notice informing you that you have 10 days to request a hearing with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you do not request a hearing within 10 days, then your license will automatically be suspended once the 30 days are up. If you do request a hearing with the DMV, then the pink notice will serve as your license until you have the DMV hearing. An experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney can help you request a hearing, and can represent you there as well.
At the DMV hearing, your Los Angeles DUI attorney can question witnesses and present evidence to demonstrate that you were not driving under the influence. If the DMV agrees, then your license will not be administratively suspended. The judge in your criminal case can still issue a license suspension, however, if you are found guilty.
If your license is suspended, either because you did not request a hearing within 10 days or because the hearing officer found that there was evidence to support the administrative suspension, then you can still request a restricted license that will allow you to drive to and from work.
A suspended license is just one potential penalty of a DUI conviction, which is why it is so critical to have a top-notch Los Angeles DUI attorney to represent you. At the Chambers Law Firm, we have substantial experience helping clients who have been charged with DUIs and related crime in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation.
