Have you recently seen those ominous flashing red, white, and blue lights behind your car while driving in California? A police officer pulled you over, likely ask you to complete a field sobriety test and submit to a chemical test, you complied, and you were arrested and charged with DUI.
Even if this is your first DUI charge, and even if you were just visiting California and don’t actually live here, your situation is very serious. California has some of the harshest DUI policies in the entire US, which apply to both resident and out-of-state drivers equally.
Common questions and concerns
“What should I do now?,” you’re asking yourself. “Is my life just automatically ruined? Will I go to jail?” There are so many questions that are swirling around your mind, and the only wait to get definitive answers is by consulting with a lawyer who specializes in DUI cases in California.
Call a lawyer
Attorney Dan Chambers is Southern California’s top DUI attorney for both resident and out-of-state drivers. Anyone who has been arrested for DUI in California may schedule a case evaluation with Attorney Chambers now by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or by using the chat box below this page. At your case evaluation, Attorney Chambers will analyze the details of your case and explain to you the most likely potential outcome(s) of your case. He’ll answer any questions you may have about the DUI court process and procedures, as well as your specific case.
What you need to know about License Suspension
If you are convicted of DUI in California, you’ll have to deal with some pretty intense consequences. Immediately after you are arrested for DUI, your driving privileges will automatically be suspended for 30 days. You may challenge this suspension by requesting a DMV hearing with 10 days of your arrest. Attorney Chambers can help you submit a formal hearing request as soon as you meet with him to discuss your case. Even if you do submit a request for a hearing, it could be scheduled for months after your arrest, during which time you are prohibited from driving in California. If you don’t request a hearing, your license will be automatically suspended for 4 months.
Your home state may also suspend your driving privileges while your DUI case is pending in California. This is because of the Interstate Compact, which is active in every part of the United States except Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Additionally, you can expect that if you are convicted of DUI in California, the same penalties will carry over to your home state.
What penalties am I up against?
Penalties for DUI vary widely, but they often include probation, fines, and mandatory attendance at DUI school. It’s usually charged as a misdemeanor unless certain aggravated factors are present, such as your impaired driving causing an accident that injured another person or if you had a minor in the car with you when you were driving while intoxicated.
Get Help for your DUI case now
There are many factors that could impact your DUI case – so make sure you know exactly what to expect by scheduling an appointment with Attorney Dan Chambers now. Call 714-760-4088, email dchambers@clfca.com, or use the chat box below to setup your free initial consultation now.
