DMV HEARING/LICENSE SUSPENSIONS

You have been released from a holding cell in the early morning hours without your car or driver’s license.  You ask yourself, what do I do now?  First and foremost, get your car out of impound.  Each and every day your car stays in impound a bigger portion of your paycheck goes to the tow company.  Second, request a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles.  Anytime anyone is arrested for a DUI, the arresting officer will confiscate the individuals California driver’s license and give a temporary paper license.  This pink piece of paper states that your license will be suspended 30 days after your arrest.  The only way to stop your license from being suspended is to request a hearing with the Department of Motor vehicles.  BUT, you must act fast.  You must contact DMV within 10 days of the date of your arrest.  If you fail to contact DMV within 10 days, you will lose your right to a hearing and your license will be suspended.  Do not let your license get suspended without a fight. 

Note – There are two separate cases coming out of the same DUI arrest. One is civil where the Department of Motor Vehicles attempts to suspend your privilege to drive.  The other is criminal where you go to court and face possible incarceration and fines.