DMV Hearing in California

After being arrested and charged with DUI (driving under the influence) in California, you will have to go through a variety of processes in order to address all of your possible penalties. In addition to the criminal charges that you will face, which will require a court hearing in order to determine the next steps, you will also need to face a hearing at the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to determine how your license will be handled through this process.

The team at Perlmutter & Pourshalimi Attorneys At Law have experience working with both the California court system, the California Department of Motor Vehicles during DUI charges, and the criminal and non-criminal processes, and will be happy to help you navigate these in order to identify and work towards the best possible outcomes. 

Read more below to understand what a DMV hearing is after a DUI, the possible consequences you can expect, and how we can help you work towards an outcome that is best for your circumstances. Contact us now in order to schedule an initial consultation where you will be able to speak directly with a legal professional about your case, the circumstances surrounding your arrest, the charges that you are facing, and the possible penalties that come with those charges. In addition, we will be able to help you understand how we have worked with clients in similar situations to your own in the past, and offer some advice on the next steps for you to take.

What Is a DMV Hearing?

When you are arrested for driving under the influence in California, you are in violation of California laws, as outlined in the California Vehicle Code, then you will face criminal charges under these restrictions. In addition, you are in violation of the agreement that you make with the Department of Motor Vehicles, which will result in your driver’s license being suspended in addition to the criminal charges that you are facing. 

You will be required to attend an administrative hearing at the DMV. The outcome of this hearing will have no bearing on your criminal charges, and you can not be convicted of any crimes at this time. Instead, this hearing will be about your driving privileges, whether or not you will be able to retain your driving privileges, and how long your license will be suspended. In addition, you may be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) when your driving privileges are restored, depending on additional circumstances, such as whether or not you submitted to a breath or chemical test, how many past DUI violations you have been charged with, and more. 

Is It Possible To Win a DMV Hearing?

While it is possible to “win” a DMV hearing and be allowed to retain your driving privileges, there are many different things that need to go right in order for that to be the case. Since all arrests and charges are so varying depending on many associated circumstances, the best way to figure out your likelihood of a successful outcome is to work directly with an attorney and discuss all of the relevant details. 

More realistically, we will be able to identify the best possible outcomes given the worst-case scenario with your hearing, and will hopefully find some middle ground with the people presiding over your hearing. These processes can be complicated, and without extensive experience in these situations, you may find yourself quickly overwhelmed. We will help you navigate these steps and have a comprehensive understanding of each step that you go through during your DUI charges.

Contact Us Now

The first thing to do after you are arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is to get in contact with an experienced and aggressive attorney who is familiar with California DUI charges and has a history of helping clients achieve reasonable outcomes. We will be happy to discuss your situation during an initial consultation, which can be a great way for you to get a better understanding of what to expect, and somewhat “demystify” the upcoming procedure that you will need to endure.


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