Driving under the influence (DUI) is the most common criminal charge issued in the state of California.  Penalties range from a suspended driver’s license, fines, alcohol education programs, and ignition interlock devices to jail time.  If you are convicted of a California DUI, the conviction will remain on your driving record for ten years.  This often results in denied credit and high insurance premiums.    

In California, when you are arrested for a DUI/DWI, two separate cases arise.  The first is the court case and the second is a California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) case.  The DMV case is separate from the court case and a separate hearing is held at the DMV.  When you have been arrested for a California DUI and have a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher or refuse to be tested, your driver’s license is immediately confiscated by the arresting officer (unless you have an out-of-state license).  The arresting officer will give you a pink sheet that serves as formal notice of potential license suspension.  It provides you with only temporary driving privileges and it is important that you request a DMV hearing within ten days after the arrest.  Otherwise, suspension of your driving privileges will occur automatically within 30 days.  This hearing addresses only your driving privilege and not whether or not you are guilty of a California DUI/DWI. 

*The California DUI Guide is in no way affiliated with the California DUI Lawyers Association, however it is strongly recommended that someone arrested for driving under the influence contact a CDLA member immediately upon release for arrest as they most often have the necessary experience and knowledge to represent a person suspected of a California DUI.