If you live in California and are accused of a DUI, you should know that you could face significant penalties and consequences. California’s DUI laws state that all motorists are prohibited from driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. You may not drive with a blood alcohol concentration that is .08% or higher.
After a DUI stop, you should expect to be arrested if you fail the field sobriety tests and Breathalyzer test or if the officer believes that you are too impaired to continue operating a vehicle. The officer has to immediately forward a copy of a notice to suspend or revoke your license to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV then goes through an administrative review. They analyze the officer’s police report, Breathalyzer, blood or urine test results, the suspension or revocation order and other parts of the case as part of this review.
You can speak up for yourself
You don’t have to wait idly to see what happens next. You have a right to request a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles, so long as you make that request within 10 days. The DMV hearing isn’t to determine if you’re guilty or not. Instead, it’s to go over if the officer had the right to pull you over and other administrative aspects of the case.
You may also have to go to criminal court and trial for a judge or jury to determine if you were guilty of a DUI. This is something that you will need to prepare for in advance to protect yourself against the potential penalties, which may include jail time, fines, and probation. Take time to learn more about what to do if you’re accused of a DUI, then start building your defense.