Once you are arrested for driving under the influence, you will have to face both a DMV as well as a criminal court hearing. These hearings, especially the DMV hearing, will determine whether you will lose your driving privileges for any specific amount of time. As a result, you are required by law to not drive as your license will be suspended. If your ability to legally drive was taken away from you, speak with a Riverside license suspension lawyer from our firm.
How Long Can the DMV Suspend Someone’s License?
As a means of discouraging driving under the influence (DUI), state laws provide escalating license suspension and revocation terms for multiple DUI offenses. A first offense (Cal. Veh. Code § 23536) will result in a suspension of six months upon conviction. A second conviction within 10 years (§ 23540)will incur a suspension of two years. For a third conviction (§ 23546), an offender’s license will be revoked for three years, and for a fourth or subsequent conviction – which is a felony (§ 23550) – the license will be revoked for four years, or even for life if circumstances are aggravated by injury or death. Being arrested for a DUI can be stressful enough, but being stopped or arrested again while driving on a suspended license can be even more difficult. You could be facing hefty court fines, additional license suspensions, and potential jail time. To defend yourself from these DUI charges and license suspension penalties, seek the help of a Riverside lawyer.
DMV Hearings and Defense Strategies
After being arrested for DUI, your license will be confiscated by the law enforcement officer and, unless you request a DMV hearing within 10 days of your arrest, it will be suspended until your trial is complete. Once you request a DMV hearing, you can go before the Department of Motor Vehicles and petition for a hardship license by proving that you need driving privileges in order to make it to work, school, appointments and other necessary parts of your life. A local attorney from our firm could help you obtain a hardship license and could skillfully defend you from a wrongful DUI conviction, so contact our offices today for a consultation.
Contact a Riverside License Suspension Attorney
Through a free case evaluation with a member of our legal team, you could learn exactly what could and cannot be done to fight your charges. Our firm has 15 years of experience in defense and has received a 10/10 rating from Avvo®. Our Riverside license suspension lawyers have experience with the County Public Defender’s Office and knows what it takes to properly defend your case. Call now to learn more about what we could do for you!