Orange County DUI Driver's License Suspension

If you are arrested for drunk driving, your license will most likely be confiscated by the officer if (1) your breath test gives a reading of .08% blood-alcohol or higher, (2) you give a blood or urine sample (which will be analyzed later), or (3) you refuse to be tested. The officer will also serve you with a pink sheet of paper which comprises a notice of suspension and a 30-day temporary license. If your license is from out-of-state, it will not be seized and the suspension will merely keep you from driving within the state of California.

In order to contest the suspension (and extend your temporary license), it is imperative that within ten days of arrest you call the DMV to request a hearing; your failure to do so will result in the suspension taking effect 30 days after the arrest. On the other hand, if you request a hearing you will also get an extension for the 30-day temporary license, which can be extended for another month or two depending upon when the hearing is set for. There are no negative implications for requesting a hearing and with the help of a good DUI attorney, you have a realistic chance of getting the suspension thrown out.

California Laws Regulating Administrative DUI License Suspensions
Administrative California DMV license suspensions can be just as complicated as the criminal punishment because of the statutes governing them. If you are a first offender with a blood-alcohol level of .08%, you will have your license suspended for 4 months; if you refused to submit to chemical testing, your license is suspended for one year. If you are under 21 years of age, under stringent "zero tolerance" laws your license is suspended for one year if your blood-alcohol level is over .01% at the time of the arrest. If you are a second time offender with over .08% level, your license is suspended for one year (two years if you refused to get chemical testing).

License Suspension Procedures
This site offers a discussion of the laws and procedures involved in California Department of Motor Vehicles DUI license suspensions, from the attorney who wrote the leading drunk driving law textbook.

Driver Registry
States use this national governmental database to retrieve a person's driving record in other states. You can use this site to find your records.

Get a Copy of Your California DMV Record
Currently, your driving record is kept by the the California Department of Motor Vehicles for about 10 years. Follow the instructions on this site to obtain a copy of that record.

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Orange County DUI is a reference source to assist citizens charged with drunk driving, and is intended to counter the activities of organizations and individuals advocating unfair laws and procedures, unduly harsh penalties, Constitutional violations, and the eventual return of Prohibition. Further information on DUI issues such as unconstitutional roadblocks, inappropriate criminal penalties, and "automatic" license suspensions and revocations can be found on the website of theNational Motorists Association.