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Frequently Asked Questions About DUI Defense, Driver’s License Suspension, CDL Protection And More

At the Law Office of Rodney Gould, we welcome the opportunity to provide you with information that can be of use to you in case of a drunk driving arrest or the threat of a driver’s license suspension. If you realize that you need legal counsel after a run-in with the law over allegations of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), we look forward to giving your case the urgency it calls for.

Our founding attorney, Rodney Gould, together with all of us on the DUI defense team work hard to deliver results that keep people in control of their lives whenever possible. The questions and answers below may give you ideas about how we can help you stay out of jail and retain your driving privileges if at all possible.

Questions About DUI License Suspension

The possibility of losing your driver’s license must be frightening if you need to keep driving to make a living or take care of your family. The following questions and answers can get you started realizing what you need to do next.

Will you lose your license because of a DUI/DWI arrest?

While your DUI criminal case is pending, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will typically review your case 30 days after your arrest. Depending on the outcome of that review, you can expect your license to be suspended for four months. However, if you request a hearing in time, you and your attorney may be able to stop this administrative driver’s license suspension. Time is of the essence, so do not put off efforts to keep your driving privileges.

How do you get your license back after a suspension?

According to the DMV, after your four-month suspension or a prescribed period of time with a restricted license, you will be eligible for reinstatement of your driving privileges. If court sanctions or suspensions are in effect at that time, you must clear those up before getting your unrestricted driver’s license back.

How long will your license be suspended after a DUI?

The normal length of time for a DUI driver’s license suspension is four months. It may be less (or nonexistent) if you make a successful protest at your first administrative hearing. Or, it may be longer if the court handling your criminal case has imposed additional sanctions or penalties.

Bring your own questions about DUI driver’s license suspension to our attention if you are ready to get your defense started.

Questions Focusing On Senior Drivers And Driver’s Licenses

Is your age an issue after a DUI arrest? Maybe yes, maybe no. Read on.

Can an older adult’s driver’s license be suspended because of age?

Officially, the answer is no. However, you may suspect that a law enforcement officer, administrative hearing officer or judge is treating you differently because you are an older driver. To protect your rights as an older adult with DUI charges, get legal representation right away.

At what age does California require drivers to renew their driver’s licenses in person?

Drivers who are 70 years old or older need to report in person to the DMV. Before that age, renewal online is usually available. However, anyone, whether younger or older than age 70, who has had a driver’s license suspended should get legal advice before attempting to renew.

What procedures will the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) use to determine a driver’s physical and mental condition?

Just as you likely did when you first got a driver’s license, you will be required to take knowledge and vision tests to verify your fitness to drive after age 70.

Don’t let your age be a barrier in your mind to protecting your rights after a DUI arrest or any citation or charge that puts a spotlight on your fitness to keep driving after age 70. Let us explain how attorney Gould has gotten good results for other older clients.

Questions About Commercial Driver’s Licenses

People whose jobs include driving by definition are naturally extra worried when their driver’s licenses may be suspended. See the questions and answers below for related insights.

Your commercial driver’s license was issued in another state. Will a California DUI trigger a suspension in your home state?

The DMV in California may suspend your CDL and driving privileges in this state. The DMV in your home state may learn about this through the Interstate Driver’s License Compact (IDLC). It is then up to your home state’s DMV to impose penalties according to that state’s laws, which may be more or less severe than California’s.

You were driving your personal vehicle and using your personal driver’s license when you were arrested on suspicion of DUI. Is your CDL at risk?

Any DUI conviction will result in the suspension of your commercial driver’s license in California for one to three years. A second one will result in a suspension for life. Ask an attorney for advice right away if you are a commercial driver and have been charged with a DUI.

Self-Help Questions And Answers

We realize that some people may not be ready to hire a defense attorney and hope to self-represent in DUI and driver’s license suspension hearings, We have provided links below that you are welcome to access at your own risk.

Please also see the site map of this website for a greater selection of topics. To schedule a consultation with a DUI defense lawyer, contact the Law Office of Rodney Gould at 818-570-6989 or by email.