Los Angeles DMV Hearing Attorneys

DUI Defense Lawyers in Los Angeles, California

A DMV hearing is an administrative hearing which is held regarding the suspension or revocation of a person’s driving privileges. This is entirely separate from the DUI court process, and the two have no effect upon one another. When a person has been arrested for a Los Angeles DUI (driving under the influence) charge, the arresting officer will take away his or her driver’s license. The driver will receive a slip of paper which will act as a 30-day temporary license. At this time, the driver has only 10 days from the date of his or her arrest to schedule a hearing with the DMV.

A Los Angeles DUI defense attorney or lawyer can represent the driver at his or her DMV hearing, which is held at the regional Drivers Safety Office of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). DMV hearings are also referred to as administrative per se hearings, or APS hearings, and are presided over by a DMV employee who acts as a Hearing Officer. When the Los Angeles DUI lawyers at Gold & Witham handle a Los Angeles DUI case, they take the time and prepare for a DMV hearing as they would a criminal trial. The DMV hearing has its own rules and procedure that must be followed, as well as certain information and evidence that will be applicable in helping a client keep his or her driver’s license.

The attorneys at Gold & Witham recognize the importance of a DMV hearing and thus provide aggressive representation at this hearing, as well as during the DUI criminal court process.

DMV Hearings vs. DUI Court Proceedings

A DMV hearing is held to determine whether a driver’s license should be suspended or revoked. During this hearing, the only points that will be addressed in determining license reinstatement, suspension or revocation are the following (when the driver submitted to a breathalyzer test or blood test):

• Was the driver lawfully arrested?
• Did the officer have reason to believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
• Was the driver’s blood alcohol concentration .08% or above when he or she was driving?
• Note: slightly different points will be covered in the case of a breath test refusal.

Click here for more information from the California DMV regarding DMV Administrative Hearings vs. Criminal Court Trials.

Contact a Los Angeles DMV hearing attorney at Gold & Witham to see how we can represent you at this administrative hearing and help you retain your driver’s license!