Northern California's Premier DMV Law Firm

COMMON DMV HEARINGS

The three most common DMV hearings are: (1) DMV APS Hearing for DUI related actions, (2) DMV Negligent Operator Hearing for having too many points, and (3) Medical Re-examination Hearings for having a medical condition which may affect your ability to operate a vehicle safely.

DMV HEARING

At the hearing, the driver is informed of the legal grounds for the action, has the opportunity to review and challenge the evidence, and to present evidence, witnesses and testimony to persuade the department not to take action.  The rules that control these hearings are found in the Vehicle Code, the Government Code, and in various Appellate and Supreme Court rulings. Following the hearing, the Driver Safety Hearing Officer will decide to uphold or set aside the DMV action.

REQUESTING DMV HEARING – TIME LIMITS

Check the notice you received advising you of the action against your driving privilege. If the notice indicates you have the right to a hearing, you have the specified number of days indicated in the notice to request a hearing.  If you do not make a timely request, your right to a hearing will be forfeited.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO READ THE DOCUMENTS

Read all the documents you were personally provided or that were mailed to you by DMV. These documents explain the issues involved in your case, what deadlines you must meet, and your rights in the administrative hearing process.

IMPORTANT!

You must set a DMV DUI hearing within 10 calendar days of your DUI arrest.  Failure to set the hearing within 10 days, results in an automatic driver license suspension which starts 30 days from the date of arrest.  The suspension period can last from 4 months up to a year. If you hire us, we will set the DMV hearing for you and fight the DMV from taking your license.

DMV LICENSE SUSPENSION VS. COURT LICENSE SUSPENSION

There are two ways your driving privilege in California can be suspended.  If you lose or default on the DMV hearing, a 4 month to 1 year suspension can occur.  If you get convicted in court, it will trigger a 6 month to 10-month suspension.  In most first offense cases, you are eligible for a work restricted license after 30 days.  

DMV HEARING RIGHTS

You have the right to:

• Be represented by an attorney, at your own expense
• Review the evidence and cross examine the testimony of any witness for DMV
• Testify on your own behalf
• Cross-examine opposing witnesses
• Subpoena witnesses and/or documents
• Introduce evidence on your behalf
• A full and fair consideration of the facts by an impartial person
• A Department Review and/or judicial appeal of any adverse decision

DMV ISSUES – 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd OFFENSES

To win the DMV hearing you need to win one of the three following issues:  

1. Did the Peace Officer have reasonable cause to believe you were driving a motor vehicle in violation of Vehicle Code Section 23140, 23152, or 23153?
2. Were you legally detained and placed under lawful arrest?
3. Were you driving a motor vehicle when you had 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol in your blood?

WINNING DMV DEFENSES

The DMV has the burden of proof to prove the case against you.  Although DMV hearings are tough to win, they can be won if you hire an attorney that knows what they are doing.  The following are just some of the areas were the DMV hearing can be won:

• You were not the driver of the vehicle
• The officer did not have a legal reason to pull you over
• You were not given a breath/blood test within 3 hours of driving
• The officer didn’t observe you for 15 minutes prior to the breath test as required by law
• The officer wasn’t properly trained and qualified to administer the breath test
• The police didn’t follow the proper procedure in administering the breath/blood test
• You were under 0.08% BAC at the time of driving
• The DS 367 Officers’ statement was not properly sworn and filled out
• The DS367 Probable Cause Statement was not properly filled out
• The Officer’s “official duty” was rebutted
• Significant mistakes made in the Officer’s Statement DMV form and police report
• Insufficient or improper DMV evidence

DMV HEARING SUSPENSION PERIODS

On a first offense, the suspension period is 4 months, on a 2^nd  and 3^rd offense it is 1 year. On a first offense, you may apply for a work restricted license after 30 days.  On a 2^nd and 3^rd offense there is a hard suspension with no restriction eligibility.    

DMV REFUSAL HEARING ISSUES

If you refused to take a breath test or blood test, there are different issues in your DMV Hearing:

1. Did the Peace Officer have reasonable cause to believe you were driving a motor vehicle in violation of Vehicle Code Section 23140, 23152, or 23153?
2. Were you legally detained and placed under lawful arrest?
3. Were you told that, if you refused to submit to or failed to complete a test of your blood or breath, your driving privilege would be suspended for one year or revoked for two or three years?
4. Did you refuse to submit to, or fail to complete, a blood or breath test after being requested to do so by a peace officer?

WINNING DMV REFUSAL DEFENSES

The DMV has the burden of proof to prove the case against you.  Although DMV hearings are tough to win, they can be won if you hire an attorney that knows what they are doing.  Since all licensed drivers are required to submit to a chemical test in a DUI case, action can be taken against you even if your blood alcohol level is 0.0%.  The following are just some of the areas were the DMV refusal hearing can be won:

• You were not driving the vehicle
• The office didn’t have a legal reason to pull you over
• You consented to give a chemical test
• You had a medical reason not to give a test
• The officer didn’t properly advise you of your rights
• The officer confused you when advising you of your rights
• The DS 367 Officers’ statement was not properly sworn and filled out
• The DS367 Probable Cause Statement was not properly filled out
• The Officer’s “official duty” was rebutted
• Significant mistakes made in the Officer’s Statement DMV form and police report
• Insufficient or improper DMV evidence

DMV REFUSAL HEARING SUSPENSION PERIODS

If you refused the chemical test, this is very serious.  On a first offense refusal, the suspension period is 1 year, on a 2^nd offense refusal it’s 2 years, and on a third offense refusal it is 3 years.  This is a hard suspension with no restriction eligibility.    

DMV HEARING ISSUES – DUI PROBATION/UNDER 21 YEARS OLD

To win the DMV hearing you need to win one of the three following issues:    

1. Did the Peace Officer have reasonable cause to believe you were driving a motor vehicle in violation of Vehicle Code Section 23140, 23152, or 23153?
2. Were you legally detained and placed under lawful arrest?
3. Were you driving a motor vehicle when you had 0.01% or more by weight of alcohol in your blood?

WINNING DMV DEFENSES

The DMV has the burden of proof to prove the case against you.  Although DMV hearings are tough to win, they can be won if you hire an attorney that knows what they are doing.  The following are just some of the areas were the DMV hearing can be won:

• You were not the driver of the vehicle
• The officer did not have a legal reason to pull you over
• You were not given a breath/blood test within 3 hours of driving
• The officer didn’t observe you for 15 minutes prior to the breath test as required by law
• The officer wasn’t properly trained and qualified to administer the breath test
• The police didn’t follow the proper procedure in administering the breath/blood test
• You were under 0.01% BAC at the time of driving
• The DS 367 Officers’ statement was not properly sworn and filled out
• The DS367 Probable Cause Statement was not properly filled out
• The Officer’s “official duty” was rebutted
• Significant mistakes made in the Officer’s Statement DMV form and police report
• Insufficient or improper DMV evidence

DMV DUI PROBATION/UNDER 21 HEARING SUSPENSION PERIODS

If you are under 21 or on DUI probation and you lose the DMV hearing, DMV will suspend your license for 1 year with no with no restriction eligibility.    

PRESENTING YOUR OWN EVIDENCE

Evidence you present must be relevant to your case and can be sworn documents, medical records, collision reports, photographs, or other items. Evidence can also be sworn testimony taken under oath. On your hearing date, be prepared to bring any witnesses or written witness statements regarding the specific issues involved in your case. Your witnesses should be prepared to answer any questions asked by the hearing officer.

CONTINUING THE DMV HEARING

If you cannot attend your administrative hearing on the scheduled date and time, you must contact DMV prior to the hearing and within 10 working days of the time you know, or should have known, you need a continuance. You may have to file a written statement indicating the reasons you cannot appear. DMV may grant the continuance if you are not responsible for causing the delay and made a good faith attempt to prevent the delay. If a continuance is not granted and you do not attend your hearing, DMV will proceed with the hearing in your absence.

NOTIFICATION OF THE DECISION

Following the hearing, you will be notified of the hearing officer’s decision in writing, even if you do not attend your hearing. The time it takes to make a decision depends on the issues being addressed, the amount of evidence and witness testimony presented.

DECISION RESULTS

Depending on the type of administrative hearing, a hearing officer may uphold or set aside the DMV action.  If a time period for an action against your driving privilege is specified in the California Vehicle Code, the hearing officer cannot change the length of the action.

APPEALING THE DECISION

Should the hearing decision go against you, you have the right to request the DMV to conduct an administrative review of the decision, as well as the right to appeal the decision to superior court.  Requests for a department review, or an appeal of the decision in Superior Court, must be made within a certain time period depending on the laws affecting your case and a fee will be required. The time periods for appeal and other information concerning your specific appeal rights are provided on the notice advising you of the administrative hearing decision.

NO SHOW AT HEARING

If you request a hearing and do not attend the hearing, the department will proceed with the case against you.

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