Can I Drive After a DUI Conviction?

Gavel & Justice

One of the most dreaded penalties for a DUI conviction in California is having your driver’s license suspended or revoked. After all, without your driver’s license it becomes much more difficult to get to work, school, or to any other vital appointments, including court dates. Fortunately, the state of California allows for first-time offenders to be able to maintain limited driving privileges by obtaining a temporary restricted license from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

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How to Get a Restricted License in California After DUI

If you want to order a temporary restricted license, you will need to follow a step by step process. Before we explain, remember that you must not refuse to take a blood/breath test! That is because refusing to take one of these will automatically result in a one-year license suspension and you will not have a chance of obtaining a restricted license. Now that you have that in mind, here are the steps you will need to follow:

  • Install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle
  • File a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility with the DMV
  • Enroll in a DUI class
  • Fill out a form for the restricted license
  • Pay any and all associated fees

IID license laws have recently changed in California (as of January 1, 2019). In the past, they were only part of a beta test but are now available to drivers convicted of a DUI in California. Additionally, you used to have to wait for a month to apply for the restricted license. You would also have had to enroll in an alcohol class from a state-approved provider. You would have had to bring the proof of enrollment along with proof of current and valid insurance to the DMV.

Now, however, immediately following your DUI conviction, you will be able to apply for the restricted license. In fact, there isn’t even a waiting period that you are required to abide by prior to applying!

Terms of a Restricted License

Once this process is completed, the DMV will issue you a very important piece of paper that will function as an authorization to drive a car on public roads for a limited duration of time. Depending on how your case goes in court, this will probably last for about four to five months, but may be issued for longer if your license suspension is lengthy.

A restricted license allows you to travel to an extremely limited number of places: between your home and either work or your court-ordered alcohol program. If you go anywhere else, you must find alternative transportation.

The skilled Riverside criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Grech & Packer may be able to help you with your DUI case. We have helped numerous clients all around the Riverside area with their cases, and have a long record of success. Our approach and diligence has earned our team inclusion into legal societies such as Super Lawyers and the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers. We also are one of a select few firms to have an attorney to be Board Certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization.

To start exploring your criminal defense options, call the Law Offices of Grech & Packer at (951) 291-0105 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

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