Orange County DUI Defense

DUI Arrest in Orange County

OC DUI FAQs

OC DUI Criminal Process

OC DUI Chemical Testing

Field Sobriety Test in OC

OC DUI Alcohol Programs

Boating/Cycling/Flying DUI

Orange County DUI Resources

OC DUI Alternative Sentencing


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Be assured your matters will be      in experienced & caring hands.

9891 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618

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Contact Numbers

Toll Free: (888) 444-7210
Tel: (949) 679-9494
Fax: (888) 444-7211

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WHAT TO DO AFTER A DUI?

There are a number of important things for you to do (and not do) after you have been arrested for DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs). Orange County DUI defense attorney Tom Wallin can discuss your specific circumstances with you in a private consultation, but below are a few things you should know in the meantime:

  • Request a hearing at the DMV immediately. This request must be made within 10 days after you receive a notice from the DMV saying that your driver’s license is being revoked or suspended. Don’t let this date pass without acting on it. Although the DMV’s decisions concern only your driving privileges (not whether you go to jail, for instance), it’s still imperative that you protect your rights by getting a DMV hearing.
  • Ask that the arresting officer be present at the hearing. If you don’t do this, you’ll have to have him or her subpoenaed to appear, or just waive his/her attendance at the hearing. If the hearing takes place without the arresting officer present, the decisions about your case will be based only on the officer’s brief written report, which may be inaccurate. In addition, your defense attorney may be able to get more “ammunition” for your defense at the hearing when the arresting officer can be questioned.
  • Keep the details of your case to yourself and your attorney. Don’t talk about your arrest with co-workers, friends and family. Word of your DUI arrest can spread a lot farther than you’d think (e.g., to your employer). Your charges may eventually be dropped, but people will mostly only remember that you ‘got caught driving drunk.’
  • Don’t continue to drive with a revoked driver’s license. If you do, you’re risking an even more serious charge than the original DUI. With a revocation, you’re not allowed to drive at all ¾ not to and from a job, not for any reason. If you’re arrested for driving while your license is revoked, you may have to post a bond up to $10,000 just to be released from jail, and if you’re convicted, you’ll get a significant jail term to serve.
  • Get an experienced DUI lawyer’s help. California’s DUI statutes and the criminal justice system in Orange County (as in other jurisdictions) are complex. Without legal representation, you could well lose your case even if it was winnable. The court and the prosecutors are not on your side; in fact, it’s a feather in a prosecutor’s cap each time he or she secures a DUI conviction. It’s unwise to ‘go it alone’ just to save money or because you don’t think a DUI conviction is a big deal.

Take your DUI arrest seriously. A DUI conviction can follow you for the rest of your life. It will be on your driving record forever. The fines alone are painful to most people, and the jail time and other penalties can adversely affect your career, your family, and your future. Contact DUI attorney Tom Wallin today to discuss your arrest and devise a course of action.