DMV Hearings & SR 22 Insurance

As a criminal defense lawyer who devotes a significant portion of his practice to DUI defense in and around Los Angeles County, Mark Daniel Melnick, Attorney at Law has the knowledge, skills and experience to successfully represent clients at DMV hearings on their driver's license suspension.

DMV Hearings

Upon your arrest for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), your license will likely be taken by the arresting officer, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be notified of the arrest. The DMV conducts an administrative review of the officer's report and any test results and decides whether to suspend your license for a period of four months on a first offense, or a year or more for subsequent offenses.

You have a right to request a hearing before the DMV regarding the suspension of your license, but you must request a hearing within ten days of receiving notice of the suspension. Our office will represent you at the DMV hearing and use every tool at our disposal to help you keep your license.

Even if your license is suspended, you may still apply for a restricted license that will allow you to drive to and from and during work, as well as to drive yourself or other family members to medical care, or to drive your minor dependents to and from school where no public transportation or school bus transportation is available. Part of being issued a restricted license is obtaining SR 22 insurance.

SR 22 Insurance

The impact of a DUI conviction on your car insurance may actually be the most long-term and costliest consequence of your DUI. In order to reinstate your license once it has been suspended, or in order to obtain a restricted license during a suspension, you must obtain SR 22 insurance. SR 22 insurance is considerably more expensive than regular auto liability insurance.

Generally, the SR 22 insurance period is three years long, although it may be longer depending upon the circumstances. After the SR 22 period is over, you may be able to get back on to standard liability insurance with lower premiums. Failing to maintain the SR 22 insurance for the entire period can result in another suspension of your license. It is wise to renew your SR 22 policy on time or early in order to avoid any lapses and the problems that can cause.

An Experienced DUI and DMV Attorney

While jail time and fines cannot be imposed, the DMV hearing remains an important aspect of your overall DUI case that should not be neglected. Our office can represent you before the DMV with the same skill and ability we use in court every day defending clients charged with DUI. From Orange County to Ventura County, contact Mark Daniel Melnick, Attorney at Law, for advice and representation regarding all facets of your DUI.