People that are stopped for driving under the influence don’t always understand the value of immediately contacting a Long Beach DUI attorney. Some have the mistaken impression that this will be handled like other kinds of traffic citations. Others don’t feel that they need to be in any rush about this. Both ideas are wrong.
California law allows for a process called a DMV, or Department of Motor Vehicles, hearing. It is something that has to be requested with the first ten days after the citation. It is not something that is casual in nature, but it is something that can often be used to get the charge dropped.
Higher costs for insurance
People that have this kind of ticket appear on their records will usually pay higher premiums for insurance. In that Californians already pay some of the highest premiums in the country, this is no laughing matter. For some families and individuals, this can impose a financial crisis.
Possible license suspension
Depending on whether this is a first time event or one that is a second, third or more event, people run the risk of loosing driving privileges. Many people that have this happen will have their lives turned upside down. Lots of people commute a hundred miles or more to work each day round trip. Not being able to get to work can potentially cause a job to be lost. For those that think this is no big deal and that they can find some other alternative for transportation, think again. Even van pools that come from the outer communities have limitations in that people have to get to them to use them.
License suspension can take as little as 90 days or as long as ten years depending on the amount of times that the person has been charged as well as the kind of judge they get for their case.
Job problems
Besides trouble getting to work, this kind of charge is something that future employers may ask about. People that tell the truth about being arrested may not get hired. People that lie about it can be discharged later when the truth emerges. Either way can prevent a person from having a job. In that Southern California is a tough area to find a good job, this is not something that most people want to risk.
Contacting an attorney that specializes in this kind of law is not a guarantee that the charge will be dropped but it is the best chance that people have. For this reason, contacting someone immediately and trying to get a DMV hearing is always a good idea.
