What Happens After a DUI Arrest?
Most people are aware of what a DUI stop is like. Police pull you over, ask you some questions, and have you perform field sobriety tests. If the officer has probable cause that you were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you’ll be arrested. But what happens after you are arrested for DUI?
What Happens Immediately After a DUI Arrest?
Once you have been arrested, you will be asked to submit to a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol level. This test is not optional. Under the “implied consent” law (California Vehicle Code Section 23612), your consent to chemical testing is implied once you are arrested for DUI.1 Refusing to submit to a blood or breath test will result in an automatic one-year suspension of your driver’s license.
After you take a chemical test, you will be booked at the local police department. Once this process is complete, one of two scenarios will take place: bail may be set for you or you may be released on your own recognizance.
What Happens to Your Car?
After you are taken into custody, the arresting officer will make the decision about what happens to your car. In some instances, the officer will have the car placed in a nearby safe place such as a parking lot. If there was a passenger in the car who is sober, the officer may ask that person to drive the vehicle to your home.
However, the officer could elect to have your car towed and impounded. If this happens in your case, you will have to pay the fees associated with towing and impounding your vehicle.
What Happens After Being Booked?
When you are released from custody, you will be assigned a court date. It is extremely important that you take note of this date so you don’t forget about your court date. Along with this, you should immediately write down a statement of facts that includes anything you remember about your arrest and the events leading up to your arrest, including any tests you submitted to and field sobriety tests you took.
At this point, the best thing you can do is speak to an experience DUI defense attorney. Provide your law firm with your statement of facts so that they can advise you of what to do next and prepare a defense strategy that will help you obtain a favorable result.
You also need to know that your DUI arrest will not only trigger a criminal case, but also a DMV case. You must request a DMV hearing within 10 days of your arrest or your driver’s license will be automatically suspended.
Call the DUI Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich Today
If you have been arrested for a DUI, you need to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney immediately. At Wallin & Klarich, we have been successfully defending our clients against DUI charges for over 30 years. We can help you, too.
With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, an experienced Wallin & Klarich attorney can help no matter your location.
Call us at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free telephone consultation. We will be there when you call.
1.http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=23001-24000&file=23610-23614href=”#ref1″>↩
