What to Do After a DUI Arrest in California: A Step-by-Step Guide

What should you do first after a California DUI arrest?

1. Act on the DMV hearing deadline

For an administrative per se suspension, request a DMV hearing within 10 calendar days of receiving the suspension or revocation order. If you received the notice at arrest, count from your arrest date. Do not wait for your first court date. Keep a copy of the notice and written confirmation of your request. Read DMV’s DUI hearing guidance.

A temporary license is not an unrestricted promise that you can drive. DMV describes a 30-day period from issuance for eligible California license holders; other suspensions, an expired license, or restrictions can change your position. Ask DMV or counsel to confirm the applicable expiration date and whether a stay has been granted. A hearing request alone should not be treated as proof of current driving permission.

Learn more about DMV and APS hearing defense.

2. Confirm your court date and release conditions

Check the exact courthouse, date, time, and conditions on your paperwork. Calendar reminders and keep every later notice. Do not assume that hiring a lawyer means you can miss a hearing; confirm whether your personal appearance is required.

If charges are filed, an arraignment generally addresses the charges, rights, plea, and release conditions. Later stages can include discovery, motions, negotiations, and trial. Not every case follows every step. California Courts explains the criminal case process and the right to counsel at arraignment.

If the paperwork alleges a refusal, use our chemical-test refusal guide to separate each test request and prepare questions for counsel.

3. Preserve records and write a factual timeline

Create one folder for the citation, booking or release documents, DMV order, court notices, and relevant receipts. Write down what you remember while it is fresh. Separate what you personally observed from what someone later told you.

• The approximate time and location of driving, the stop, arrest, and testing.
• The reason the officer gave for the stop and the instructions you received.
• Whether a roadside breath test, later breath test, blood draw, or more than one test occurred.
• Names and contact details of potential witnesses, plus any relevant photos or recordings already in your possession.
• Questions about a medical condition, medication, injury, or communication difficulty to discuss privately with counsel.

Preserve originals. Do not edit recordings, delete relevant messages, or ask anyone to change their account. Ask counsel how to request evidence held by the arresting agency or laboratory.

4. Keep case discussions private

Avoid posting an account of the arrest on social media or asking public groups to evaluate the evidence. Discuss substantive details privately with your lawyer. If an insurer, employer, or licensing board needs information, ask counsel how to respond while meeting any applicable reporting duties.

5. Prepare for an attorney consultation

Bring the paperwork and your timeline. Ask which work is included in the fee, whether DMV representation is included, who will communicate with you, and what the next deadlines are. Mention any prior DUI matters, commercial driving, professional licensing, or immigration concerns privately so counsel can evaluate their relevance.

For a first arrest, see our first-time DUI defense page. Cases involving injuries or a possible felony require a different assessment; explore DUI with injury and felony DUI defense.

Speak with JackDUI about the next step

Jack Ter-Saakyan is a California attorney admitted in 2009. JackDUI serves Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, and the Los Angeles area. Request a free consultation or call (213) 255-5292, and flag any approaching deadline. An initial request does not itself establish representation or confirm that a deadline has been handled.