The DMV

DMV involvement in a driving under the influence of marijuana arrest is rare and will typically only take place if the department believes that the driver poses a significant health and safety risk to the public or if he or she refused to provide a blood or urine sample. When the DMV does get involved, it is critical that the accused hires a California criminal defense lawyer who has experience defending clients against DMV administrative hearings in order to avoid the severe consequence of losing one’s driver’s license.

The DMV is immediately notified when an individual has been arrested for “drunk driving” if he or she had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of a 0.08% or greater. This is because California has what’s called a “per se” law which states that anyone who has that BAC is above the legal limit and may be automatically considered under the influence. When that happens, the DMV automatically suspends one’s driver’s license unless an attorney can convince it to do otherwise at a hearing that the defense must request within 10 days of the arrest.

Driving under the influence of marijuana, in California, has no similar “per se” law, as simply having the drug in one’s system isn’t enough to infer that he or she was under its influence. Because there is no “per se” law in this state for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), an individual arrested for this offense will not typically have his or her driver’s license administratively suspended by the DMV. That being said, there are two exceptions to this rule.

The DMV is notified when an officer makes a DUID arrest if the officer initially suspected that the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. When an officer suspects that alcohol has caused a driver’s impairment, he or she gives the driver a form that serves as a notice of suspension and a temporary 30-day license. That form is also sent directly to the DMV. If a chemical test later reveals that drugs and not alcohol were involved, the DMV usually tells the arrested individual that he or she may simply apply for a duplicate license and that the department will not be taking any independent action. However, if the DMV is alerted to the fact that the DUID arrest is the driver’s second or more, they may suspend the license, declaring that the accused poses a health and safety risk to the community. In this situation, it is vital to request the hearing within 10 days of the arrest and to hire a skilled DMV hearing attorney who knows how to convince the hearing officer not to impose such a restriction. Without a knowledgeable attorney, the suspension is virtually guaranteed.

Refusing to submit to a blood or urine test will also invite the DMV to take action. This is because everyone who receives a driver’s license is deemed to have given his or her consent to submit to a chemical test if an officer believes that he or she is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is known as the “implied consent” law. When the officer tells the driver that he or she must choose a test, he or she must also inform the suspect that refusing to submit to one will cause his or her driver’s license to be automatically suspended for 1-3 years, depending on how many similar violations the individual has previously been charged with.

When arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana (especially if the accused either refused to take a chemical test or knows that this is his or her second or subsequent offense), it is imperative that he or she immediately contacts the outstanding criminal attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm who know the most effective ways to challenge a driver’s license suspension, both at the DMV and in court. For the most trusted legal advice and unparalleled representation, contact them today for a free consultation.