Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.
- 1458 Esplanade, Chico, California
- 530-345-5678
If you were arrested for a DUI in Chico, you can stop the state from taking your license, but you must request an Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing with the DMV within 10 days of your arrest or your driving privileges will be automatically suspended.
If you were pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence in Butte County, you have the immediate right to contest the automatic suspension of your driving privileges. However, the state enforces strict boundaries on who can access this process.
We confront the evidence against you to build a trial-ready defense for every type of drunk driving charge.
We contact the DMV Driver Safety Office within 10 days of your arrest to formally schedule your administrative defense hearing.
We immediately request a stay of suspension, which is a legal order that freezes the suspension and keeps you driving legally while your case is pending.
Our legal team demands and thoroughly reviews the DMV’s evidence, including the police reports, maintenance logs for the breathalyzer machine, and blood test data.
We represent you at the administrative hearing, which is usually conducted over the phone, to cross-examine the evidence and argue against the suspension of your license.
The California DMV operates on its own bureaucratic timeline, completely separate from the Chico criminal courts. Fortunately, because we secure a stay of suspension immediately, you are usually permitted to drive legally during the entire waiting period.
Typically, the entire process from your initial hearing request to the DMV’s final written decision takes 2 to 4 months.
The DMV does not charge a filing fee to request or hold an Administrative Per Se hearing. If you choose to retain a private defense lawyer to protect your driving privileges, professional fees generally range from $1,500 to $4,000 depending on the complexity of the case and the evidence involved
The clock is ticking right now, and missing the deadline means an automatic suspension. You can learn more about how we fight these administrative actions on our Chico DUI defense services page.
Yes, in most cases you can apply for a restricted license right away if you install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in your vehicle. This breathalyzer device requires you to provide a clean breath sample before the car engine will start. Alternatively, you can opt for a traditional restricted license that only limits your driving to and from your place of employment and your mandatory DUI school.
DUI suspension hearings for drivers arrested in Chico are not handled by the local Chico DMV field office on Parmac Road. Instead, your case is assigned to the Sacramento Driver Safety Office, which handles all administrative driver safety matters for Butte County. Fortunately, you do not have to travel there in person, as our firm handles these hearings entirely over the phone or via secure online portals.
If you miss the strict 10-day window, your driving privileges will be automatically suspended exactly 30 days after your arrest date. The DMV rarely grants late hearings unless you can legally prove good cause, such as a medical emergency or severe incapacitation that physically prevented you from contacting them. If your deadline has passed, your best option is to have an attorney review your timeline to see if an exception can be made.
No, winning your administrative DMV hearing has no impact whatsoever on the criminal case filed against you by the Butte County District Attorney. The DMV only decides the status of your physical driver’s license, while the Butte County Superior Court determines criminal penalties such as fines, probation, or jail time. You must successfully fight your case in both separate systems to fully protect your future and your record.
Ignoring a California suspension is a major mistake because California belongs to the Interstate Driver License Compact. This is a legal agreement where member states share traffic and DUI records with your home state’s licensing agency. If your driving privileges are suspended here in Chico, your home state will highly likely suspend your local driver’s license as soon as they receive notification from California.
Your first conversation is free and confidential. You speak directly with Michael Rooney.
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.