DUI charges in San Diego, California
This page is for people arrested for driving under the influence in San Diego County. It explains the two separate cases that follow an arrest, the short deadline to protect a driver's license, and links to licensed lawyers with criminal law on record.
What the law prohibits[1]
California makes it a crime to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more. The limit for drivers of commercial vehicles is 0.04 percent.
Two separate cases[2][3]
A DUI arrest usually leads to two cases. The DMV can suspend the license in an administrative case, and the prosecutor can file a criminal case in the San Diego Superior Court. The outcome of one does not decide the other.
The 10-day deadline[2]
After an arrest, the driver usually receives a notice of suspension. To challenge the suspension, the driver must request a DMV hearing within 10 days of receiving that notice. If no hearing is requested in time, the suspension takes effect.
Steps to take[2][3]
- Find the date on your suspension notice and request the DMV hearing within 10 days.
- Note your court date and the courthouse listed on your citation or release papers.
- Keep all papers from the arrest, the tow and any testing.
Lawyers in San Diego, California
The directory lists 3,855 lawyers with an active California license and an office of record in San Diego, California; 295 of them have Criminal Law as a practice area on record (listed in the directory's source file; origin not confirmed, not a certification).
A license record shows a lawyer may practice. It does not show experience with a specific kind of case.
You can check any lawyer's license yourself with the State Bar of California lookup.
State Bar of California license lookup · Browse these lawyers in the directory
Questions
Is the DMV hearing the same as the court case?[2]
No. The DMV hearing is only about the license. The court case decides the criminal charge.
What if I already missed the 10 days?[2]
The suspension generally takes effect. A lawyer can tell you whether any option remains in your situation.
You choose which lawyer to contact and what to share. Nothing you type is sent to a lawyer without your say-so.
Sources
- California Vehicle Code section 23152 (driving under the influence), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- California Vehicle Code section 13558 (DMV hearing request), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Superior Court of San Diego County (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different. Check the official sources linked here and talk to a licensed lawyer about your facts.
Reviewed and last updated 2026-10-31. To report an error, write to notices@esqcopilot.com.