Got DUI but no restriction on license??? Can I drive as normal?

[haroldabroad78]

California

Hello there,

I received a DUI for the first time there about 2 years ago while on vacation in california. I was sentenced a nine month program/class. I put the program on pause and I'm in the process of completing it now. I was on an international driving license at the time which was suspended. I've since returned to California and I applied for a california drivers license for the first time, I told them about my DUI and presented all the paperwork when going for my license. After passing my driving test I received a drivers license in the post but there is absolutely no indication of any restriction on the license. It looks exactly the same as my room mates who has never had a DUI? As I understood it until I finish the program I could only drive to work and to the class. Should my license indicate whether or not its restricted? Am I currently allowed to drive as normal?

Thanks,
Harry.

 

[justalayman]

they may not apply that sort of restriction on the license. I am not aware of any state around me that would but that does not mean your restrictions have been lifted. An order of the court or DMV regarding restrictions is in force until they remove it, regardless what is indicated on your license.

 

[HighwayMan]

I was on an international driving license...

There is no such thing.

 

[betachains]

California

I received a DUI for the first time there about 2 years ago while on vacation in california. I was sentenced a nine month program/class. I put the program on pause and I'm in the process of completing it now. I was on an international driving license at the time which was suspended. I've since returned to California and I applied for a california drivers license for the first time, I told them about my DUI and presented all the paperwork when going for my license. After passing my driving test I received a drivers license in the post but there is absolutely no indication of any restriction on the license. It looks exactly the same as my room mates who has never had a DUI? As I understood it until I finish the program I could only drive to work and to the class. Should my license indicate whether or not its restricted? Am I currently allowed to drive as normal?
.

The easiest thing to do is go to the DMV (or online) and request your driving record. Then you can see your current status. From what you said, you probably do have a current unrestricted license.

Two possibilities come to mind:

You were driving on a foreign license when you had the DUI. How did the DMV log you in without an American ID? I am sure it was done, but when you applied for your de novo CA DL the clerk might not have run thru the hoops to look it up. So, you might have just gotten lucky.

Or, more likely: I think in CA, after your mandatory suspension period, you can get a regular license back if you are actively registered in the DUI course before having it completed. That's assuming you are following all the other conditions, which usually include a few years of zero-tolerance alcohol when driving and proof of insurance.

So yes, you may have an "unrestricted" license, but your driving privileges are not quite the same as your buddies who have never had a DUI.

 

[Proserpina]

Do us all a favor please.

Don't drive until you've actually completed treatment.

 

[betachains]

Do us all a favor please.

Don't drive until you've actually completed treatment.

Unless the OP is getting other treatment on his own, the court/DMV -mandated DUI courses have never been shown to decrease recidivism. A neighbor of mine teaches these courses, and boy is she cynical about them.

I think the best way to address the DUI problem is a technological one: put interlocks on all cars. It becomes a societal decision where to put the cut-off. Zero-tolerance would be unacceptable, since that'll put most high-end restaurants out of business. How about 0.15% ? That's clearly in the intoxicated range for most but lower than the average BAC of drivers arrested for DUI.

Drivers can still be arrested and charged for DUI's and per-se's of 0.08. That way, lawyers and DUI class teachers and what-nots still get some work.

 

[CdwJava]

California

Hello there,

I received a DUI for the first time there about 2 years ago while on vacation in california. I was sentenced a nine month program/class. I put the program on pause and I'm in the process of completing it now. I was on an international driving license at the time which was suspended.

CA does not recognize any form of "international" driver's license. More than likely you were operating on your foreign license while here or considered unlicensed - depending on how long you'd been here.

I've since returned to California and I applied for a california drivers license for the first time, I told them about my DUI and presented all the paperwork when going for my license. After passing my driving test I received a drivers license in the post but there is absolutely no indication of any restriction on the license. It looks exactly the same as my room mates who has never had a DUI? As I understood it until I finish the program I could only drive to work and to the class. Should my license indicate whether or not its restricted? Am I currently allowed to drive as normal?

In addition to the program possibility mentioned by betachains, it might also be possible that the CA DL number assigned to you as a result of your DUI was not merged with your current application. What might happen is that later on is that the two names will be matched and the records merged. IF there is a restriction, it might exist on the number assigned to you after the DUI and not on the number assigned as a result of your current application. Sometimes the MV takes some time to discover the matching names and merge the records.