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What to Except at Your First Court Date in California | DUI


If you are arrested for a crime, specifically a DUI in California, you will have your driver’s license taken and you will be issued a pink temporary driver’s license. You will also be issued a citation with a court date. This court date is your Arraignment Date in Superior Court which is your first court appearance. 

At this court hearing, you will be notified or “arraigned” of the charges that the District Attorney decides to file against you. This is important because the charges may be different than what you were originally cited for. For example, you may have been cited for a DUI, but in court you could be arraigned for VC 23152(a) Driving under the Influence; VC 23152(b) BAC over .08, and VC 23578 -Excessive blood Alcohol Level (if your BAC was really high); or VC 23578 –Refusal to submit to a Chemical Test. 

Typically, your first appearance can be very nerve-racking. However, you should keep in mind that your actual case will only take a few minutes once the judges calls the matter. You can also request that your attorney appears for you, so that you can avoid going to court. This is a case by case decision, so consult with your attorney beforehand. For more clarity on the Court process in your DUI case see the map I created below.


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