Yes, in most cases you can keep driving for a period after the arrest. When you are arrested for a DUI, the officer usually confiscates your plastic license and gives you a pink paper document. That pink form is a temporary license, and it typically lets you drive for about thirty days.
Here is why that matters. The suspension does not start the moment you are arrested. The temporary license bridges the gap while the DMV process gets going. If you request a DMV hearing within ten days of the arrest, you can also ask for a stay, which keeps your license valid past the thirty days until the hearing is decided.
If you do nothing, the suspension takes effect automatically once the temporary period ends, and you lose the option to fight it. So while you can drive right now, that ability is not permanent, and the clock is already running.
After a suspension does begin, you may still qualify for a restricted license that lets you drive to work, school, and treatment. Learn about the 10-day rule that protects your driving privilege and how to get a restricted license.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different. Call Crudo Law at (858) 622-7280 or visit /contact for a free, confidential consultation.