You request a DMV hearing by contacting the California DMV Driver Safety office within ten days of your DUI arrest and asking for an Administrative Per Se hearing. You can do this by phone, and it is smart to have a lawyer make the request so nothing gets missed.
When you call, ask for two things. First, request the hearing itself. Second, ask for a stay of the suspension, which keeps your license valid until the hearing is decided. You can also request the officer's report and the evidence the DMV plans to use, which helps your attorney prepare a defense.
The Driver Safety offices cover regions, not every field office, so your case goes to the office that handles San Diego. A lawyer who regularly appears before these offices knows where to call and what to ask for.
Timing is everything here. The ten-day deadline runs from the arrest date, and if you wait past it, the DMV proceeds with an automatic suspension. Move quickly. Read more about the 10-day rule and how a DMV hearing can protect your 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.