Often, yes. After a first DUI, California usually allows a restricted license that lets you drive to and from work, during work if driving is part of the job, and to your DUI education program. It keeps you employed while the suspension runs.
To get one, you typically have to enroll in a DUI school, file an SR-22 certificate of insurance, and pay a reinstatement fee. There is often a short waiting period after the suspension starts. In many cases, installing an ignition interlock device lets you get a broader restricted license sooner, so you are not limited only to work and school trips.
There are limits. A chemical test refusal can block a restricted license during the suspension period. Prior DUIs can lengthen the wait or narrow your options. And commercial drivers generally cannot get a restricted CDL, so a DUI can hit that career hard.
Eligibility depends on whether your suspension comes from the DMV, the court, or both, and on the specific facts of your case. A lawyer can lay out the fastest legal path back behind the wheel. Learn what a restricted license involves and how license suspension is handled.
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.