Home / Washington, DC DUI
DUI lawyer in Washington, DC: 10 days to save your license
The license case moves first, and you have 10 days from the day you got the notice to ask for a hearing.
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Washington, DC case for free and connects you with a Washington, DC DUI lawyer.
Arrested for DUI in Washington, DC? 10 days to ask for the hearing.
Counted from the day you got the notice. If that was today, the last day is Monday, October 19. Miss it and the suspension starts on its own (DC DMV rule).
The two clocks: Superior Court and DC DMV
Your Washington, DC DUI arrest opened a criminal case and a separate license case with the DC DMV. If that time runs out, your license can be suspended before you ever see a judge.
DC charges DUI under DC Code § 50-2206.11 and a lesser impaired driving charge (OWI) under § 50-2206.14. The license case is a separate DC DMV hearing, apart from the Superior Court case. Non-residents get 15 days instead of 10. (DC DMV rule)
A first offense in Washington, DC
DC Code § 50-2206.11 makes it a crime to drive or be in physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs (Washington, DC law).
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Fine | A first DUI conviction carries a $1,000 fine, up to 180 days in jail, or both |
| Jail | A first DUI can bring up to 180 days in jail, with a 10-day mandatory minimum if the alcohol concentration was 0.20 or higher |
| License (court) | DC DMV revokes the license for 6 months on a first DUI conviction, adds 12 points, and requires retesting |
| Agency steps | The DMV hearing for a DUI, DWI or OWI arrest is a show cause hearing held by DC DMV Adjudication Services, separate from Superior Court |
The judge picks a number inside each range. So ask where cases like yours land in Washington, DC (Washington, DC penalty rules).
Second and later offenses
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Second offense | A second offense carries a $2,500 to $5,000 fine, up to one year in jail, or both, with a 10-day mandatory minimum jail term |
| Second offense license | DC DMV revokes the license for 1 year on a second DUI and 2 years for any later DUI |
An earlier case changes every number above. Tell the lawyer the date and state of each prior case (Washington, DC repeat-offense rules).
Add-on fines and the newest change
- Interlock: DC license holders must enroll in the DMV ignition interlock program for 6 months after a first offense and one year after a second (interlock rule).
- If you refused the test: Refusing chemical testing after arrest leads to a 12-month revocation of your privilege to drive in the District of Columbia (refusal rule).
See how the interlock works and the DUI penalties table.
What a DUI attorney costs in Washington, DC
Lawyers in Washington, DC set their own fees. Ask what a quote covers: the court case, the DC DMV hearing, a trial. DUI lawyer cost lists the questions to ask.
The fine, the reinstatement fee and the other costs the state sets are side by side for every state in DUI fines by state.
Check a DC DWI lawyer’s license
The lawyer who takes your case handles DUI cases in Washington, DC and holds an active Washington, DC license. Ask for the bar number on the call and it is yours to keep.
Save your license before the deadline
Losing your license can mean losing your job, your rides and your routine. In Washington, DC, you have 10 days from the day you got the notice to fight for it. Call at any hour, and a lawyer for Washington, DC goes over your case tonight and asks for the police records.
Call about Washington, DC DUI (877) 317-9931
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Washington, DC case for free and connects you with a Washington, DC DUI lawyer.
Send your case details
Send the date of your Washington, DC arrest and the date printed on your DC DMV notice. Those two dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls you starts there.