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Evidence at a DUI DMV Hearing

Here, we discuss a DMV hearing that is part of a procedure after a Los Angeles DUI arrest. After a Los Angeles DUI arrest, a police officer will give the arrested person at least 2 documents:

1. DMV notice of suspension printed on page 1 of DMV form DS 367
2. Citation to Court.

The DMV form DS 367, is given instead of a California driver’s license that is confiscated by the police officer. The notice of suspension explains that the suspension (or revocation) will start in 30 days and informs the driver that he or she has a right to request an “Admin Per Se” (APS) DMV hearing to determine 3 issues:

1. The legality of the police stop/contact
2. The legality of arrest
3. The blood alcohol level at the time of driving.

If there is an allegation of refusal to submit to a chemical test, the DMV hearing determines 4 somewhat different issues:

1. The legality of the police stop/contact (same issue)
2. The legality of arrest (same issue)
3. Whether the driver was informed that his or her license would be suspended or revoked if he or she refused to submit to a chemical test
4. Whether in fact, the driver failed to submit to a chemical test.

There are also “DUI probation violation” DMV hearings and “under the age of 21” APS DMV hearings.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE DMV HEARING

The DMV hearings are held at a “DMV Driver’s Safety” office, which is a division of the DMV consisting of 17 offices throughout the state that do evidentiary hearings. The evidentiary hearings are administered by a “Hearing Officer”, a person appointed by the DMV Director to conduct hearings, present and admit evidence and render decisions based on law and admissible evidence. Thus the decision regarding your driving privilege after a Los Angeles DUI arrest is entirely dependent on your hearing officer’s ability to be objective. If you believe that the Hearing Officer is biased, you (or your Los Angeles DUI Attorney) can file an affidavit to disqualify the Hearing Officer. The affidavit has to be filed in compliance with California Government Section 11512(c) which in relevant parts reads:

(An administrative law judge or agency member shall voluntarily disqualify themselves and withdraw from any case in which there are grounds for disqualification, including disqualification under Section 11425.40. The parties may waive the disqualification by a writing that recites the grounds for disqualification. A waiver is effective only when signed by all parties, accepted by the administrative law judge or agency member, and included in the record. Any party may request the disqualification of any administrative law judge or agency member by filing an affidavit, prior to the taking of evidence at a hearing, stating with particularity the grounds upon which it is claimed that the administrative law judge or agency member is disqualified. Where the request concerns an agency member, the issue shall be determined by the other members of the agency. Where the request concerns the administrative law judge, the issue shall be determined by the agency itself if the agency itself hears the case with the administrative law judge, otherwise the issue shall be determined by the administrative law judge. No agency member shall withdraw voluntarily or be subject to disqualification if their disqualification would prevent the existence of a quorum qualified to act in the particular case, except that a substitute qualified to act may be appointed by the appointing authority.

If the hearing officer is disqualified, a different hearing officer is appointed and will start a hearing by checking the recording and presenting its case through documents.

Those documents can be as little as 2, which is 4 page DS 367 form and the driving record. Often, however, the documents will also include

1. A police report;
2. A traffic collision report (in case there was an accident);
3. The printout of the breath test strips or blood test results (in case a breath sample or blood test was taken to measure the level of alcohol in your blood).

After the DMV presents its evidence, it will ask for objections. The standard objections are:

1. Hearsay for any statements in the reports and DS 367 (but be mindful that hearsay is often allowed at the DMV hearings)
2. Foundation because the introduction of any evidence requires “laying the foundation” for that evidence, which is providing sufficient reasons why this evidence is reliable.

Presently, the DMV does not subpoena witnesses, however, in the past, the DMV would often have a police officer, a crime lab person, or a civilian witness (if such exists in your case) to testify at the DMV hearing.

After the DMV finishes with a presentation of their case (usually through documents), it is your or your Los Angeles DUI Attorney’s turn. We recommend that you hire a Los Angeles DUI Attorney to defend your case in court and at the DMV.

PRESENTATION OF YOUR CASE

Because the burden of proof is on the DMV, you do not have to present any evidence and can proceed directly to argument. However, the burden of proof at a DMV hearing, as in any other civil case is only “preponderance of the evidence”, which means more likely than not. This is the lowest burden of proof in the United States legal system, which makes it easy for the DMV to win their case. Los Angeles DUI Attorney won many hearings just based on the argument, however, it is always best to talk to a lawyer before you decide to do so or even seek the help of a professional, such as Los Angeles DUI Attorney.

If you have decided that mere argument is not enough to win your DMV case, you must present some affirmative evidence of your innocence. This could be done through testimony of witnesses or through affidavit under Government Code Section 11514. The witnesses that are most commonly used would be

1. A person who can verify a helpful drinking pattern or lack of any drinking
2. You to dispute the police officer’s version of the events
3. An expert witness.

GOVERNMENT CODE § 11514

This law allows the use of affidavits instead of live testimony. Here is the legal reference from GC 11514

Thus, if for some reason you don’t want the witness to testify live (maybe he is not good on a witness stand) or the witness is unavailable, as long as you give the affidavit to the DMV 10 days prior to the hearing and the DMV did not object, the affidavit becomes your evidence.

RECORD AT THE HEARING

The DMV hearing officer will admit evidence if it is relevant and if it is admissible. However, if you do not introduce the record it will not become part of the record. The records can later be used to appeal to the DMV decision. But, the record will contain only what was said and used at the DMV. The DMV will oppose any request to add to the record after the conclusion of the hearing. Thus, it is very important to be prepared for the hearing because it is very difficult to add evidence after the conclusion of the hearing. Under Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center v. Superior Court (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 877,

“the administrative records may be augmented by relevant information and evidence only when the evidence could not have been produced at the hearing in the exercise of reasonable diligence”.

California Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5(e) provided a basis to introduce records not admitted at the DMV hearing.

This is one clever way to have evidence introduced instead of live testimony at the DMV. For specific questions, please call Los Angeles Criminal Defense attorney and Los Angeles DUI Attorney at 323-464-6424.

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