DUI and DWI defense, 24/7
Arrested for DUI? A DUI lawyer can still save your license.
The license deadline is counted in days, and it often passes before your court date.
Answered 24/7. A professional goes through your case for free and connects you with a DUI defense lawyer for your state.
The two cases that start at arrest
Your arrest opened two cases at once. The court case decides fines, jail, probation and classes. The license case is run by your state's driver agency, and it decides whether you keep driving.
Most states give you 7 to 30 days to ask for the license hearing. So the deadline can pass before your first court date, and then the suspension starts on its own.
If the date on your paper is today, a 7-day window closes on Friday, October 16, and a 30-day window closes on Sunday, November 8.
The officer often takes your license and hands you a notice. In many states that notice works as a paper license for a short time, and it starts the license clock. The full order is in what happens after a DUI.
Your license deadline, by state
These windows come from each state's driver agency or statute. Some count from the arrest and some from the notice.
| State | Days | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 7 | the arrest |
| Washington | 7 | the arrest |
| California | 10 | the notice |
| Florida | 10 | the notice |
| Maine | 10 | the suspension start date |
| North Carolina | 10 | the revocation order |
| Utah | 10 | the arrest |
| Kansas | 14 | service of the officer's form |
| Michigan | 14 | the notice |
| Delaware | 15 | the notice |
| Massachusetts | 15 | the refusal |
| Texas | 15 | the notice |
| Arizona | 30 | the notice |
| Georgia | 30 | the arrest |
| Ohio | 30 | your first court date |
| Illinois | 90 | the notice |
In every other state the notice the officer gave you prints the deadline. Every state's page has its rule.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Florida: Since October 1, 2025, refusing the breath, blood or urine test in Florida is a crime even the first time. A first refusal can bring up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, on top of the license suspension. (Trenton's Law summary).
- New York: Since February 16, 2026, a New York DWI or DWAI puts 11 points on your license. It used to add none. (NYC notice of new DMV point rules).
So in Florida, saying no to the test is now a charge of its own, and in New York a conviction now adds 11 points. When you call, say whether you took the test.
What a first DUI usually brings
In most states a first DUI is a misdemeanor. Expect a fine, a license suspension and a class. Probation is common, and some states add a short jail stay.
| State | Jail | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | at least 24 hours | $250 base fine |
| Ohio | 3 days in a row | $565 to $1,075 |
| Michigan (below .17) | up to 93 days | up to $500 |
The figures come from Arizona DPS, Ohio Revised Code 4511.19 and the Michigan State Police.
NHTSA puts a first offense at upwards of $10,000 once fines and legal fees are counted (NHTSA). So the court fine is the small part of the bill. First offense DUI and the DUI penalties table cover every state.
What a DUI lawyer does, and what it costs
A DUI lawyer reads the police report and the test records. The lawyer asks for the license hearing on time and talks to the prosecutor about the charge.
When jail is possible and you cannot pay, the court appoints a public defender for the court case (NCSL). The license hearing is usually left to you, so a private DUI lawyer is the one who saves it.
On the call you hear what the fee covers: the license hearing, a trial, expert witnesses. DUI lawyer cost breaks this down, and the BAC calculator shows what a reading can mean.
Questions people ask
Do I need a lawyer for a DUI?
A private DUI lawyer takes the license hearing, which a public defender usually leaves to you, and works the court case from day one. Call now and a professional goes through your case for free.
How long do I have to save my license after a DUI?
From 7 to 30 days in most states, counted from the arrest or the notice. Choose your state to see its window, or read the DUI DMV hearing guide.
Will I go to jail for a first DUI?
Some states require it. Arizona sets a minimum of 24 hours and Ohio sets 3 consecutive days for a first offense. Other states, like Michigan, set only a maximum, so jail depends on the judge and the facts.
What is the difference between a DUI and a DWI?
They are names for the same kind of charge. Texas and New York say DWI, Ohio says OVI, Michigan says OWI and Massachusetts says OUI.
How much does a first DUI cost?
NHTSA says a first offense can cost upwards of $10,000 in fines and legal fees. Fines alone run from $250 in Virginia to as much as $5,000 in Massachusetts.
Can a DUI be taken off my record?
Some states allow it and some do not. California lets you ask the court to dismiss a finished misdemeanor case, and Texas allows nondisclosure for some DWIs. DUI expungement has the rules.
What to do now
You were arrested, and your license clock started before anyone explained it. Miss the hearing request and the suspension starts on its own, often for months. Call now, and a DUI defense lawyer for your state goes over both cases tonight.
Call now, free review (877) 317-9931
Answered 24/7. A professional goes through your case for free and connects you with a DUI defense lawyer for your state.
Send your case details
Send your state, the arrest date and the date on your license notice. Those dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls starts with the answer.