If this is your first arrest of any kind, a DUI charge can feel disorienting — the terminology is unfamiliar, the deadlines are tight, and it's not always clear what happens next. Here's what a first-time DUI arrest in Chino Hills actually looks like, step by step.
Your Case Splits Into Two Tracks Immediately
The moment you're arrested, two separate processes begin. A criminal case proceeds through the San Bernardino County court system, typically starting with an arraignment at the Rancho Cucamonga Justice Center[1] within 48 hours of arrest, per Penal Code § 825[2]. Separately, the DMV opens its own administrative case, and you generally have just 10 calendar days to request a DMV Administrative Per Se hearing[3] before your license is automatically suspended.
A First DUI Doesn't Typically Qualify for Standard Diversion
Unlike some misdemeanor offenses, a standard DUI charge is generally not eligible for the pretrial diversion programs available for certain other misdemeanors in California. That makes understanding your actual options — negotiated resolution, contesting the evidence, or trial — more important than assuming the case will be diverted or dismissed automatically.
What a First-Offense Conviction Actually Carries
If convicted of a first misdemeanor DUI, California Vehicle Code § 23536[4] sets the penalty range: county jail of not less than 96 hours (at least 48 continuous) up to six months, a fine between $390 and $1,000 before penalty assessments, mandatory license suspension or restriction, and a court-ordered DUI education program.
What Happens at Each Stage
- Arraignment: You learn the formal charges, enter a plea (typically not guilty at this stage), and the judge sets your release conditions.
- Pretrial hearings: Your attorney reviews the arrest report, chemical test procedures, and any body camera footage, and negotiates with the prosecution.
- Resolution or trial: Most first-offense misdemeanor DUI cases resolve before trial, through a negotiated outcome or, in some cases, dismissal based on evidentiary issues.
Why the First Few Days Matter Most
Because the DMV deadline runs on a separate, faster clock than the court case, the choices made in the first 10 days after arrest — requesting the hearing, preserving evidence, contacting an attorney — often matter more than anything that happens weeks later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I definitely go to jail for a first DUI in Chino Hills?
Not necessarily — the statutory range allows for as little as 96 hours, and many first-offense cases are resolved with alternatives to jail time depending on the facts and negotiation.
Can I get my first DUI diverted or dismissed automatically?
Standard DUI charges are generally not eligible for the pretrial diversion programs used for some other misdemeanors, so a dismissal typically has to be earned through negotiation or an evidentiary challenge, not an automatic program.
What's the very first deadline I need to worry about?
The 10-day window to request a DMV Administrative Per Se hearing — it runs independently of your court case and is easy to miss if you're focused only on the criminal side.
Questions about your case? Call (323) 622-4951. Free, confidential, 24/7.
Facing Your First DUI Charge in Chino Hills?
What happens in the first few days shapes the rest of the case. The Cespedes Law Firm, L.C. is headquartered in Chino Hills and represents clients in English and Spanish throughout California. Call (323) 622-4951 for a free consultation.
This page is provided for general information only and is not legal advice. Contact our office to discuss the specifics of your case.
