I Live Out of State – How do I Remove the California Hold on my Driving Privileges Resulting from my DUI?

If you live out of state and receive a DUI in California while visiting the state, or you have a California driver’s license and then move to another state, then you may have a challenge satisfying the terms set forth by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to remove the hold on your driving privileges.

Generally, the Court will allow you to enroll in and complete an out of state comparable alcohol program to meet the Court’s requirement that you complete an alcohol education class; unfortunately, that out of state class will not satisfy the California DMV’s requirement regarding licensing.  The DMV will only accept alcohol programs completed in California.  In other words, there will be a DMV hold placed on your California license or California Index Number and you will lose your privilege to drive in the state until that alcohol program is completed in California.

The good news is that there is an option to remove the hold and allow you to drive in the state.  You can complete a once in a life time 1650 Waiver Packet which if granted, allows an individual with an out of state license to drive in California.  Should the 1650 waiver be granted, then it would not allow the person to obtain a California license within 3 years of filing the waiver.  You can contact the Mandatory Actions Unit of the DMV in Sacramento to request the application for this waiver.  You will have to prove that you live out of state by providing a utility bill or another official document showing proof of residency in another state as a part of the application packet.  As of March 2005, you are only eligible for the 1650 waiver one time only.  This waiver will remove the California hold from your license or index number as long as you have an SR-22 (proof of financial responsibility) on file with the DMV.  It is important to note that if you move back to California within three years from your conviction date that you will have to complete another alcohol program here in order to receive a California license again.