Senior Citizen DMV Defense

What is Senior Citizen DMV Defense?   Our team is a Southern California company devoted to protecting the driving rights of California’s senior citizens. Today, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is waging an aggressive campaign to suspend or revoke the driving privilege of elderly drivers based upon an often incorrect perception that senior drivers are dangerous drivers. As we age, our bodies tend to betray us however, with a little practice, planning, and adjustment many senior citizens are capable of safely operating their vehicles well into their later years. Unfortunately, the DMV doesn’t see things that way. Once the DMV focuses upon you, the process of asserting your rights and protecting your driving freedom can be confusing and overwhelming. Although the DMV has a public policy of not re- examining a driver based on their age alone, there can be no mistake that elderly drivers are scrutinized much more often than any other category of driver.

SPECIAL NOTICE — If you receive a notice of “Re-Examination” or “Priority Re-Examination” from the DMV, you may have as little as five days to contact the DMV to prevent the automatic suspension of your license. If you receive one of these notices, call us immediately for a free evaluation.

How We Handle Senior Citizen DMV Defense?

 CDA is a team of administrative law experts with decades of experience dealing with the DMV. Staffed by former police officers, former DMV hearing officers, investigators, and scientists, we offer our clients the “gold standard” in DMV defense. Our senior clients enjoy the very finest in respectful, patient, and step by step instruction to protect their driving privilege. We can provide senior citizen DMV Defense in the following situations:

• Immediate intervention with the DMV to stop the immediate suspension of the license.
• Evaluating the cause of the DMV action.
• Planning a defense strategy for fighting back.
• Instruction and guidance to prepare for the driver’s written examination.
• Instruction and guidance to prepare for the driver’s “behind the wheel” test.
• Preparation for the face to face hearing with the DMV Hearing Officer.
• Standing side by side with the senior driver during their hearing.
• Assistance in preparing the Driver’s Medical Evaluation to be presented to the client’s doctor.

Why Do I Need Senior Citizen DMV Defense?

Senior Citizens are revered & respected for their life experience and the contributions made to their communities. Our senior citizens are among California’s most valuable resources and deserve to enjoy their driving freedom.

It is estimated that over the next 20 years the number of senior citizens driving automobiles will triple in the United States. As the number of senior drivers increases, so does the concern about their ability to safely operate motor vehicles on public roadways.

The concern is both for the safety of the senior driver as well as the safety of the motoring public. Statistic looking at all people injured or killed in motor vehicle collisions indicate that older drivers are at a disproportionate risk of becoming involved in fatal accidents. After the age of 75, elderly drivers are much more likely to suffer fatal injuries in an auto accident because their bodies are much more vulnerable to injury. Studies also demonstrate that 14 percent of fatal traffic accidents and 17 percent of pedestrian fatalities involve elderly drivers. There are generally three factors thought to correlate with these statistics: Unsafe left-hand turns at intersections or in front of on-coming traffic; swerving or weaving within a traffic lane; the inability to quickly respond to an emergency situation. While all of these elements can be found at any age group, there is increasing evidence to suggest that senior drivers experience these elements at a higher rate than younger drivers.

The four most common issues causing the DMV to focus on a senior driver are:

• Lack of Skill
• Physical or Mental Conditions or Ailments
• Negligent Operator
• Driving Under the Influence (a person can be arrested for DUI on prescription meds)

How Does a Person Get to The Point to Need Senior Citizen DMV Defense?

Police Officers While writing a traffic citation or investigating an accident, a police officer may feel that a senior citizen is displaying symptoms of dementia or some other issue making them unsafe to drive.Judges While handling a senior citizen’s case in court, a judge may feel that a senior citizen is exhibiting characteristics making them unsafe to drive.Doctors During physical examinations or follow-ups a physician or any other medical Professional may assess that a senior citizen should be reviewed by the DMV.Family Sometimes an elderly driver’s family may feel that it is time for their loved one to give up their driving privilege. Upon request the DMV will keep the family member’s identity confidential.Anonymous That’s right; hundreds of times each year, the DMV receives anonymous tips from people reporting concerns over a senior citizen’s ability to drive. Because the DMV works aggressively to protect the identity of the anonymous caller, it is common for unscrupulous people to falsely report problems as a means to punish a senior citizen for some unrelated dispute.DMV After the age of 70, the DMV will no longer renew a senior citizen’s driver in the mail or on-line. This requires the senior driver to enter a DMV field office where they are subject to the scrutiny of DMV employees who have little or no training in evaluating the physical or mental status of a person but still can make an assessment that the senior driver should be re-examined. Senior Driver It’s true. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies. At times, a senior driver will make innocent comments about their medical conditions or required medications that raise the suspicion of the DMV.

The DMV may be alerted to the possibility of an unsafe senior driver through a variety of sources:

 Unaccustomed to being placed under a microscope, many senior citizens find the process of dealing with a DMV Re-Examination to be insulting, confusing, and frustrating. DMV employees, especially the “all-powerful” DMV Hearing Officers can be rude, aggressive and unyielding.