A DMV NOTS Hearing can make or break your ability to keep driving legally in California.
That’s why we always encourage drivers in Needles, San Bernardino County, to fight every ticket.
Too many NOTS points and the DMV may suspend your license, typically for six months with a 12-month concurrent probation period. In San Bernardino County, that could be extremely inconvenient.
How DMV NOTS Points Work
The California DMV tracks your driving behavior using a points system.
This system, backed by CA Vehicle Code (VC) Section 12810, Issuance and Renewal of Licenses, assigns points for traffic violations and at-fault accidents.
One point: Minor infractions or at-fault crashes
Two points: Speeding over 100 mph, misdemeanors, or felonies
Once you are assessed NOTS points, the DMV starts using a system of warnings and notifications:
Level I: A warning letter after 2 points in 12 months
Level II: A “Notice of Intent to Suspend” after 3 points in 12 months
Level III: A full suspension order after 4 points in 12 months
Level IV: Further violations or missed court dates mean longer suspension and probation
It can happen fast. We’ve seen it often here in Needles and across San Bernardino County.
DMV NOTS Hearing: What to Expect
A hearing officer evaluates your record and the DMV’s evidence.
You or your representative can challenge the record or evidence.
Your representative can ask for either a raised point count or some punishment other than a suspension.
The hearing officer decides whether to suspend your license, grant probation, remove points, or raise your personal point count.
This is your chance to challenge the DMV’s presumption that you’re a negligent operator.
“Prima facie is Latin for ‘at first sight.’ Prima facie may be used as an adjective meaning ‘sufficient to establish a fact or raise a presumption unless disproved or rebutted.’”—Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute (LII) WEX Page.
At this stage, evidence and timing are crucial to keeping your driving privileges intact.
Legal Assistance from Bigger & Harman
Getting help from a lawyer during Level II can prevent the situation from escalating.
A skilled attorney understands the nuances of DMV hearings. They can present evidence, object to inaccuracies, and guide you through procedural rules.
Timing is critical.
“Hearings must be requested within 10 days of receiving notice or 14 days from the date of the notice if the notice was mailed. Failure to make a request within this window will result in a forfeiture of your hearing rights.”—The CA DMV.
We’ve helped clients who missed deadlines due to military deployment, incarceration, or transfers.
Our attorneys often convince the DMV to still grant a hearing with good cause. But lately the DMV has been very strict even to drivers who did not get the notice because work took them out of town.
Why Quick Action Matters
A suspended license can upend your job, family, and finances.
It also causes insurance rates to skyrocket.
Hiring an attorney early can make a big difference.
Even if you’re already in trouble, we might still help reduce penalties or reinstate your license.
If you're wondering, “Do I need a lawyer for a DMV NOTS Hearing in Needles?”—the answer is usually yes.
Even though it is not legally required, these traffic attorneys sit through many trials that result in point-producing convictions and even paid fines. Their counsel can be invaluable.
Plus, they are aware of traffic law changes that could affect your point totals.
Legal Assistance from Bigger & Harman Can Help You Win
With over ten years of experience, our team understands how to handle the DMV.
We represent drivers in Needles and all across San Bernardino County.
We know what works—and what doesn’t—in a DMV NOTS Hearing.
Let us present your situation, protect your license, and help you avoid a suspension.
Consult Bigger & Harman to Possibly Avoid a Suspension with a DMV NOTS Hearing in Needles, CA
If you need assistance with a DMV NOTS hearing in Needles in San Bernardino County, CA, call Bigger & Harman, APC, at (661) 349-9300—Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.
Use our convenient contact form or email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2025.
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
The CA DMV Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) Webpage.
CA VC Section 12810, Issuance and Renewal of Licenses.