DUI Lawyer Canoga Park. Canoga Park DUI charges are very serious. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. Declining a breathalyzer or blood test on its own can result in charges, and that can even result in tougher penalties. And there are differences in DUI alcohol versus DUI marijuana cases, or other drugs.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to fight against the prosecution is a battle you need a team behind you for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to defend you.
We are CA's best DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you hire us, you're getting a team of former prosecutors who know how to protect you in the Canoga Park, CA, legal system and find the best result for your case.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Call right away at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start building your defense strategy today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Canoga Park?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or if you don't blow at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, likely using field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on the results.
As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. In the meantime, they are informing the DMV about the arrest, officially suspending your license.
- Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will announce what charges you're up against.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: In most DUI cases, you'll be released in some capacity pending a trial. Meanwhile, your Canoga Park DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will communicate with the Canoga Park prosecutor to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Your case probably will not go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case turns out, you may face penalties. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, it's possible that your record will be eligible for sealing.
Our DUI legal experts can provide you with advice on the best way to move forward, on both the criminal defense and DMV side. Whatever stage in the process you're at, we have the experience to help you move towards a positive outcome!
Defending Against Canoga Park DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Canoga Park, CA, DUI charges include two separate fights: The criminal case and the administrative case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but both cases can be fought by the same DUI defense lawyer.
Here are the key things to be aware of for each, and ways we defend your freedom and driving privileges:
Canoga Park, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, for which you will need to go through the CA legal system.
The general court process is the same as any other criminal case – after an arrest, you're formally charged in an arraignment, go through pretrial motions/negotiations, and can eventually go to trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we protect your rights and fight against the supposed wrongdoing. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can tell a different story.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our clients from jail time. Often, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, frequently to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll alsoargue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Canoga Park, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Canoga Park criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect automatically, and in order to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
The criminal charges are not always relevant in the DMV hearing. In fact, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Instead, the focus of this hearing is whether or not you were rightfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused to blow, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you hire us, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
After ten days, though, you'll likely have to endure the suspension. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Canoga Park DUI defense lawyer immediately after being arrested.
Canoga Park DUI Sentences and Consequences
CA DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – while many are considered misdemeanors, you could still end up with a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, we've listed the different penalties you could be up against, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| Alleged DUI Offense | Jail/Prison Time | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| First Time DUI | 48 Hours to 6 Months | Up to $1,000 |
| Second Time DUI | 96 Hours to 1 Year | Up to $1,000 |
| Third Time DUI | 120 Days to 1 Year | Up to $1,000 |
| Fourth Time DUI (Felony) | 16 Months to 3 Years | Up to $1,000 |
| DUI Injury (Misdemeanor) | Up to 1 Year | Up to $1,000 |
| DUI Injury (Felony) | Up to 4 Years | Up to $5,000 |
| DUI Manslaughter (Misdemeanor) | Up to 1 Year | Up to $1,000 |
| DUI Manslaughter (Felony) | 4, 6 or 10 Years | Up to $10,000 |
You'll also be facing significant collateral consequences, such as rising insurance rates and roadblocks when applying for professional licenses.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. Unfortunately, your arrest and/or criminal record can stick with you. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you a chance to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Up against DUI charges? It's critical to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the abilities, practice, and connections to find the best outcome for your case. The top Canoga Park, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Experience: If it's both for and against the state, even better. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team that has former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, totalling more than 50 years of experience.
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our lines are never off, and you can contact us 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. Our firm has experience working with the prosecutors in Canoga Park and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. We're proud to have received numerous accolades and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in CA.
- Track Record of Success: Regardless of all of the points above, you want someone who knows how to get a positive outcome for your case. And we have a history of doing just that. In fact, 95% of our DUI cases result in no jail time.
Our recent DUI Case results speak for themselves. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Canoga Park
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Canoga Park, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared to defend you against the charges.
Below are some of the DUI case types we often defend:
- Boating Under the Influence
- Breathalyzer Test
- Commercial Driver CDL DUI
- Disorderly Conduct
- Disturbing the Peace
- DMV Hearing Defense
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Driving Without a License
- Driving Without Insurance
- Drug DUI
- Drunk in Public
- DUI Alcohol
- DUI and Professional Licenses in California
- DUI Blood Test Defense
- DUI Causing Injury
- DUI Checkpoint Defense Attorney
- DUI Defense Costs
- DUI Expungement in California
- DUI Immigration Consequences
- DUI License Reinstatement
- DUI Probation Violation
- DUI Marijuana
- DUI Prescription Drugs
- DUI Refusal Cases
- DUI Penalties
- DUI with Child Passenger
- Evasion
- Exhibition of Speed
- Felony DUI
- Field Sobriety Tests
- First-Time DUI
- Fourth DUI Felony Escalation
- Hit and Run
- Hit and Run DUI
- Hit and Run with Injury or Death
- Ignition Interlock Device Violations
- Out-of-State DUI
- Public Intoxication
- Reckless Driving
- Street Racing
- Second Time DUI
- Third DUI California
- Underage DUI
- Watson Murder / DUI Murder
- Wet Reckless
Timing is Critical – Call Our Canoga Park DUI Defense Lawyers TODAY
After a DUI arrest, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. You lose your license, they might try to do additional tests, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to feel out of control. And that's why it's all the more important to hire an attorney immediately.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't lose your license because you missed the DMV hearing window. Don't just hope it will all just go away. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Canoga Park, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case right now and will work on a strategy to defend your license and keep you out of jail immediately. Call us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a free consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Canoga Park, CA:
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