DUI Lawyer Cathedral City. If convicted, a DUI can permanently change your life for the worse. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; if you're facing years in prison for a repeat offense, your car is the least of your worries. California law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and the consequences you face might be even worse than a DUI conviction. And while the same CA law covers DUIs involving alcohol and other drugs, the defense strategies can be wildly different.
If the Cathedral City, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you need someone in your corner. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts is a battle you need a team behind you for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to fight for your rights.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and know the ins and outs of DUI defense strategies that work. When you work with us, you're getting a team of experienced, high-quality lawyers who know how to defend your rights in the Cathedral City, CA, legal system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
If you wait too long to build a defense, it could become too late. Get in touch as soon as possible at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start constructing your defense strategy today.
Cathedral City, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
You may be a careful driver who doesn't violate any traffic laws, but to successfully get through the situation when it does happen, you need to be prepared. Here are four tips from a Cathedral City, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
It's normal to be nervous after being pulled over and asked for your ID, registration, and insurance. Many sober people will have trouble gathering up these documents under pressure. By keeping these documents on hand, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
You aren't required to answer any questions if the officer says that they smell alcohol. You have Fifth Amendment protections during any form of questioning. Trying to explain away the smell of alcohol will probably just get you in more trouble.
Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
The state of California only legally requires drivers to participate in field sobriety tests if they are either under the age of 21, or are on probation. The officer may not like it, but they can't compel you to participate. However, if you have been arrested and refuse a blood or breath test, your license will be suspended.
Tip #4: Be Polite and Don't Argue
Arguing with the officer won't improve your case — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, though; it also helps your defense: Any time you open your mouth, whether or not the police asked you a question, you are giving the police more evidence, which could contribute to their probable cause to arrest you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Cathedral City?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or even if you refuse to be tested at all. Officers are able to arrest you this way because CA allows them to make subjective judgements, likely with field sobriety tests, then decide whether or not to arrest you based on your performance.
As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Cathedral City, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, while the officer will keep your regular license. While you're proceeding through the system, they are informing the DMV about the arrest, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will tell you the exact laws you're charged with breaking.
- 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: You'll likely be given bail or released on your own recognizance. Meanwhile, your Cathedral City DUI defense lawyer will laying the groundwork of your defense through motions to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While filing pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will work directly with the Cathedral City district attorney 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 preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: Most DUI cases won't go to trial, but we don't count on that possibility and will be ready if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case turns out, you may face consequences. 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 help you out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and license side. If you need help today, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are here for you!
Cathedral City, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Cathedral City, CA, DUI charges require particular expertise because there are two sides that each need to be defended: The criminal case and the license suspension. These are handled separately by the state, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are some things you need to know about both, and what our attorneys will do for your liberty and right to drive:
Cathedral City, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To protect yourself against the allegations, you'll need to fight in the Cathedral City, CA, legal system.
The general court process is the same as any other criminal case – after being formally told what crime you're being charged with, you'll likely be given terms of release and undergo pretrial procedures such as filing motions. As we mentioned above, trials are rare in DUI cases, but it is possible for them to reach that stage.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we defend your freedom and dissect the criminal accusations. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and hunt for other evidence that can result in a not guilty plea.
We know what it takes to keep DUI defense clients out of jail in Cathedral City, CA. Commonly, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also argue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Cathedral City, CA, DUI License Suspension
Even though the criminal charges may sound like the more serious matter, don't neglect the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect automatically, and to effectively fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
When you go through the DMV hearing, your criminal charges may not be a major focus. In fact, even if you receive a "not guilty" verdict, you can still lose your license. Instead, the hearing is to determine if you were legitimately 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. These hearings have serious consequences that require an expert Cathedral City, CA, DUI lawyer to navigate. At the hearing, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If you waited too long and it's past the deadline to request a hearing, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license back immediately. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Cathedral City DUI defense lawyer as soon as you can after being arrested.
DUI Punishments in Cathedral City
Cathedral City, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – even though some are misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| DUI Criminal Charge | 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 elevated insurance costs and career setbacks.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can be incredibly serious. On the bright side, most first-time DUIs at this time will not result in deportation. The bad news is that if you have faced DUI charges before, you can qualify for deportation. What's worse, if H.R.875 passes, any DUI can result in removal from the country. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, even if you aren't deported, it can count against your "good moral character," which you need to establish before becoming a citizen.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Cathedral City, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you can rest assured that our lawyers can guide you through both your criminal case and your citizenship process: We'll explore diversion programs to protect your record, fight to keep you in the country, and offer expert advice as you apply for citizenship.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found innocent or not, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. It doesn't take long to realize, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Cathedral City, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Cathedral City: What You Need to Know
Defending yourself against a DUI in Cathedral City? It's critical to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the expertise, experience, and contacts to give you opportunities for a positive outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Cathedral City, CA, you want to judge the following:
- Experience: If possible, both defending against charges and as government agents. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team that has former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, totalling more than five decades of experience with the law.
- Availability: You shouldn't need to wait till 9 AM on Monday to contact an attorney. You can get a hold of us 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Cathedral City and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. We are proud of our reputation with former clients and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- 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 Cathedral City
Whatever type of DUI charge you need help with in Cathedral City, CA – all of our DUI defense attorneys are prepared help you navigate the charges.
Below are some of the DUI charges we have experience defending:
- 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 Accident Defense
- 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 in Construction Zones and School Zones
- DUI License Reinstatement
- DUI Probation Violation
- DUI Process – What to Expect
- DUI Marijuana
- DUI Prescription Drugs
- DUI Refusal Cases
- DUI Trial – Jury Trial Defense
- 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
- Illegal Traffic Stop – Probable Cause Defense
- Medical Conditions as a Defense to DUI
- Misdemeanor vs Felony DUI Overview
- Mouth Alcohol Defense to DUI
- Out-of-State DUI
- Public Intoxication
- Reckless Driving
- Rising Blood Alcohol Defense
- Street Racing
- Second Time DUI
- Third DUI California
- Title 17 Violation of Breath and Blood Test Procedures Defense
- Underage DUI
- Watson Murder / DUI Murder
- Wet Reckless
DUI Defense Strategies in Cathedral City, CA
If you want to craft an effective defense strategy, our Cathedral City, CA, DUI lawyers are here to help. When fighting cases, here are some of the possible defenses we'll use.
Contest the Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If the arresting officer failed to obey the rules for investigating a DUI, then the evidence arising from that traffic stop could be invalid. This defense could be used if, for example, the police officer pulled you over without probable cause, the entire traffic stop could be made invalid.
Flaws in Chemical Tests
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. We will highlight the ways that these tests can give false readings, push for tests to be redone, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'horizontal gaze nystagmus,' are a normal part of the process when police are evaluating if someone is driving intoxicated or not. But there are several other factors that can affect your performance besides whether or not alcohol was in your system. We will audit the test records and provide additional context for your performance, such as the stress of the situation.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Perhaps the officer properly conducted a breathalyzer test, and your BAC was .08 or higher. While properly conducted BAC tests are hard to disprove, it's not the end of your case. Medications and health conditions can create false positives – even just over-the-counter cold medicine often contain alcohol, which can linger in your mouth, impacting the test.
Get Immediate Help – Speak With Our Cathedral City DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
Cathedral City, CA, DUI accusations are serious. After an arrest, it can feel like you don't even have time to think. You lose your right to drive, you could find yourself in an interrogation room, you're assigned a court date…it's easy to feel out of control. With everything going on, your best way out is to get in touch with aCathedral City, CA, DUI attorney immediately.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't wait too long and lose your driving privileges. Don't hesitate and lose your freedom. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Cathedral City, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case now and will start protecting your driving privileges and your freedom right away. Call us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online for a no strings attached case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Cathedral City, CA:
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