DUI Lawyer Century City. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. You're being accused of a crime; 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 DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you don't want to be alone. Trying to defeat the allegations is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared to defend your freedom.
We are California's premier DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of experienced, high-quality lawyers who know how to fight for you in the Century City, CA, justice system and get you the best outcome possible.
While you're hesitating, the odds are stacking up against you. Reach out without delay at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start putting together your defense strategy today.
Century City, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
We'd all love to drive without any risk of being pulled over, but knowing what to do if you are in a traffic stop can help you avoid an arrest. Here are four tips from a Century City, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
After being pulled over, but before the police officer approaches your car, grab your license, vehicle registration, and insurance documentation. If you're struggling to locate them and keep hold of them, the officer may think you're intoxicated. By following this tip, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
If law enforcement asks how much you've had to drink tonight, you don't need to give them an answer. You have Fifth Amendment protections during any form of questioning. Don't talk without an attorney present.
Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
California does not require the majority of people to participate in field sobriety tests, and in fact, you can often refuse without penalty. The two main exceptions are if you are under the age of 21, and/or if you are on probation. This doesn't stop the officer from arresting you, but can decrease your chances of having this happen. However, California does require individuals to participate in in blood and breath tests after they've been arrested, and refusing in these circumstances will lead to an automatic license suspension.
Tip #4: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't improve your case — it will come back to bite you. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also benefits your defense: If you try to talk back or argue with the officer, you are giving the police more evidence, which could contribute to their probable cause to arrest you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Century City?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or even if you aren't 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 make judgements based on their evaluation of you.
Once you've been arrested, the CA legal system will proceed with both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Century City, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can go into effect at the time of the arrest – when arrested, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. While you're processing this, they are informing the DMV about the arrest, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: Before you are released, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
- DMV Hearing: While all of the criminal proceedings are going on, you'll have just 10 days to begin the process of protecting your license.
- Pretrial Motions: In most DUI cases, you'll be released in some capacity pending a trial. While you're waiting for the trial, your Century City DUI defense attorney will building the framework of your defense and filing motions to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: In the midst of pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Century City district attorney to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if the case goes to trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the result of your case, you may face penalties. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, we may be able to help you clean your record.
Our DUI legal experts can help you with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and driver's license side. If you're facing a potential conviction, give us a call so that we can help!
Century City DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Century City, CA, DUI charges are always a two-pronged challenge: The criminal case and the administrative case. This will always require two separate defenses, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are some things you need to know about both, and how we fight to protect your justice and vehicular rights:
Century City, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Century City, CA, court.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other criminal charge – charges are formally filed against you, you'll probably be given bail and/or conditions of release, then your attorney will proceed with pretrial motions and negotiations. It's unlikely (but possible) that you'll reach a trial at some stage.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we defend your freedom and dissect the allegations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, demonstrate any present errors in the police officer's judgement, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and look for witness testimony and other proof that can result in a not guilty plea.
We have an extremely strong track record of clients who have avoided jail time in Century City, CA. Often, we'll plea bargain for a reduction of the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also avoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Century 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 regardless of where you're at in the criminal process, and in order to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
At the administrative hearing, you're not facing criminal charges. In fact, no matter what the court decision was, it won't automatically give you back your license. Instead, the focus of this hearing is whether or not you were legitimately arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused alcohol tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with a Century City, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll argue over the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
After ten days, though, you're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's crucial to contact a Century City DUI defense attorney as soon as you can after the arrest.
Punishments After a DUI Conviction in Century City, CA
Century City, CA, DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – even though some are misdemeanors, you could still end up with 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 allegations you're facing:
| Formal DUI 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 impacts on your employment.
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 conviction will qualify an immigrant for deportation. If you are trying to become an American citizen, even if you aren't deported, it can indefinitely pause your efforts to become a citizen.
If you're a United States immigrant facing a DUI, you need to stay in the country and contact a Century City, CA, immigration lawyer immediately. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we can help you in all aspects of your case: We'll explore diversion programs with alternatives to criminal sentencing, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and assist you with the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, it's natural to want to move on and leave this in the past. The bad news is that your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, there's a chance you're eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Century 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.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Up against DUI charges? It's vital to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the talent, experience, and contacts to secure a positive outcome for your case. Here are the main things to look for in your Century City, CA, DUI defense lawyer:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team that has former judges, district attorneys, and police, totalling more than 50 years of experience.
- Availability: You should be able to get help fast, whenever you need it. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We know how to connect with the prosecutors in Century City and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. We are proud of our reputation with former clients and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- Track Record of Success: You don't want to trust your case to someone who doesn't know how to win it. Our attorneys do. In fact, 95% of our DUI cases result in no jail time.
Our recent DUI Case results speak for themselves. With us, you can take advantage of a team that knows how to secure positive outcomes for our clients.
DUI Case Types We Fight in Century City
Whatever type of DUI charge you need help with in Century City, CA – our DUI defense attorneys are prepared to battle against the charges.
Below are some of the DUI cases we regularly 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 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 Tactics in Century City, CA
Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Century City, CA, DUI attorneys can help you fight it. Choosing the correct defense for your particular circumstances is essential in finding the best possible outcome. Below are some of the most effective ones.
Challenge the Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, your case could be thrown out on legal grounds. This defense is relevant if, for example, the police officer pulled you over without probable cause, the entire traffic stop could be made invalid.
Show Issues With BAC Tests
Fighting against chemical tests can be difficult, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will know how to look for flaws in them. We will look into any issues with how the equipment was stored or used, retest in some cases, using a "blood-split" motion, and analyze the state's case to see if there was an error made in how your evidence was processed.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'one-leg stand,' are a widely-recognized way of evaluating somebody's level of impairment. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. We will examine the evidence and look for expert analysis that will show your performance in a more favorable light.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
While the police can make mistakes with breathalyzer tests, most of the time they perform them properly. This could be bad news if you were tested and your BAC was .08 or higher. While properly conducted BAC tests are hard to disprove, we won't give up yet. If you have a respiratory ailment, or another medical condition, that could impact how the breathalyzer measures your BAC, we will use that as a part of your defense.
Get Immediate Help – Contact Our Century City DUI Defense Lawyers NOW
Century City, CA, DUI accusations are serious. After an arrest, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. Your license disappears, there could be interrogations, you're assigned a court date…it's easy to be stressed out. With everything going on, your best way out is to get in touch with a DUI defense attorney now.
Don't sit by and watch the evidence mount against you. Don't miss your chance for a DMV administrative hearing to protect your license. Don't hesitate and lose your freedom. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.
We're experts at defending all Century City, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense immediately and will start protecting your driving privileges and keep you out of jail now. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a no-obligation consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Century City, CA:
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