DUI Lawyer Century City. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; if you're facing years in prison for a repeat offense, your car is the least of your worries. In California, you're required to participate in DUI tests if you're driving. Refusal to do so is another crime, and that can even result in tougher penalties. And it doesn't matter if it was alcohol, marijuana, or another substance affecting your ability to drive.
If you find yourself in this situation, you need someone in your corner. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a battle you need a team behind you for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared for any DUI charges in Century City, CA.
We are California's top 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 former prosecutors who know how to defend your rights in the Century City, CA, legal system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
Take too long to start your defense, and you could miss your chance. Get in touch 24/7 at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start building 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 even if you've done nothing wrong, you need to know how to navigate the situation. Here are four tips from a Century City, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
It's normal to be nervous after being pulled over and asked for your ID, registration, and insurance. With an officer staring you down, asking for documents you may not have had to touch in months, it's easy to get flustered. When you're already prepared to give them to the officer, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
You aren't required to answer any questions if the officer says that they smell alcohol. You have the right to remain silent both before and after an arrest. Protect yourself by keeping quiet until your lawyer arrives.
Tip #3: Don't Automatically Consent to Tests
Participation in field sobriety tests is not required for people over the age of 21 who aren't on probation. This doesn't stop the officer from arresting you, but can decrease your chances of having this happen. However, this isn't the case for every test; if you're already in custody and are asked to perform a breath or blood based test, California law does require you to participate.
Tip #4: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't help — it can end up making your case harder to defend. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also aids 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 may come back up later in court.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Century City?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you without a BAC level over the limit, or even if you aren't tested at all. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, often with field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on the results.
As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for 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 the police will take away your existing license. Meanwhile, they are providing a record of the arrest to the Century City, CA, DMV, at which point, you're officially facing a license suspension.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will list out the laws you're accused of breaking.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll have 10 days after the arrest to contact the DMV for a hearing.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Century City, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. Between your potential release and the trial, your Century City DUI defense attorney will be filing motions, including motions to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: At the same time as pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will communicate with the Century City 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 refining a defense strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: It's rare that a DUI case will go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, you may face a punishment. 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 provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and driver's license side. For advice on any stage with your charges, you can start with a call to our offices!
DUIs in Century City, CA and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Century City, CA, DUI charges include two separate fights: The criminal case and the administrative case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are some things you need to know about both, and what our attorneys will do for your freedom and vehicular rights:
Century City, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, which will involve legal proceedings in CA court.
Criminal cases, including DUIs, all follow the same basic process – 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 present reasonable doubt and push back against the charges. We'll argue whether the police had the justification needed to pull you over, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and hunt for other evidence that can tell a different story.
We know what it takes to keep DUI defense clients out of jail in Century City, CA. Frequently, 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 argue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Century City, CA, DUI License Suspension
On the other side of a Century City DUI charge is the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is independent of the criminal case, and in order to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
It's typical for the criminal case to be, by and large, separate from the DMV hearing. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, the entire DMV hearing is about whether or not you were lawfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused to participate in tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with us, we'll challenge the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
Outside of that ten-day window, though, you're out of luck. Outside of rare cases, you don't get any more chances to request that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Century City DUI defense lawyer right away after being arrested.
Sentence You Could Face for a DUI in Century City, CA
Century City, CA, DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – while some are 'just' misdemeanors, you could still be sentenced to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Here's an outline of the different penalties you could be facing, 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 |
On top of whatever sentence you receive in Century City court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and career setbacks.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. The good news is that, currently, a first-time DUI is generally not grounds for removal. 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 will become grounds for deportation. For individuals working on the naturalization process, even if you aren't deported, it will hurt your application chances, especially for repeat or aggravated offenses.
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 don't stop at just defending you against the criminal charge: We'll explore diversion programs to protect your record, represent you at deportation hearings, and assist you with the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether your case ends in a conviction or an acquittal, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. 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 could have an avenue 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 a chance to clean your record.
When You're Picking a Century City, CA, DUI Lawyer, Consider These Factors
No matter what DUI allegations you've been charged with, it's vital to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the proficiency, background, and connections to secure a positive outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Century City, CA, you want to judge the following:
- Experience: Experience gives your attorney knowledge on how to win these cases. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team that has former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, totalling over 50 years of experience.
- Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. 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 Century City and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is proud to have received top ratings from several legal evaluators and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- Track Record of Success: At the end of the day, results matter. And our results are great. 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 Defend Against in Century City
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Century City, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared help you navigate the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI allegations we typically 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 Strategies in Century City, CA
Every DUI case needs a defensive strategy, and our Century City, CA DUI defense lawyers are here to help you find the right one. While there are many effective legal strategies available, picking the right one can make all the difference.
Challenge the Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If law enforcement made a mistake while conducting their investigation, we can challenge the evidence, and even the legitimacy of the case itself. This defense could be used if, for example, you were not read your Miranda rights before an interrogation, anything you said could be thrown out.
Flaws in BAC Tests
If your case is centered on a BAC test that put you over the legal limit, that can sound impossible to overcome. But it isn't. We will look into any issues with how the equipment was stored or used, retest when possible, and advocate for you during the discovery process to identify flaws in the state's evidence.
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 field sobriety tests are not objective measures of whether you're safe to drive or not. An experienced Century City, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and point out situations where law enforcement unfairly failed our clients on these tests.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
It's easy to feel like you're out of options if you were tested and your BAC was over the legal limit. While this is can be difficult to overcome, our lawyers have more defense strategies we can pull from. 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 Rapid Assistance – Speak With Our Century City DUI Defense Attorneys TODAY
When you're up against Century City DUI charges, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. Your license is suspended, there could be interrogations, you get a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. To fight through the allegations, your first step is to hire aCentury City, CA, DUI lawyer immediately.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't lose your license because you missed the DMV hearing window. Don't try to handle it on your own. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to fight for you.
We're experts at defending all Century City, CA DUI charges. We're available to help now and will can fight for your license and keep you out of jail today. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or set up an appointment online for a free, confidential case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Century City, CA:
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