DUI Lawyer Chico, CA

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DUI Lawyer Chico. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. This isn't just an administrative issue; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. If you declined to take an alcohol test, you can face separate charges, and when you refuse, you can face the same penalties as a high blood-alcohol level DUI. And while the same CA law covers DUIs involving alcohol and other drugs, the defense strategies can be wildly different.

Regardless of whether you're innocent or not, you don't want to be alone. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is just a call away in Chico, CA.

We are California's premier DUI defense lawyers and have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience. When you retain us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to protect you in the Chico, CA, legal system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.

If you wait too long to build a defense, it could become too late. Get a hold of us as soon as possible at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online to start building your defense today.

Chico, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:

You may be a careful driver who doesn't violate any traffic laws, but knowing how to handle the situation is important for all Chico, CA, residents. Below are four tips from a Chico, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:

Tip #1: Keep Your Documents Together
It's typical for an officer to request for your license, registration, and proof of insurance during a traffic stop. With an officer staring you down, asking for documents you may not have had to touch in months, it's easy to get flustered. But if you already have them ready, you avoid that risk.

Tip #2: Don't Talk If Alcohol Is Smelled
If either the officer alleges that they smell alcohol, or you can smell alcohol yourself, don't answer any questions. You have Fifth Amendment protections during the entirety of your interactions with the law. Don't talk without an attorney present.

Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
In California, field sobriety tests are voluntary unless you are under the age of 21 or are on probation. The officer may not like it, but they can't compel you to participate. However, you can face consequences if you refuse a blood alcohol content test after you've been arrested.

Tip #4: Respect the Law Enforcement Officer
Resisting the police won't improve your case — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also aids your defense: When you resist or act disrespectfully, you are giving the police more evidence, which may come back up later in court.

What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Chico?

California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you regardless of your blood alcohol level, or even if you don't undergo any tests at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, generally utilizing field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on their evaluation of you.

Once this happens, the CA legal system will proceed with both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Chico, CA, follow this progression:

1. Suspension: Your license suspension can start the minute the officer arrests you – at that time, 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 providing a record of the arrest to the Chico, CA, DMV, officially suspending your license.
2. Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
3. DMV Hearing: Even though you might feel overwhelmed by the criminal charges, you'll need to start fighting for your license right away. This starts with arranging a DMV hearing, which you need to do within 10 days.
4. Pretrial Motions: It's possible to be held in jail before your trial, but that's not very likely in DUI cases. Between your potential release and the trial, your Chico DUI defense lawyer will laying the groundwork of your defense through motions to review the arrest footage, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
5. Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Chico prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if that doesn't work, your attorney should be building a defense now.
6. Criminal Trial: Your case probably will not go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
7. Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case proceeds, you may face sanctions. 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 fight any allegation, on both the criminal defense and DMV side. If you need help today, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are here for you!

DUIs in Chico, CA and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings

Chico, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the fight for your license. This will always require two separate defenses, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI defense lawyers will fight both.

Here are the key things to be aware of for each, and ways we defend your liberty and driving privileges:

Chico, 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.

Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another 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 listen to your side of the story and fight against the supposed wrongdoing. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, argue against he officer's observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and see if there's anything the police missed that can exonerate you.

With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our Chico, CA, clients from jail time. In many cases, we'll work out a plea for reduced charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also work out probation over jail or prison time.

Chico, CA, DUI License Suspension

While it might be tempting to focus exclusively on the criminal case, you also need to consider the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and to effectively fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.

It's typical for the criminal case to be, by and large, separate from the DMV hearing. In fact, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Instead, the hearing is to determine if you were lawfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused BAC tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with us, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.

After ten days, though, the suspension is probably hear to stay. Outside of rare cases, you don't get an extra chance to arrange for that hearing. This is why it's vital to contact a Chico DUI defense attorney as soon as you can after an arrest.

Chico DUI Sentences and Consequences

Chico, CA, DUI criminal penalties can permanently affect your life – even for the ones considered misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.

Below, you can read through the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on what your charges are:

Beyond any sentence that a judge in Chico, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as elevated insurance costs and barriers between you and professional licenses.

DUIs and Immigration

DUI immigration consequences have the potential to be life-altering. On the bright side, most first-time DUIs at this time will not result in deportation. The bad news is that if something made this allegation more serious, like an injured bystander, you can qualify for deportation. What's worse, if H.R.875 passes, any DUI will become grounds for deportation. If you are trying to become an American 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 Chico, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. 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 that will protect you from the harshest outcomes, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.

After the Case: Expungement/Sealing

Whether your case ends in a conviction or an acquittal, you're liking looking forward to putting this all behind you. However, your arrest and/or criminal record can stick with you. Depending on your case outcome, there's a chance you're eligible to either expunge or seal your records. Our Chico, CA, DUI defense team can also assist you with sealing/expunging records, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.

Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Chico: What You Need to Know

Accused of a DUI in Chico? It is critical to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the expertise, practice, and contacts to secure a positive outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Chico, CA, you want to judge the following:

1. Experience: If it's both for and against the state, even better. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, prosecutors, and police officers, totalling more than 50 years of experience handling cases.
2. Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. Our offices are always available if you need to talk 24/7.
3. Relationships: An attorney who knows the local prosecutor can use that relationship to their advantage. We know how to connect with the prosecutors in Chico and all throughout CA.
4. 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 California.
5. 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. If you're ready to join our list of successes, call now.

DUI Case Types We Take On in Chico

Administrative, criminal, or anything else related to DUIs in Chico, CA – your DUI defense lawyer from our team prepared stand by you against the charges.

Here are some of the DUI cases we typically defend:

DUI Defense Strategies in Chico, CA

When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, your Chico, CA, DUI attorney will draw from years of experience with effective defense strategies. While there are many effective legal strategies available, picking the right one can make all the difference.

Contest the Legality of the Arrest
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, you might be able to secure a dismissal of the charges. This defense is relevant if, for example, the officer did not observe you for the full 15-minute period required before asking you to take a breath test.

Flaws in Chemical Tests
If you were arrested and given a breathalyzer, blood, or urine test, that can be the center of the prosecution's case. Our team will look into any potential procedural errors, re-examine the evidence to look for alternate explanations, and advocate for you during the discovery process to identify flaws in the state's evidence.

Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'one-leg stand,' are a typical part of any traffic stop that turns into a DUI investigation. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. We will examine the evidence and show whether or not you were fairly judged.

Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
It's easy to feel like you're out of options if you were tested and your BAC was .08 or higher. While this is can be difficult to overcome, there are still ways to fight it. If you have certain medical conditions, those can cause false positives. For example, some inhalers can artificially raise the amount of alcohol in your breath, depending on how they are used.

Timing is Critical – Contact Our Chico DUI Defense Lawyers NOW

If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Chico, CA, it feels like there's no space to breathe. Your license is suspended, there could be interrogations, you get a court date…it's easy to be out of control. What you need to do is hire an attorney 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 hesitate and lose your freedom. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.

We're experts at defending all Chico, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense fast and will work on a strategy to defend your license and keep you out of jail immediately. Speak with a lawyer now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online for a confidential case review.

We also provide the following legal services in Chico, CA:

• Criminal Defense Lawyer