DUI Lawyer Chino. DUI law in Chino is complex. You're being accused of a crime; depending on your history, you could go to prison. 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 fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If the Chino, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you should consult with an expert to find your best path forward. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a problem you shouldn't have to solve without help, 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 decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to defend your rights in the Chino, CA, court system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
If you want to build an effective defense, you need to act now. Talk to a lawyer without delay at (800) 755-5174 or tell us how we can help online to start putting together your case's defense today.
Chino, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but to successfully get through the situation when it does happen, you need to be prepared. Below are four tips from a Chino, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
Keep your license, insurance card, and vehicle registration together and easily accessible. If police see you fumbling as you try to gather these documents, they could think that you've been drinking. When you're already prepared to give them to the officer, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
If either the officer alleges that they smell alcohol, or you can smell alcohol yourself, don't answer any questions. You have the right to remain silent at all points in the legal process. 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, 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
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't improve your case — it will come back to bite you. This doesn't just help you get through the traffic stop; it also helps your defense: When you resist or act disrespectfully, you are giving the police more evidence, which can be used against you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Chino?
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. Officers are able to arrest you this way because CA allows them to make subjective judgements, likely via field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on their evaluation of you.
As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system will proceed with both a license suspension and criminal charges. After the arrest, be prepared for the following:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and the police will take away your existing license. While you're proceeding through the system, the police are ensuring that the arrest is added to your DMV record, beginning the formal suspension.
- Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will attend a hearing, and a prosecutor will inform you of the charges against you.
- DMV Hearing: Even though you might feel overwhelmed by the criminal charges, you'll need to set up an administrative hearing with the DMV within 10 days to fight the suspension.
- Pretrial Motions: In most DUI cases, you'll be released in some capacity pending a trial. Meanwhile, your Chino DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to suppress 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 Chino district attorney to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will 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 a punishment. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, you may be eligible to have your record sealed.
Our DUI legal experts can help you with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. Whatever stage in the process you're at, you can start with a call to our offices!
Defending Against Chino DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Chino, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the license suspension. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but a leading DUI defense attorney from our offices will fight for you in both cases.
Here are the key things to be aware of for each, and our process for defending your freedom and license:
Chino, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, which will involve legal proceedings in CA court.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other criminal charge – 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 present reasonable doubt and push back against the accusations. We'll debate the legality of the traffic stop, display flaws in the officer's analysis, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and look for evidence that can result in a not guilty plea.
If you're facing jail time in Chino, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. Often, we'll contact the district attorney on their behalf and negotiate a charge reduction, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also work out probation over jail or prison time.
Chino, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry about 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 being arrested.
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 to blow, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you hire us, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
Outside of that ten-day window, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license back immediately. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Chino DUI defense lawyer as soon as you can after the traffic stop.
DUI Punishments in Chino
Chino, CA, DUI criminal penalties can leave a mark on your record for life – even for the ones considered misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
On this table, you can review the different penalties you could be up against, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| 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 Chino court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as rising insurance rates and potential punitive actions from professional licensing organizations.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. The level of impact often depends on how many prior offenses are on your record. First-time alleged DUIs don't typically 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 will be put on the same level as serious felonies when it comes to immigration consequenceses. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, even if you aren't deported, it will hurt your application chances, especially for repeat or aggravated offenses.
Whether you are an immigrant citizen, are here on a work visa, or are anywhere in between, a Chino, CA, immigration lawyer can help you navigate the situation. 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 and plea deals that can keep a DUI off your record, represent you at deportation hearings, and guide you through your citizenship application.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, it's natural to want to move on and leave this in the past. However, your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, there's a chance you're eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Chino, CA, DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you a way to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Chino: What You Need to Know
When you're facing DUI charges, it's crucial to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the skills, practice, and contacts to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Chino, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: Experience gives your attorney knowledge on how to win these cases. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI lawyers have previous experience as judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over five decades of experience.
- Availability: You shouldn't need to wait till 9 AM on Monday to contact an attorney. Our team is prepared to help you 24/7.
- Relationships: An attorney who knows the local prosecutor can use that relationship to their advantage. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Chino and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. We are proud of our reputation with former clients 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 Take On in Chino
Administrative, criminal, or anything else related to DUIs in Chino, CA – all of our DUI defense attorneys are prepared to defend you against the charges.
Below are some of the DUI allegations we can provide defenses for:
- 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 Chino, CA
If you want to craft an effective defense strategy, our Chino, 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, we can challenge the evidence, and even the legitimacy of the case itself. This defense is relevant if, for example, you were not read your Miranda rights before an interrogation, anything you said could be thrown out.
Show Issues With Blood, Breath, and/or Urine 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, retest in some cases, using a "blood-split" motion, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are often used by officers to evaluate whether someone is impaired or not. But field sobriety tests are not objective measures of whether you're safe to drive or not. Your local DUI lawyer will inspect any records of the test and point out situations where law enforcement unfairly failed our clients on these tests.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Maybe there were no mistakes with your blood, breath, or urine test, and your BAC was over the legal limit. While properly conducted BAC tests are hard to disprove, 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.
Don't Wait – Contact Our Chino DUI Defense Attorneys RIGHT AWAY
Chino, CA, DUI accusations are serious. After an arrest, it can feel like you don't even have time to think. You lose your license, you might be interrogated, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to be stressed out. In order to find a way out of all that, you need to get in touch with a DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Don't sit by and watch the evidence mount against you. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. Don't just sit idly by while everything collapses. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.
We're experts at defending all Chino, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense fast and will begin protecting your license and your liberty today. Call us now at (800) 755-5174 or set up an appointment online for a no strings attached consultation.
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