DUI Lawyer Chino. Chino DUI charges are very serious. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; depending on your history, you could go to prison. If you declined to take an alcohol test, you can face separate charges, and the consequences you face might be even worse than a DUI conviction. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
Regardless of whether you're innocent or not, you shouldn't need to do this without help. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to fight for your rights.
We are California's top DUI defense lawyers and have extensive experience defending against all types of DUI charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of accomplished defense attorneys who know how to operate the Chino, CA, justice system and get you the best outcome possible.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Call today at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online to start constructing your defense strategy today.
Chino, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but even if you've done nothing wrong, you need to know how to navigate the situation. Below are four tips from a Chino, 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. If police see you fumbling as you try to gather these documents, they could think that you've been drinking. But if you already have them ready, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
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. Call your DUI lawyer and stay quiet until they arrive.
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. If you haven't been arrested, you can decline to participate. 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: Respect the Law Enforcement Officer
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't help — it can end up making your case harder to defend. This doesn't just help you get through the traffic stop; it also benefits your defense: When you resist or act disrespectfully, you are giving the police more evidence, which may help justify an arrest.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Chino?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you independant of your blood alcohol concentration, 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, typically with field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on that.
If you've been placed under arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Chino, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can start the minute the officer arrests you – when arrested, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and the police will take away your existing license. Meanwhile, the police are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, beginning the formal suspension.
- Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will attend a hearing, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
- DMV Hearing: Independant of the criminal charge process, you'll want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. In the meantime, your Chino DUI defense expert will file pretrial motions, likely including some to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to reexamine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Chino district attorney to find a plea deal that minimizes penalties for you. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be preparing 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 how your case proceeds, you may face some form of sentence. 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 provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and DMV side. No matter where you are in your case, call now and we'll be happy to assist!
Chino DUI: Fighting 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 fight for your license. In CA, these are always two separate processes, 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 insights into how we protect your freedom and vehicular rights:
Chino, 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.
If you're familiar with the process of other criminal charges, DUI cases follow the same format – 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 protect your rights and push back against the criminal accusations. We'll examine the lawfulness of the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, 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 Chino, 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 search for a deal that protects your freedom and avoids any jail sentence.
Chino, CA, DUI License Suspension
On the other side of a Chino DUI charge is the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension doesn't wait for your criminal case, and in order to 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 outcome of the DMV hearing hinges on whether or not you were rightfully 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 a Chino, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If the tenth day since the arrest has passed, though, you'll likely have to endure the suspension. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's essential to contact a Chino DUI defense lawyer promptly after an arrest.
Chino DUI Sentences and Consequences
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 trying to avoid, depending on what your charges are:
| 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 impacts on your employment.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences are very serious. 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 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. For immigrants seeking citizenship, 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 Chino, 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, 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
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 doesn't go away easily. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A Chino, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you a path to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Up against DUI charges? It's important to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the abilities, preparation, and ties to give you opportunities for a positive outcome for your case. Here are the main things to look for in your Chino, CA, DUI defense lawyer:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over five decades of experience.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. You can speak with one of our team members 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: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. 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: You want to work with an attorney who has successfully fought DUI charges in the past. We have. 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 Defend in Chino
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Chino, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared to battle against the charges.
This is a list of the DUI charges 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 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 License Reinstatement
- DUI Probation Violation
- DUI Marijuana
- DUI Prescription Drugs
- DUI Refusal Cases
- 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
- Out-of-State DUI
- Public Intoxication
- Reckless Driving
- Street Racing
- Second Time DUI
- Third DUI California
- Underage DUI
- Watson Murder / DUI Murder
- Wet Reckless
DUI Defense Strategies in Chino, CA
Every DUI case needs a defensive strategy, and our Chino, 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.
Contest the Legitimacy of the Arrest
If the police did not follow proper procedure while stopping and examining 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 Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. Our team will look into any potential procedural errors, retest in some cases, using a "blood-split" motion, and find any other mistakes law enforcement made that could exonerate you.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are a widely-recognized way of evaluating somebody's level of impairment. But you can still challenge them – they are not ironclad proof of guilt. Our attorneys will review the footage and point out situations where law enforcement unfairly failed our clients on these tests.
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 over the legal limit. Even though this is harder to fight, it's not the end of your case. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Start Your Defense Today – Talk To Our Chino DUI Defense Lawyers AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, things move pretty fast. Your license disappears, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you get a court date…it's easy to be like there's no way forward. To fight through the allegations, your first step is to hire aChino, CA, DUI lawyer immediately.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case 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 protect you.
We're experts at defending all Chino, CA DUI charges. We're available to help fast and will work on a strategy to defend your license and your rights now. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or let us know what you need online for a free case review.
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