DUI Lawyer Compton. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. In California, you're required to participate in DUI tests if you're driving. Refusal to do so is another crime, 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 fight 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 to defend your freedom.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and know the ins and outs of DUI defense strategies that work. When you choose us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to protect you in the Compton, CA, court system and find the best result for your case.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Call without delay at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start putting together your defense strategy today.
Compton, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but knowing how to handle the situation is important for all Compton, CA, residents. Here are four tips from a Compton, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
Keep your license, insurance card, and vehicle registration together and easily accessible. With an officer staring you down, asking for documents you may not have had to touch in months, it's easy to get flustered. By following this tip, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Be Silent When 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 both before and after an arrest. Don't talk without an attorney present.
Tip #3: Refuse Voluntary Tests
The state of California only legally requires drivers to participate in field sobriety tests if they are either under the age of 21, or are on probation. If you haven't been arrested, you can decline to participate. 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: Be Polite and Don't Argue
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't help — it will make things worse. This doesn't just help you get through the traffic stop; it also aids your defense: By acting out or arguing, you are giving the police more evidence, which could contribute to their probable cause to arrest you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Compton?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you without a BAC level over the limit, or even if you don't blow at all. Officers are able to arrest you this way because CA allows them to make subjective judgements, likely through field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on the results.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – when arrested, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your actual license will be taken. While you're processing this, the police are providing a record of the arrest to the Compton, CA, DMV, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will read out the allegations that you are formally being charged with.
- DMV Hearing: Even though you might feel overwhelmed by the criminal charges, you'll want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: It's possible to be held in jail before your trial, but that's not very likely in DUI cases. In the meantime, your Compton DUI defense expert 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: While filing pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will contact the Compton district attorney to find a plea deal that minimizes penalties for you. But if that doesn't work, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: It's rare that a DUI case will go to trial, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we're prepared to fight for your freedom in front of a jury, no matter what .
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the result of your case, you may face some form of sentence. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, our record clearing attorneys can help you get a fresh start.
Our DUI legal experts can help you fight any allegation, on both the criminal defense and bureaucratic side. Whatever stage in the process you're at, you can start with a call to our offices!
Compton DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Compton, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the administrative case. These are handled separately by the state, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and insights into how we protect your justice and ability to drive:
Compton, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
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 build your defense and push back against the allegations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, display flaws in the officer's analysis, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and look for evidence that can result in a not guilty plea.
We know what it takes to keep DUI defense clients out of jail in Compton, CA. Commonly, 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.
Compton, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Compton criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect automatically, and in order to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
At the administrative hearing, you're not facing criminal charges. In fact, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Instead, this administrative hearing is focused on 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 hire us, we'll work to undermine the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If you waited too long and it's past the deadline to request a hearing, though, you're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to arrange for that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Compton DUI defense lawyer without delay after an arrest.
Punishments After a DUI Conviction in Compton, CA
Compton, CA, DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – even though some are misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, we've listed the different penalties you could be fighting against, depending on the allegations you're facing:
| Alleged DUI Offense | 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 |
Beyond the Compton, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and barriers between you and professional licenses.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. If this is the first time you've been accused of driving under the influence, you probably won't face removal proceedings. 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 hurts your application process.
These accusations can be intimidating, but they are not the end. Your Compton, CA, immigration lawyer can give you practical advice on what comes next. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, can provide assistance with all of your legal needs, not just against criminal accusations: We'll explore diversion programs that can protect you from a conviction, represent you at deportation hearings, and assist you with the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found innocent or not, you're liking looking forward to putting this all behind you. The bad news is that your arrest and/or criminal record can stick with you. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Compton, CA, DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you a way to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Compton: What You Need to Know
Defending yourself against a DUI in Compton? It's essential to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the talent, history, and connections to provide the optimal outcome for your case. The top Compton, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of 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 police officers, totalling more than 50 years of experience.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. You can get a hold of us 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Compton and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. We are proud to be respected amongst our peers 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 Defend Against in Compton
Whatever type of DUI charge you need help with in Compton, CA – the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared help you navigate the charges.
Below, you can review a list of the DUI charges we have experience defending:
- 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 Compton, CA
When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, your Compton, CA, DUI attorney will draw from years of experience with effective defense strategies. There is no one-size-fits-all defensive strategy against DUI allegations, but below, we've listed out some of the most effective ones.
Challenge the Legality of the Arrest
The police need to follow rules when initiating a traffic stop and investigating a potential DUI. If they broke those rules, your case could be thrown out on legal grounds. 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 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 potential procedural errors, introduce alternative evidence when possible, and look for any issues in how the evidence was handled.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'horizontal gaze nystagmus,' are often used by officers to evaluate whether someone is impaired or not. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. Our attorneys will review the footage and provide alternate explanations for your performance.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Perhaps the officer properly conducted a breathalyzer test, and your BAC was .08 or higher. While this is can be difficult to overcome, 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 Compton DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. You lose your right to drive, you might be interrogated, you're told you have a court date…it's easy to be lost. And that's why it's all the more important to speak to a lawyer right away.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. Don't try to handle it on your own. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Compton, CA DUI charges. We're available to help fast and will work on a strategy to defend your license and keep you out of jail as soon as you call. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online for a confidential case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Compton, CA:
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