DUI Lawyer Corona. DUI law in Corona is complex. 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 DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
If you find yourself in this situation, you should consult with an expert to find your best path forward. Trying to defend yourself against the charges is a challenge nobody should have to face on their own, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared for any DUI charges in Corona, CA.
We are California's premier 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 DUI defense experts who know how to navigate the Corona, CA, legal system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
Take too long to start your defense, and you could miss your chance. Talk to a lawyer without delay at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start putting together your defense today.
Corona, 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 Corona, CA, residents. Below are four tips from a Corona, 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. Dropping them or failing to find them could just be a result of stress, but it can give the impression that you're impaired. By following this tip, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
You never need to answer a question that might incriminate you. You have the right to remain silent during the entirety of your interactions with the law. Even just saying "I only had two drinks" can work against you.
Tip #3: Refuse Voluntary Tests
In California, field sobriety tests are voluntary unless you are 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: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't help — it can end up making your case harder to defend. This isn't just something you're doing out of courtesy, though; 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 Corona?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or even if you refuse to be tested at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, probably utilizing field sobriety tests, then decide whether or not to arrest you based on their evaluation of you.
Once this happens, 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 – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and you will lose your regular license (at least for now). While you're processing this, they are ensuring that the arrest is added to your DMV record, officially suspending your license.
- Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will read out the allegations that you are formally being charged with.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, you'll have 10 days after the arrest to contact the DMV for a hearing.
- 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 Corona DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to suppress unlawfully collected 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 negotiate with the Corona district attorney to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if the prosecutor won't give you a favorable offer, your attorney should be building a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: It's rare that a DUI case will go to trial, but if it reaches that point, we'll have a staunch defense ready for you.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, 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 bureaucratic side. For advice on any stage with your charges, you can start with a call to our offices!
Corona, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Corona, CA, DUI charges are always a two-pronged challenge: The criminal case and the fight for your license. This will always require two separate defenses, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and what our attorneys will do for your justice and license:
Corona, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Corona, CA, court.
Criminal cases, including DUIs, all follow the same basic process – 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, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for contaminations or errors in blood, breath, or urine tests, and look for witness testimony and other proof that can result in a not guilty plea.
If you're facing jail time in Corona, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. In many cases, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce 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.
Corona, CA, DUI License Suspension
On the other side of a Corona DUI charge is the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is independent of the criminal case, and to effectively fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
The criminal charges are not always relevant in the DMV hearing. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, the hearing is to determine if you were legitimately arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused alcohol tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with a Corona, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll work to undermine the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
After ten days, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license unsuspended. Outside of rare cases, you don't get an extra chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's essential to contact a Corona DUI defense lawyer without delay after the traffic stop.
Punishments After a DUI Conviction in Corona, CA
Corona, CA, DUI criminal penalties can permanently affect your life – even though some are misdemeanors, it's possible to receive a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be facing, 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 Corona 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 be incredibly 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 certain circumstances apply, like DUIs causing injury or repeat offenses, you can qualify for deportation. What's worse, if H.R.875 passes, any DUI can result in removal from the country. For individuals working on the naturalization process, even if you aren't deported, it can count against your "good moral character," which you need to establish before becoming a citizen.
Whether you are an immigrant citizen, are here on a work visa, or are anywhere in between, a Corona, CA, immigration lawyer can help you navigate the situation. 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 can protect you from a conviction, fight to keep you in the country, and offer expert advice as you apply for citizenship.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record can stick with you. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A Corona, 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
When you're facing DUI charges, it's key to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the skills, experience, and ties to secure a positive outcome for your case. When you speak with Corona, CA, DUI attorneys about your case, ask them about the following:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling more than five decades of experience with the law.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. We're available 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Corona and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. We are proud to be respected amongst our peers 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. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Fight in Corona
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Corona, CA – our DUI defense attorneys are prepared to battle against the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI allegations 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 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 Tactics in Corona, CA
If you want to craft an effective defense strategy, our Corona, CA, DUI lawyers are here to help. 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 Legitimacy of the Arrest
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, your case could be thrown out on legal grounds. This defense is relevant if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Show Issues With BAC Tests
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. We will highlight the ways that these tests can give false readings, introduce alternative evidence when possible, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'horizontal gaze nystagmus,' are standard practice for police officers to use. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. We will audit the test records and look for expert analysis that will show your performance in a more favorable light.
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 .08 or higher. Even though this is harder to fight, we won't give up yet. 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.
Timing is Critical – Call Our Corona DUI Defense Attorneys AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
When you're up against Corona DUI charges, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. Your license disappears, a law enforcement official might be asking you hard questions, you're assigned a court date…it's easy to be lost. Your path forward begins when you get in touch with aCorona, CA, DUI attorney as soon as possible.
Don't let the state decide how your case will go. Don't let your license go without a fight. Don't just hope it will all just go away. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Corona, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case right now and will can fight for your license and your rights immediately. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online for a free case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Corona, CA:
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