DUI Lawyer Covina. If you're up against a DUI in Covina, it can feel overwhelming. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. California law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, 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.
Regardless of whether you're innocent or not, you need someone in your corner. Trying to defend yourself against the charges is a battle you need a team behind you for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is at your service.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you choose us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to navigate the Covina, CA, justice 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 right away at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start preparing your defense strategy today.
Covina, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Most people don't plan to be pulled over, but knowing what to do if you are in a traffic stop can help you avoid an arrest. Here are four tips from a Covina, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to use the next time a police officer stops you on the road:
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: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
If there's a scent of alcohol on your person or in your vehicle, don't talk. You have the right to remain silent both before and after an arrest. Protect yourself by keeping quiet until your lawyer arrives.
Tip #3: Refuse Voluntary Tests
In California, field sobriety tests are voluntary unless you are under the age of 21 or are 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: Don't Argue With the Officer
Resisting the police won't improve your case — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, 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 Covina?
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. The police can use other methods to determine whether or not you were safe to drive, probably through field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on the results.
As soon as you're arrested, 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 can start the minute the officer arrests you – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your actual license will be taken. In the meantime, the police are informing the DMV about the arrest, officially suspending your license.
- Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will inform you of the charges against you.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, you'll need to set up an administrative hearing with the DMV within 10 days to fight the suspension.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. While you're waiting for the trial, your Covina DUI defense attorney will building the framework of your defense and filing motions to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Alongside pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will speak with the Covina prosecutor to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if the prosecutor won't give you a favorable offer, your attorney should be refining a defense strategy 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 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 provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and driver's license side. If you need help today, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!
Covina, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Covina, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the license suspension. In CA, these are always two separate processes, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and what our attorneys will do for your justice and vehicular rights:
Covina, 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.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other criminal charge – arrest, arraignment, pretrial activity, and possibly trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we defend your freedom and push back against the charges. We'll argue whether the police had the justification needed to pull you over, demonstrate any present errors in the police officer's judgement, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can exonerate you.
We have an extremely strong track record of clients who have avoided jail time in Covina, CA. Often, we'll work out a plea for reduced charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also avoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Covina, CA, DUI License Suspension
Even though the criminal charges may sound like the more serious matter, don't neglect the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and if you want to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
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, 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 to participate in tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. These hearings have serious consequences that require an expert Covina, CA, DUI lawyer to navigate. At the hearing, 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're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to arrange for that hearing. This is why it's crucial to contact a Covina DUI defense lawyer right away after being arrested.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in Covina
Covina, CA, DUI criminal penalties can leave a mark on your record for life – while many are considered misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, you can read through the different penalties you could be trying to avoid, depending on what your charges are:
| 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 any sentence that a judge in Covina, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as loss or increased expense of insurance and impacts on your employment.
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 will be put on the same level as serious felonies when it comes to immigration consequenceses. If you are trying to become an American citizen, even if you aren't deported, it will hurt your application chances, especially for repeat or aggravated offenses.
These accusations can be intimidating, but they are not the end. Your Covina, 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 will protect you from the harshest outcomes, 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, odds are, you'll want to leave it in the past and move forward with your life. It doesn't take long to realize, though, that 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. A Covina, CA, DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you a chance to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Up against DUI charges? It's key to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the expertise, preparation, and connections to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Covina, CA, you want to judge the following:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI lawyers have previous experience as judges, district attorneys, and police officers, totalling more than 50 years of experience with the law.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. 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 know how to connect with the prosecutors in Covina and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: If your lawyer is known for successfully fighting DUI charges, that is a major positive. We're proud to have received numerous accolades and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- 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. And we'd be proud to represent you as well.
DUI Case Types We Defend Against in Covina
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Covina, CA – our DUI defense attorneys are prepared stand by you against the charges.
Here are some of the DUI allegations we frequently 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 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 Covina, CA
Every DUI case needs a defensive strategy, and our Covina, CA DUI defense lawyers are here to help you find the right one. There are several defensive tactics available, but not every one will work for your case. Below are some of the most common ones we use.
Contest the Legality of the Arrest
If the arresting officer failed to obey the rules for investigating a DUI, you might be able to secure a dismissal of the charges. This defense could be used if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Flaws in BAC Tests
Fighting against chemical tests can be difficult, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will know how to look for flaws in them. We will investigate any possible errors that were made when you took the test, 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 'horizontal gaze nystagmus,' are a widely-recognized way of evaluating somebody's level of impairment. But field sobriety tests are not objective measures of whether you're safe to drive or not. 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
It's easy to feel like you're out of options 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.
Don't Wait – Contact Our Covina DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
After a DUI arrest, it can feel like you don't even have time to think. The police officer takes your license, a law enforcement official might be asking you hard questions, you get a court date…it's easy to feel lost. Your path forward begins when you call aCovina, CA, DUI lawyer now.
Don't sit by and watch the evidence mount against you. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. Don't hesitate and lose your freedom. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Covina, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense immediately and will start protecting your driving privileges and keep you out of jail right away. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Covina, CA:
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