DUI Lawyer Culver City. Culver City DUI charges are very serious. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. Declining a breathalyzer or blood test on its own can result in charges, and when you refuse, you can face the same penalties as a high blood-alcohol level DUI. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If the Culver City, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you don't want to be alone. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts is a challenge nobody should have to face on their own, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to fight for your rights.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience. When you retain us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to protect you in the Culver City, CA, judicial system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Speak with one of our attorneys right away at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start constructing your defense today.
Culver City, 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 Culver City, CA, residents. Here are four tips from a Culver City, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
Your heart might start to pound as soon as the police officer asks 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: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
You never need to answer a question that might incriminate you. You have the right to remain silent at all points in the legal process. Trying to explain away the smell of alcohol will probably just get you in more trouble.
Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
Participation in field sobriety tests is not required for people over the age of 21 who aren't on probation. The officer may not like it, but they can't compel you to participate. However, if you have been arrested and refuse a blood or breath test, your license will be suspended.
Tip #4: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't improve your case — it can end up making your case harder to defend. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, though; it also benefits your defense: By acting out or arguing, you are giving the police more evidence, and depending on what you do, it could make you appear intoxicated.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Culver City?
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. California allows the police to make a call about whether or not you were driving impaired regardless of your alcohol level, generally through field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on that.
Right after your arrest, 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 can start the minute the officer arrests you – on the spot, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your actual license will be taken. While you're proceeding through the system, they are updating your records with the DMV to account for the arrest, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will announce what charges you're up against.
- DMV Hearing: While all of the criminal proceedings are going on, you'll need to start fighting for your license right away. This starts with arranging a DMV hearing, which you need to do within 10 days.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Culver City, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. Meanwhile, your Culver City DUI defense attorney will building the framework of your defense and filing motions to throw out illegal evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: In the midst of pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will negotiate with the Culver City district attorney to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if the case goes to trial, your attorney should be creating a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, you may face a punishment. 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 out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. For advice on any stage with your charges, give us a call so that we can help!
DUIs in Culver City, CA and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Culver City, 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. In CA, these are always two separate processes, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and what our attorneys will do for your justice and license:
Culver City, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To protect yourself against the allegations, you'll need to fight in the Culver City, CA, legal system.
If you're familiar with the process of other criminal charges, DUI cases follow the same format – first, you're arrested. Second, you're informed of the charges at an arraignment. Third, you go through pretrial motions and negotiations. And finally, if it comes to it, a trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we present reasonable doubt and dissect the supposed wrongdoing. We'll debate the legality of the traffic stop, argue against he officer's observations, look for contaminations or errors in blood, breath, or urine tests, and hunt for other evidence that can exonerate you.
If you're facing jail time in Culver City, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. In many cases, 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.
Culver City, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry 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.
It's typical for the criminal case to be, by and large, separate from the DMV hearing. In fact, even if you secure a plea deal for a reduced charge, that won't (directly) affect your license suspension. Instead, this administrative hearing is focused on if you were rightfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused to cooperate when the officer tried to test you, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with a Culver City, 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, there probably isn't a way to get your license back immediately. Outside of rare cases, you don't get any more chances to request that hearing. This is why it's essential to contact a Culver City DUI defense attorney as soon as you can after the traffic stop.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in Culver City
Culver City, CA, DUI criminal penalties can leave a mark on your record for life – even though some are 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 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 |
Beyond any sentence that a judge in Culver City, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as rising insurance rates and career setbacks.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. If this is your first DUI, the good news is that you will likely be able to stay in the country. 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 conviction will qualify an immigrant for deportation. For immigrants seeking citizenship, 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 Culver City, 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, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and assist you with the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether your case ends in a conviction or an acquittal, it's natural to want to move on and leave this in the past. The bad news is 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 Culver City, 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
No matter what DUI allegations you've been charged with, it's crucial to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the abilities, practice, and contacts to secure a positive outcome for your case. When you speak with Culver City, CA, DUI attorneys about your case, ask them about the following:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, district attorneys, and police, totalling more than 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: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Culver City and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. 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. If you're ready to join our list of successes, call now.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Culver City
Whatever type of DUI charge you need help with in Culver City, CA – our DUI defense team is prepared stand by you against the charges.
This is a list of the DUI case types 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 Strategies in Culver City, CA
Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Culver City, CA, DUI attorneys can help you fight it. 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.
Challenge the Legitimacy 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 is a good option if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Flaws in Chemical 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. Our team will look into any issues with how the equipment was stored or used, retest 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 a normal part of the process when police are evaluating if someone is driving intoxicated or not. But you can still challenge them – they are not ironclad proof of guilt. We will examine the evidence and provide alternate explanations for your performance.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
It's easy to feel like you're out of options if you were tested and your BAC was .08 or higher. This may sound bad, but there are still ways to fight it. If you have certain medical conditions, those can cause false positives. For example, some inhalers can artificially raise the amount of alcohol in your breath, depending on how they are used.
Start Your Defense Today – Call Our Culver City DUI Defense Lawyers NOW
If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Culver City, CA, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. You lose your right to drive, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to be out of control. What you need to do is get in touch with an attorney immediately.
Don't let the state decide how your case will go. Don't miss your chance for a DMV administrative hearing to protect your license. 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 Culver City, CA DUI charges. We're available to help right now and will work on a strategy to defend your license and your rights as soon as you call. Speak with a lawyer now at (800) 755-5174 or let us know what you need online for a confidential consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Culver City, CA:
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