DUI Lawyer Glendale. If convicted, a DUI can permanently change your life for the worse. You're not just facing the loss of your license; if you're facing years in prison for a repeat offense, your car is the least of your worries. If you declined to take an alcohol test, you can face separate charges, and in some cases, refusing can give you even worse penalties. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
If the Glendale, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you don't want to be alone. Trying to fight against the prosecution is a problem you shouldn't have to solve without help, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to defend you.
We are California's top DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to fight for you in the Glendale, CA, justice system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
If you want to build an effective defense, you need to act now. Reach out anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or tell us how we can help online to start preparing your defense today.
Glendale, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Traffic police are just a part of driving. It's not exciting, but even if you've done nothing wrong, you need to know how to navigate the situation. Here are four tips from a Glendale, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
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. Dropping them or failing to find them could just be a result of stress, but it can give the impression that you're impaired. But if you don't need to search for them, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Don't Talk If Alcohol Is Smelled
You aren't required to answer any questions if the officer says that they smell alcohol. You have the right to remain silent at all points in the legal process. Call your DUI lawyer and stay quiet until they arrive.
Tip #3: Refuse Voluntary Tests
Participation in field sobriety tests is not required for people over the age of 21 who aren't on probation. Refusing won't force the officer to let you go, but on its own, there aren't any penalties for refusing. However, you cannot legally refuse a BAC test once you are in custody, without losing your driving privileges.
Tip #4: Be Polite and Don't Argue
Resisting the police won't help — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. This isn't just something you're doing out of courtesy, though; it also aids your defense: When you resist or act disrespectfully, you are giving the police more evidence, which may come back up later in court.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Glendale?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or even if you don't undergo any tests at all. The police can use other methods to determine whether or not you were safe to drive, typically with field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on the results.
If you've been placed under arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension effective immediately after your arrest – right away, 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, at which point, you're officially facing a license suspension.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will attend a hearing, and a prosecutor will list out the laws you're accused of breaking.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll have just 10 days to begin the process of protecting your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Glendale, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. Meanwhile, your Glendale DUI defense lawyer will file pretrial motions, likely including some to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to reexamine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will contact the Glendale district attorney to find a positive outcome for you that avoids a trial through a plea deal. But if the case goes to trial, your attorney should be creating a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges go to trial, but we don't count on that possibility and will be ready if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, you may face consequences. 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 bureaucratic side. If you're facing a potential conviction, you can start with a call to our offices!
Glendale DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Glendale, CA, DUI charges require particular expertise because there are two sides that each need to be defended: The criminal case and the driver's case. In CA, these are always two separate processes, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and how we fight to protect your freedom and vehicular rights:
Glendale, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another criminal charge – 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 defend your freedom and fight against the charges. We'll argue whether the police had the justification needed to pull you over, argue against he officer's observations, look for contaminations or errors in blood, breath, or urine tests, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can exonerate you.
The vast majority of our DUI clients in Glendale do not receive any jail sentence. For many clients, 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.
Glendale, CA, DUI License Suspension
While it might be tempting to focus exclusively on the criminal case, you also need to consider the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and in order to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
When you go through the DMV hearing, your criminal charges may not be a major focus. In fact, no matter what the court decision was, it won't automatically give you back your license. Instead, the outcome of the DMV hearing hinges on whether or not you were legitimately 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 Glendale, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll argue over the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
Outside of that ten-day window, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license back immediately. 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 Glendale DUI defense lawyer promptly after an arrest.
Sentence You Could Face for a DUI in Glendale, CA
Glendale, CA, DUI criminal penalties can leave a mark on your record for life – while some are 'just' misdemeanors, you could still be sentenced to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, you can read through the different penalties you could be facing, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| DUI Criminal 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 Glendale, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and potential punitive actions from professional licensing organizations.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences are very serious. The good news is that, currently, a first-time DUI is generally not grounds for removal. 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 become grounds for deportation. For immigrants seeking citizenship, even if you aren't deported, it hurts your application process.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Glendale, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we can help you in all aspects of your case: We'll explore diversion programs with alternatives to criminal sentencing, represent you at deportation hearings, and offer expert advice as you apply for citizenship.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found guilty or not guilty, odds are, you'll want to leave it in the past and move forward with your life. Unfortunately, your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Glendale, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you a way to clean your record.
When You're Picking a Glendale, CA, DUI Lawyer, Consider These Factors
Up against DUI charges? It's vital to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the abilities, background, and connections to provide the optimal outcome for your case. The top Glendale, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Experience: If possible, both defending against charges and as government agents. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, district attorneys, and law enforcement, totalling more than five decades 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: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Glendale and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: If your lawyer is known for successfully fighting DUI charges, that is a major positive. 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. If you're ready to join our list of successes, call now.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Glendale
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Glendale, CA – the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared for the charges.
This is a list of the DUI allegations we often 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 Tactics in Glendale, CA
Every DUI case needs a defensive strategy, and our Glendale, 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 Traffic Stop
If law enforcement made a mistake while conducting their investigation, then the evidence arising from that traffic stop could be invalid. This defense is a good option if, for example, the police officer pulled you over without probable cause, the entire traffic stop could be made invalid.
Flaws in Chemical Tests
Chemical tests that measure the amount of alcohol in your blood, breath, or urine are strong evidence, but are not infallible. Our team will look into any potential procedural errors, 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 often used by officers to evaluate whether someone is impaired or not. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. Your local DUI lawyer will inspect any records of the test and provide additional context for your performance, such as the stress of the situation.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Maybe there were no mistakes with your blood, breath, or urine test, and your BAC was .08 or higher. This may sound bad, but our lawyers have more defense strategies we can pull from. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Timing is Critical – Contact Our Glendale DUI Defense Lawyers TODAY
When you're up against Glendale DUI charges, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. The police officer takes your license, you could find yourself in an interrogation room, you get a court date…it's easy to feel overwhelmed. With everything going on, your best way out is to hire aGlendale, CA, DUI attorney immediately.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't wait too long and lose your driving privileges. Don't hesitate and lose your freedom. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.
We're experts at defending all Glendale, CA DUI charges. We're available to help immediately and will start protecting your driving privileges and searching for positive outcomes as soon as you call. Speak with a lawyer now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online for a no-obligation case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Glendale, CA:
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