DUI Lawyer Inglewood. If you're up against a DUI in Inglewood, it can feel overwhelming. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; you're up against thousand dollar fines, years in jail, and more. California law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and in some cases, refusing can give you even worse penalties. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If you're facing these types of charges in CA, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a battle you need a team behind you for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to stand by your side.
We are California's top DUI defense lawyers and know the ins and outs of DUI defense strategies that work. When you work with us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to navigate the Inglewood, CA, judicial system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
While you're hesitating, the odds are stacking up against you. Speak with one of our attorneys right away at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start building your case's defense today.
Inglewood, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
We'd all love to drive without any risk of being pulled over, but even if you've done nothing wrong, you need to know how to navigate the situation. Here are four tips from a Inglewood, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
It's normal to be nervous after being pulled over and asked for your ID, registration, and insurance. If you're struggling to locate them and keep hold of them, the officer may think you're intoxicated. By keeping these documents on hand, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
If law enforcement asks how much you've had to drink tonight, you don't need to give them an answer. 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. Refusing won't force the officer to let you go, but on its own, there aren't any penalties for refusing. 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
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't help — it will come back to bite you. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, though; it also helps your defense: Any time you open your mouth, whether or not the police asked you a question, you are giving the police more evidence, which can be used against you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Inglewood?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you regardless of your blood alcohol level, 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, likely through field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on that.
If you've been placed under arrest, the CA legal system will proceed with both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Inglewood, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: Your license suspension effective immediately after your arrest – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and you will lose your regular license (at least for now). While you're proceeding through the system, they are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, at which point, you're officially facing a license suspension.
- Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will inform you of the charges against you.
- DMV Hearing: Even though you might feel overwhelmed by the criminal charges, 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: You'll likely be given bail or released on your own recognizance. In the interim, your Inglewood DUI defense attorney will laying the groundwork of your defense through motions to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to have another test run on your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will communicate with the Inglewood district attorney to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if the prosecutor won't give you a favorable offer, your attorney should be preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: It's rare that a DUI case will go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the outcome of your case, 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 provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. Whether you've just been arrested or are on the eve of your trial (or anywhere in-between), you can start with a call to our offices!
Defending Against Inglewood DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Inglewood, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the driver's case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI defense lawyers will fight both.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and how we fight to protect your liberty and license:
Inglewood, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other 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 provide expert defense and push back against the allegations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective 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 Inglewood, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. Frequently, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also work out probation over jail or prison time.
Inglewood, 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 independent of the criminal case, 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, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Instead, the focus of this hearing is whether or not 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. These hearings have serious consequences that require an expert Inglewood, CA, DUI lawyer to navigate. At the hearing, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If it's been more than ten days after your arrest, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license back immediately. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to request that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Inglewood DUI defense lawyer right away after the arrest.
Inglewood DUI Sentences and Consequences
Inglewood, CA, DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – while some are 'just' misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be up 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 any sentence that a judge in Inglewood, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and potential punitive actions from professional licensing organizations.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can be incredibly serious. 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 will become grounds for deportation. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, even if you aren't deported, it can indefinitely pause your efforts to become a citizen.
A DUI accusation doesn't have to end your time in the United States. You can get help from your Inglewood, CA, immigration lawyer. 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 to protect your record, represent you at deportation hearings, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether your case ends in a conviction or an acquittal, you're liking looking forward to putting this all behind you. The bad news is that your arrest and/or criminal record won't go away on its own. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A Inglewood, CA, DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you a chance to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Defending yourself against a DUI in Inglewood? It's imperative to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the proficiency, practice, and ties to offer the best possible outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Inglewood, CA, you want to judge the following:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, prosecutors, 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: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. Our firm has experience working with the prosecutors in Inglewood and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. 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. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Inglewood
Administrative, criminal, or anything else related to DUIs in Inglewood, CA – your DUI defense lawyer from our team prepared help you navigate the charges.
Below are some of the DUI case types we can provide defenses for:
- 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 Inglewood, CA
When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, your Inglewood, CA, DUI attorney will draw from years of experience with effective defense strategies. Choosing the correct defense for your particular circumstances is essential in finding the best possible outcome. Below are some of the most effective ones.
Contest the Legality of the Traffic Stop
If law enforcement made a mistake while conducting their investigation, we can challenge the evidence, and even the legitimacy of the case itself. This defense is relevant if, for example, the officer did not observe you for the full 15-minute period required before asking you to take a breath test.
Flaws in 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 investigate any possible errors that were made when you took the test, retest when possible, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are standard practice for police officers to use. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. An experienced Inglewood, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and provide alternate explanations for your performance.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Maybe there were no mistakes with your blood, breath, or urine test, and your BAC was over the legal limit. While properly conducted BAC tests are hard to disprove, you do still have viable defense strategies. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Don't Wait – Talk To Our Inglewood DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
After a DUI arrest, it feels like there's no space to breathe. The police officer takes your license, you might be interrogated, you're assigned a court date…it's easy to feel lost. In order to find a way out of all that, you need to speak to aInglewood, CA, DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't miss your chance for a DMV administrative hearing to protect your license. Don't wait and realize that it's suddenly too late. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Inglewood, CA DUI charges. We're standing by to answer your call fast and will work on a strategy to defend your license and keep you out of jail immediately. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online for a no strings attached consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Inglewood, CA:
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