DUI Lawyer Long Beach. Long Beach DUI charges are very serious. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. CA law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and in some cases, refusing can give you even worse penalties. And while the same CA law covers DUIs involving alcohol and other drugs, the defense strategies can be wildly different.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts 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 CA's leading DUI defense lawyers and know the ins and outs of DUI defense strategies that work. When you hire us, you're getting a team of accomplished defense attorneys who know how to defend your rights in the Long Beach, CA, court system and get you the best outcome possible.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Call now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start building your defense strategy today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Long Beach?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or if you aren't tested at all. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, likely via field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on your performance.
As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. Here's the typical process for a DUI case to make its way through the system:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, while the officer will keep your regular license. While you're proceeding through the system, the police are providing a record of the arrest to the CA DMV, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, you'll have 10 days after the arrest to contact the DMV for a hearing.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. In the interim, your Long Beach DUI defense attorney will file pretrial potions, likely including some to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While filing pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will contact the Long Beach prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy 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 how your case turns out, you may face penalties. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, it's possible that your record will be eligible for sealing.
Our DUI legal experts can help you out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and license side. No matter where you are in your case, give us a call so that we can help!
Long Beach DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Long Beach, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the DMV case. These are handled separately by the state, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and how we fight to protect your freedom and driving privileges:
Long Beach, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
Criminal cases, including DUIs, all follow the same basic process – after an arrest, you're formally charged in an arraignment, go through pretrial motions/negotiations, and can eventually go to trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we build your defense and push back against the charges. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can show you are not guilty.
We have an extremely strong track record of clients who have avoided jail time. For several cases, we'll negotiate a plea deal to reduce the charges, frequently to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll alsoargue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Long Beach, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Long Beach criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
When you go through the DMV hearing, your criminal charges may not be a major focus. In fact, even if you receive a "not guilty" verdict, you can still lose your license. Instead, the hearing is to determine if you were rightfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused to alcohol tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you hire us, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
After ten days, though, you'll likely have to endure the suspension. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Long Beach DUI defense attorney immediately after being arrested.
DUI Punishments in Long Beach
CA DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – even for the ones considered 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 up against, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| 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 |
You'll also be facing significant collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and roadblocks when applying for professional licenses.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, odds are, you'll want to leave it in the past and move forward with your life. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record doesn't go away easily. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Long Beach: What You Need to Know
Up against DUI charges? It's important to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the skills, practice, and ties to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Long Beach, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: If it's both for and against the state, even better. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. You can get a hold of us 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Long Beach and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. We're proud to have received numerous accolades and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in CA.
- 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. And we'd be proud to represent you as well.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Long Beach
Criminal and administrative, whatever type of DUI charges you're fighting in Long Beach, CA – the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared to defend you against the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI case types we commonly 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
Start Your Defense Today – Call Our Long Beach DUI Defense Attorneys TODAY
After a DUI arrest, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. Your license is suspended, you might be interrogated, you're given a court date…it's easy to feel overwhelmed. And that's why it's all the more important to hire a DUI defense attorney right away.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. 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 protect you.
We're experts at defending all Long Beach, CA DUI charges. We're equipped with the tools to build your case now and will start safeguarding your license and your freedom immediately. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a free consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Long Beach, CA:
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