DUI Lawyer Lynwood. DUI law in Lynwood is complex. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. You can face DUI charges even for just refusing to take the tests, and the consequences you face might be even worse than a DUI conviction. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If you've been accused of a DUI in Lynwood, CA, you need help from a DUI defense expert. 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 prepared for any DUI charges in Lynwood, CA.
We are California's best DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you retain us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to defend your rights in the Lynwood, CA, court system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Call today at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online to start crafting your defense today.
Lynwood, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Traffic police are just a part of driving. It's not exciting, but it's still important to know how to handle a traffic stop. Here are four tips from a Lynwood, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:
Tip #1: Keep Your Documents Together
Keep your license, insurance card, and vehicle registration together and easily accessible. With an officer staring you down, asking for documents you may not have had to touch in months, it's easy to get flustered. By keeping these documents on hand, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: Be Silent When 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 both before and after an arrest. Don't talk without an attorney present.
Tip #3: Don't Automatically Consent to Tests
California does not require the majority of people to participate in field sobriety tests, and in fact, you can often refuse without penalty. The two main exceptions are if you are under the age of 21, and/or if you are on probation. This doesn't stop the officer from arresting you, but can decrease your chances of having this happen. However, you can face consequences if you refuse a blood alcohol content test after you've been arrested.
Tip #4: Respect the Law Enforcement Officer
Resisting the police won't improve your case — it will likely be something you regret. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also aids 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 may help justify an arrest.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Lynwood?
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. The police can use other methods to determine whether or not you were safe to drive, generally using field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on that.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system will proceed with both a license suspension and criminal charges. In most DUI cases, here's how things will progress:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can go into effect at the time of the arrest – when arrested, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and you will lose your regular license (at least for now). Meanwhile, they are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: Sometime after arriving at the police station, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will announce what charges you're up against.
- 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 Lynwood DUI defense expert will building the framework of your defense and filing motions to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: At the same time as pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Lynwood prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if you end up on trial in front of a judge, 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 how your case turns out, 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 you with advice on the best way to move forward, on both the criminal defense and bureaucratic side. No matter where you are in your case, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are here for you!
DUIs in Lynwood, CA and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Lynwood, CA, DUI charges include two separate fights: The criminal case and the license suspension. 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 our process for defending your justice and right to drive:
Lynwood, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, which will involve legal proceedings in CA court.
Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another criminal charge – after being formally told what crime you're being charged with, you'll likely be given terms of release and undergo pretrial procedures such as filing motions. As we mentioned above, trials are rare in DUI cases, but it is possible for them to reach that stage.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we listen to your side of the story and fight against the charges. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and hunt for other evidence that can tell a different story.
We know what it takes to keep DUI defense clients out of jail in Lynwood, CA. Frequently, we'll negotiate a plea deal 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.
Lynwood, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect regardless of where you're at in the criminal process, and if you want 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, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. 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 to cooperate when the officer tried to test you, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If you miss that ten-day deadline, 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 schedule that hearing. This is why it's essential to contact a Lynwood DUI defense attorney without delay after the traffic stop.
Lynwood DUI Sentences and Consequences
Lynwood, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – though you could 'only' be facing misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, we've listed the different penalties you could be facing, depending on the nature of the allegations:
| 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 loss or increased expense of insurance and barriers between you and professional licenses.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. 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.
These accusations can be intimidating, but they are not the end. Your Lynwood, 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 and plea deals that can keep a DUI off 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. It doesn't take long to realize, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. Our Lynwood, CA, DUI defense team can also assist you with sealing/expunging records, and give you a way to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Defending yourself against a DUI in Lynwood? It's crucial to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the skills, preparation, and connections to offer the best possible outcome for your case. The top Lynwood, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team that has former judges, prosecutors, and police officers, totalling more than 50 years of experience with the law.
- Availability: You shouldn't need to wait till 9 AM on Monday to contact an attorney. We're available 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Lynwood and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: If your lawyer is known for successfully fighting DUI charges, that is a major positive. We are proud of our reputation with former clients 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. If you're ready to join our list of successes, call now.
DUI Case Types We Fight in Lynwood
Whatever type of DUI charge you need help with in Lynwood, CA – your DUI defense lawyer from our team prepared help you navigate the charges.
This is a list of the DUI allegations 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 Lynwood, CA
Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Lynwood, CA, DUI attorneys can help you fight it. Choosing the correct defense for your particular circumstances is essential in finding the best possible outcome. Below are some of the most effective ones.
Challenge the Legality of the Arrest
If the police did not follow proper procedure while stopping and examining you, then the evidence arising from that traffic stop could be invalid. This defense is effective if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Flaws in Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. Our team will investigate whether or not the procedure was followed when administering the tests, push for tests to be redone, and find any other mistakes law enforcement made that could exonerate you.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'one-leg stand,' 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. Your local DUI lawyer will inspect any records of the test 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 over the legal limit. Even though this is harder to fight, our lawyers have more defense strategies we can pull from. If you have a medical condition like diabetes, we can use that to help provide an alternate explanation to elevated BAC levels.
Start Your Defense Today – Talk To Our Lynwood DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. Your license is suspended, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you're given a court date…it's easy to be stressed out. To fight through the allegations, your first step is to hire aLynwood, CA, DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
Don't give the state a chance to put you behind bars. 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 Lynwood, CA DUI charges. We're available to help right now and will work on a strategy to defend your license and searching for positive outcomes today. Call us now at (800) 755-5174 or set up an appointment online for a free consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Lynwood, CA:
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