DUI Lawyer North Hollywood. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. This isn't just an administrative issue; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. 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 fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If you find yourself in this situation, you shouldn't need to do this without help. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a fight you want backup for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to defend you.
We are California's top DUI defense lawyers and have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience. When you retain us, you're getting a team of accomplished defense attorneys who know how to navigate the North Hollywood, CA, legal system and get you the best outcome possible.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Speak with one of our attorneys anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start putting together your defense today.
North Hollywood, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Most people don't plan to be pulled over, but it's still important to know how to handle a traffic stop. Here are four tips from a North Hollywood, CA, DUI Lawyer for you which can protect you from arrests and charges:
Tip #1: Keep Your Documents Together
It's normal to be nervous after being pulled over and asked for your ID, registration, and insurance. Many sober people will have trouble gathering up these documents under pressure. But if you don't need to search for them, you avoid that risk.
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 Fifth Amendment protections during any form of questioning. Protect yourself by keeping quiet until your lawyer arrives.
Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
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. You can still be arrested if the officer believes you've broken the law, but you're giving them less evidence this way. However, you cannot legally refuse a BAC test once you are in custody, without losing your driving privileges.
Tip #4: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't improve your case — it will come back to bite you. This doesn't just help you get through the traffic stop; it also aids your defense: By acting out or arguing, you are giving the police more evidence, which may help justify an arrest.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in North Hollywood?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you regardless of your blood alcohol level, or even if you don't blow at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, likely utilizing field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on how you do.
Once you've been arrested, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in North Hollywood, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can start the minute the officer arrests you – right away, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and the police will take away your existing license. In the meantime, they are informing the DMV about the 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 read out the allegations that you are formally being charged with.
- DMV Hearing: Independant of the criminal charge process, you'll have just 10 days to begin the process of protecting your license.
- Pretrial Motions: You'll likely be given bail or released on your own recognizance. While you're waiting for the trial, your North Hollywood DUI defense attorney will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will communicate with the North Hollywood district attorney to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be creating a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: It's rare that a DUI case will go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the result of your case, you may face sanctions. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, you can explore record clearing options with our lawyers.
Our DUI legal experts can help you with any step of the legal process, 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!
North Hollywood, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
North Hollywood, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the fight for your license. This will always require two separate defenses, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are some things you need to know about both, and ways we defend your freedom and license:
North Hollywood, 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 – 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 protect your rights and dissect the accusations. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, demonstrate any present errors in the police officer's judgement, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and see if there's anything the police missed that can show the events in a more favorable light.
If you're facing jail time in North Hollywood, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. For several cases, we'll contact the district attorney on their behalf and negotiate a charge reduction, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also argue for probation to maintain your freedom.
North Hollywood, 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 doesn't wait for your criminal case, and in order to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
In many cases, the status of your criminal case doesn't have a huge impact on 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, 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 alcohol tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we'll challenge the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If it's been more than ten days after your arrest, though, you'll likely have to endure the suspension. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to request that hearing. This is why it's vital to contact a North Hollywood DUI defense attorney without delay after the traffic stop.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in North Hollywood
North Hollywood, CA, DUI criminal penalties can leave a mark on your record for life – though you could 'only' be facing misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Here's an outline of the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on what your charges are:
| 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 |
In addition to any criminal sentence in North Hollywood, CA, you're also facing 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. The good news is that, currently, a first-time DUI is generally not grounds for removal. The bad news is that if you have faced DUI charges before, you can qualify for deportation. What's worse, if H.R.875 passes, any DUI conviction will qualify an immigrant for deportation. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, 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 North Hollywood, CA, immigration lawyer can give you practical advice on what comes next. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we can help you in all aspects of your case: We'll explore diversion programs that can protect you from a conviction, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found innocent or not, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. However, your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. Our North Hollywood, CA, DUI defense team can also assist you with sealing/expunging records, and give you a way to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a North Hollywood, CA DUI Attorney
Up against DUI charges? It's critical to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the expertise, background, and contacts to find the best outcome for your case. The top North Hollywood, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Experience: If it's both for and against the state, even better. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, district attorneys, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience handling cases.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: An attorney who knows the local prosecutor can use that relationship to their advantage. We're familiar with the prosecutors in North Hollywood and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. 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 Fight in North Hollywood
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in North Hollywood, CA – your DUI defense lawyer from our team prepared help you navigate the charges.
Below, you can review a list of the DUI charges we regularly 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 Accident Defense
- 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 in Construction Zones and School Zones
- DUI License Reinstatement
- DUI Probation Violation
- DUI Process – What to Expect
- DUI Marijuana
- DUI Prescription Drugs
- DUI Refusal Cases
- DUI Trial – Jury Trial Defense
- 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
- Illegal Traffic Stop – Probable Cause Defense
- Medical Conditions as a Defense to DUI
- Misdemeanor vs Felony DUI Overview
- Mouth Alcohol Defense to DUI
- Out-of-State DUI
- Public Intoxication
- Reckless Driving
- Rising Blood Alcohol Defense
- Street Racing
- Second Time DUI
- Third DUI California
- Title 17 Violation of Breath and Blood Test Procedures Defense
- Underage DUI
- Watson Murder / DUI Murder
- Wet Reckless
DUI Defense Strategies in North Hollywood, CA
Our North Hollywood, CA, DUI lawyers will examine your case and suggest a defensive strategy that will maximize your chances of a positive outcome. When fighting cases, here are some of the possible defenses we'll use.
Contest the Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, we can challenge the evidence, and even the legitimacy of the case itself. 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. We will investigate whether or not the procedure was followed when administering the tests, re-examine the evidence to look for alternate explanations, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
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 these tests are subjective. Your local DUI lawyer will inspect any records of the test and point out situations where law enforcement unfairly failed our clients on these tests.
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. Even though this is harder to fight, there are still ways to fight it. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Don't Wait – Contact Our North Hollywood DUI Defense Attorneys RIGHT AWAY
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, it can feel like you barely have a chance to think. You lose your right to drive, you could find yourself in an interrogation room, you get a court date…it's easy to feel like there's no way forward. What you need to do is speak to aNorth Hollywood, CA, DUI lawyer immediately.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. 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 North Hollywood, CA DUI charges. We're equipped with the tools to build your case today and will can fight for your license and your liberty as soon as you call. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a free, confidential case review.
We also provide the following legal services in North Hollywood, CA:
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