DUI Lawyer Panorama City. Panorama City DUI charges are very serious. You're not just facing the loss of your license; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. In California, you're required to participate in DUI tests if you're driving. Refusal to do so is another crime, and when you refuse, you can face the same penalties as a high blood-alcohol level DUI. And there are differences in DUI alcohol versus DUI marijuana cases, or other drugs.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared for any DUI charges in Panorama City, CA.
We are California's best DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of former prosecutors who know how to protect you in the Panorama City, CA, justice system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Speak with one of our attorneys anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start crafting your defense today.
Panorama City, 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 Panorama City, 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. With an officer staring you down, asking for documents you may not have had to touch in months, it's easy to get flustered. But if you already have them ready, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Don't Talk If Alcohol Is Smelled
If either the officer alleges that they smell alcohol, or you can smell alcohol yourself, don't answer any questions. You have Fifth Amendment protections both before and after an arrest. 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. If you haven't been arrested, you can decline to participate. However, you can face consequences if you refuse a blood alcohol content test after you've been arrested.
Tip #4: Don't Argue With the Officer
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't help — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, though; it also benefits your defense: By acting out or arguing, you are giving the police more evidence, which may come back up later in court.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Panorama City?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or even if you don't blow at all. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, generally using field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on their evaluation of you.
If you've been placed under arrest, the CA legal system will proceed with 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 can begin as soon as you're arrested – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. In the meantime, they are informing the DMV about the arrest, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will attend a hearing, and a prosecutor will tell you the exact laws you're charged with breaking.
- DMV Hearing: While all of the criminal proceedings are going on, 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. Between your potential release and the trial, your Panorama City DUI defense lawyer will laying the groundwork of your defense through motions to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: At the same time as pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will negotiate with the Panorama City district attorney to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be building a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, you may face a punishment. 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 bureaucratic side. Whatever stage in the process you're at, you can start with a call to our offices!
Panorama City DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Panorama City, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the fight for your license. This will always require two separate defenses, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are the key things to be aware of for each, and how we fight to protect your justice and license:
Panorama City, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Panorama City, CA, court.
If you're familiar with the process of other criminal charges, DUI cases follow the same format – arrest, arraignment, pretrial activity, and possibly trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we defend your freedom and dissect the supposed wrongdoing. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, argue against he officer's observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can present an alternate narrative.
The vast majority of our DUI clients in Panorama City do not receive any jail sentence. Frequently, 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.
Panorama City, 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 to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
It's typical for the criminal case to be, by and large, separate from the DMV hearing. In fact, even if you receive a "not guilty" verdict, you can still lose your license. Instead, this administrative hearing is focused on if you were rightfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused to blow, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we'll work to undermine the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
After ten days, 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 request that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Panorama City DUI defense attorney immediately after an arrest.
Panorama City DUI Sentences and Consequences
Panorama City, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – even though some are misdemeanors, you could still end up with a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be trying to avoid, 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 elevated insurance costs and impacts on your employment.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. On the bright side, most first-time DUIs at this time will not result in deportation. 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 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 can indefinitely pause your efforts to become a citizen.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Panorama City, 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 that will protect you from the harshest outcomes, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and guide you through your citizenship application.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, it's natural to want to move on and leave this in the past. The bad news is that 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 Panorama City, CA, DUI defense team can also assist you with sealing/expunging records, and give you a chance to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a Panorama City, CA DUI Attorney
Defending yourself against a DUI in Panorama City? It's imperative to pick the right lawyer to defend your innocence. Your team needs the talent, background, and relationships to find the best outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Panorama City, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience with the law.
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our team is prepared to help you 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. We know how to connect with the prosecutors in Panorama City and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. 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. With us, you can take advantage of a team that knows how to secure positive outcomes for our clients.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Panorama City
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Panorama City, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared stand by you against 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 Tactics in Panorama City, CA
If you want to craft an effective defense strategy, our Panorama City, CA, DUI lawyers are here to help. 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 a good option if, for example, you were not read your Miranda rights before an interrogation, anything you said could be thrown out.
Show Issues With Chemical Tests
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. Our team will highlight the ways that these tests can give false readings, push for tests to be redone, and look for any issues in how the evidence was handled.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are a normal part of the process when police are evaluating if someone is driving intoxicated or not. But you can still challenge them – they are not ironclad proof of guilt. Our attorneys will review the footage 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. This may sound bad, but there are still ways to fight it. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Get Immediate Help – Call Our Panorama City DUI Defense Attorneys AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, things move pretty fast. You can't drive anymore, you might be interrogated, you get a court date…it's easy to be lost. In order to find a way out of all that, you need to contact aPanorama City, CA, DUI attorney as soon as possible.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't let your license go without a fight. 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 Panorama City, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense right now and will start protecting your driving privileges and keep you out of jail immediately. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online for a no strings attached case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Panorama City, CA:
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