DUI Lawyer Paramount. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; you're up against thousand dollar fines, years in jail, and more. If you declined to take an alcohol test, you can face separate charges, and by declining, you could face even harsher penalties. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
If the Paramount, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a challenge nobody should have to face on their own, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to fight for your rights.
We are California's top DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to navigate the Paramount, CA, justice system and find the best result for your case.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Speak with one of our attorneys 24/7 at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start preparing your defense today.
Paramount, 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. Below are four tips from a Paramount, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to remember if you're ever pulled over:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
Your heart might start to pound as soon as the police officer asks 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. When you're already prepared to give them to the officer, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
You aren't required to answer any questions if the officer says that they smell alcohol. You have Fifth Amendment protections at all points in the legal process. Even just saying "I only had two drinks" can work against you.
Tip #3: Refuse Voluntary 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: Be Polite and Don't Argue
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't help — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. Nobody enjoys being pulled over, but remaining calm and respectful not only makes it easier for the officer; it also helps your defense: By acting out or arguing, you are giving the police more evidence, and depending on what you do, it could make you appear intoxicated.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Paramount?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or even if you aren't tested at all. California allows the police to make a call about whether or not you were driving impaired regardless of your alcohol level, typically with field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on your performance.
If you've been placed under arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards 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 start the minute the officer arrests you – right away, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. Meanwhile, the police are providing a record of the arrest to the Paramount, CA, DMV, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will list out the laws you're accused of breaking.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll have just 10 days to begin the process of protecting your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Paramount, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. In the interim, your Paramount DUI defense attorney will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will work directly with the Paramount prosecutor to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but if it reaches that point, we'll have a staunch defense ready for you.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, 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 fight any allegation, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. If you need help today, you can start with a call to our offices!
Paramount DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Paramount, 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 a leading DUI defense attorney from our offices will fight for you in both cases.
Here are the key things to be aware of for each, and ways we defend your freedom and right to drive:
Paramount, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Paramount, CA, court.
If you're familiar with the process of other criminal charges, DUI cases follow the same format – 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 build your defense and discredit the criminal accusations. 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 see if there's anything the police missed that can tell a different story.
We have an extremely strong track record of clients who have avoided jail time in Paramount, CA. In many cases, we'll work out a plea for reduced charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also avoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Paramount, 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 effectively 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 secure a plea deal for a reduced charge, that won't (directly) affect your license suspension. Instead, the entire DMV hearing is about whether or not you were rightfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused BAC tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you hire us, we'll argue over the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
Outside of that ten-day window, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license unsuspended. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's crucial to contact a Paramount DUI defense lawyer right away after being arrested.
Punishments After a DUI Conviction in Paramount, CA
Paramount, CA, DUI criminal penalties can leave a mark on your record for life – while many are considered misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
On this table, you can review the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on what your charges are:
| DUI Criminal Charge | 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 Paramount, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as elevated insurance costs and potential punitive actions from professional licensing organizations.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can be incredibly serious. On the bright side, most first-time DUIs at this time will not result in deportation. The bad news is that if something made this allegation more serious, like an injured bystander, you can qualify for deportation. What's worse, if H.R.875 passes, any DUI will be put on the same level as serious felonies when it comes to immigration consequenceses. For individuals working on the naturalization process, even if you aren't deported, it hurts your application process.
These accusations can be intimidating, but they are not the end. Your Paramount, CA, immigration lawyer can give you practical advice on what comes next. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you can rest assured that our lawyers can guide you through both your criminal case and your citizenship process: We'll explore diversion programs that can protect you from a conviction, fight against removal proceedings, and assist you with the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. The bad news is that your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Paramount, CA, DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you a chance to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
When you're facing DUI charges, it's imperative to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the abilities, practice, and relationships to offer the best possible outcome for your case. When you speak with Paramount, CA, DUI attorneys about your case, ask them about the following:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, district attorneys, and law enforcement, totalling over five decades of experience.
- Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. Our offices are always available if you need to talk 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Paramount and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. 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. And we'd be proud to represent you as well.
DUI Case Types We Fight in Paramount
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Paramount, CA – all of our DUI defense attorneys are prepared stand by you against the charges.
Below, you can review a list of the DUI case types we often 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
DUI Defense Strategies in Paramount, CA
When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, your Paramount, CA, DUI attorney will draw from years of experience with effective defense strategies. There is no one-size-fits-all defensive strategy against DUI allegations, but below, we've listed out some of the most effective ones.
Challenge the Legality of the Arrest
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 police officer pulled you over without probable cause, the entire traffic stop could be made invalid.
Show Issues With BAC Tests
If you were arrested and given a breathalyzer, blood, or urine test, that can be the center of the prosecution's case. Our team will investigate whether or not the procedure was followed when administering the tests, re-examine the evidence to look for alternate explanations, and analyze the state's case to see if there was an error made in how your evidence was processed.
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. An experienced Paramount, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and show whether or not you were fairly judged.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Maybe there were no mistakes with your blood, breath, or urine test, and your BAC was .08 or higher. While this is can be difficult to overcome, we won't give up yet. If you have certain medical conditions, those can cause false positives. For example, some inhalers can artificially raise the amount of alcohol in your breath, depending on how they are used.
Timing is Critical – Call Our Paramount DUI Defense Attorneys AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
After a DUI arrest, it feels like there's no space to breathe. Your license disappears, you could find yourself in an interrogation room, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to be overwhelmed. What you need to do is hire a DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't wait too long and lose your driving privileges. Don't just sit idly by while everything collapses. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Paramount, CA DUI charges. We're standing by to answer your call fast and will work on a strategy to defend your license and your freedom today. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online for a free case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Paramount, CA:
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