DUI Lawyer Redlands. Redlands DUI charges are very serious. You're being accused of a crime; depending on your history, you could go to prison. Declining a breathalyzer or blood test on its own can result in charges, and by declining, you could face even harsher penalties. 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 Redlands, CA, you need someone in your corner. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a problem you shouldn't have to solve without help, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to defend you.
We are California's best DUI defense lawyers and know the ins and outs of DUI defense strategies that work. When you retain us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to defend your rights in the Redlands, CA, legal system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
If you wait too long to build a defense, it could become too late. Get in touch today at (800) 755-5174 or tell us how we can help online to start preparing your defense strategy today.
Redlands, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but to successfully get through the situation when it does happen, you need to be prepared. Here are four tips from a Redlands, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Keep Your Documents Together
Your heart might start to pound as soon as the police officer asks 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 don't need to search for them, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
You never need to answer a question that might incriminate you. You have Fifth Amendment protections during any form of questioning. Trying to explain away the smell of alcohol will probably just get you in more trouble.
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. Refusing won't force the officer to let you go, but on its own, there aren't any penalties for refusing. 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
Arguing with the officer won't improve your case — it can end up making your case harder to defend. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also benefits your defense: If you try to talk back or argue with the officer, 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 Redlands?
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, generally through field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on your performance.
Once you've been arrested, the CA legal system will proceed with both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Redlands, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can begin as soon as you're arrested – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. While you're proceeding through the system, they are updating your records with the DMV to account for the arrest, officially suspending your license.
- Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will tell you the exact laws you're charged with breaking.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll need to set up an administrative hearing with the DMV within 10 days to fight the suspension.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. Between your potential release and the trial, your Redlands DUI defense attorney will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to suppress evidence, 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 contact the Redlands prosecutor to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be refining a defense strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Outside of extraordinary circumstances, it's rare for a DUI case to 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, we may be able to help you clean your record.
Our DUI legal experts can help you out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. If you need help today, call now and we'll be happy to assist!
Redlands, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Redlands, CA, DUI charges require particular expertise because there are two sides that each need to be defended: The criminal case and the license suspension. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but a leading DUI defense attorney from our offices will fight for you in both cases.
Here are important factors for both case types, and ways we defend your liberty and license:
Redlands, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other 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 protect your rights and push back against the supposed wrongdoing. We'll argue whether the police had the justification needed to pull you over, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and look for evidence that can show the events in a more favorable light.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our Redlands, CA, clients from jail time. Commonly, 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.
Redlands, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Redlands criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect automatically, and to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
When you go through the DMV hearing, your criminal charges may not be a major focus. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, the outcome of the DMV hearing hinges on whether or not you were rightfully 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. When you work with us, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If it's been more than ten days after your arrest, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license unsuspended. Outside of rare cases, you don't get an extra chance to arrange for that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Redlands DUI defense lawyer without delay after the traffic stop.
Sentence You Could Face for a DUI in Redlands, CA
Redlands, CA, DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – even for the ones considered misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, you can read through the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on the nature of the allegations:
| Formal DUI 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 |
In addition to any criminal sentence in Redlands, CA, you're also facing collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and barriers between you and professional licenses.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences have the potential to be life-altering. The level of impact often depends on how many prior offenses are on your record. First-time alleged DUIs don't typically 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 can result in removal from the country. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, even if you aren't deported, it can count against your "good moral character," which you need to establish before becoming a citizen.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Redlands, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. 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 to protect your record, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and guide you through your citizenship application.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found guilty or not guilty, you're liking looking forward to putting this all behind you. The bad news is that your arrest and/or criminal record won't go away on its own. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Redlands, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you a chance to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Up against DUI charges? It's imperative to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the talent, background, and ties to secure a positive outcome for your case. Here are the main things to look for in your Redlands, CA, DUI defense lawyer:
- Experience: Experience gives your attorney knowledge on how to win these cases. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling more than 50 years of experience.
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our lines are never off, and you can contact us 24/7.
- Relationships: An attorney who knows the local prosecutor can use that relationship to their advantage. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Redlands and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. We're proud to have received numerous accolades 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. 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 Redlands
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Redlands, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared stand by you against the charges.
Below are some 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
DUI Defense Tactics in Redlands, CA
Our Redlands, CA, DUI lawyers will examine your case and suggest a defensive strategy that will maximize your chances of a positive outcome. While there are many effective legal strategies available, picking the right one can make all the difference.
Contest the Legality of the Arrest
If the police did not follow proper procedure while stopping and examining you, we can argue for your case to be dismissed. 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.
Show Issues With Blood, Breath, and/or Urine 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 any possible errors that were made when you took the test, 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 'one-leg stand,' are a typical part of any traffic stop that turns into a DUI investigation. But there are several other factors that can affect your performance besides whether or not alcohol was in your system. An experienced Redlands, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and look for expert analysis that will show your performance in a more favorable light.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
While the police can make mistakes with breathalyzer tests, most of the time they perform them properly. This could be bad news if you were tested and your BAC was over the legal limit. While properly conducted BAC tests are hard to disprove, you do still have viable defense strategies. Medications and health conditions can create false positives – even just over-the-counter cold medicine often contain alcohol, which can linger in your mouth, impacting the test.
Don't Wait – Call Our Redlands DUI Defense Lawyers NOW
After a DUI arrest, it can feel like you barely have a chance to think. You can't drive anymore, a law enforcement official might be asking you hard questions, you're told you have a court date…it's easy to feel lost. With everything going on, your best way out is to speak to a lawyer now.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't let your license go without a fight. Don't try to handle it on your own. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Redlands, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense now and will start safeguarding your license and your liberty as soon as you call. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online for a no strings attached consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Redlands, CA:
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