DUI Lawyer Reseda. If convicted, a DUI can permanently change your life for the worse. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; depending on your history, you could go to prison. California law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and that can even result in tougher penalties. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
Regardless of whether you're innocent or not, you should consult with an expert to find your best path forward. Trying to fight against the prosecution is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to fight for your rights.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you retain us, you're getting a team of former prosecutors who know how to navigate the Reseda, CA, court system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
If you want to build an effective defense, you need to act now. Call now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start building your case's defense today.
Reseda, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but knowing what to do if you are in a traffic stop can help you avoid an arrest. Below are four tips from a Reseda, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to use the next time a police officer stops you on the road:
Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
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. When you're already prepared to give them to the officer, you avoid that risk.
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. Even just saying "I only had two drinks" can work against you.
Tip #3: Don't Automatically Consent to Tests
The state of California only legally requires drivers to participate in field sobriety tests if they are either under the age of 21, or are on probation. The officer may not like it, but they can't compel you to participate. However, California does require individuals to participate in in blood and breath tests after they've been arrested, and refusing in these circumstances will lead to an automatic license suspension.
Tip #4: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Being rude won't help — it will come back to bite you. This isn't just something you're doing out of courtesy, though; it also aids your defense: If you try to talk back or argue with the officer, you are giving the police more evidence, which can be used against you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Reseda?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or even if you don't undergo any tests at all. Officers are able to arrest you this way because CA allows them to make subjective judgements, probably via field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on your performance.
Once this happens, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Reseda, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: Your license suspension effective immediately after your arrest – right away, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and you will lose your regular license (at least for now). Meanwhile, the police are updating your records with the DMV to account for the arrest, at which point, you're officially facing a license suspension.
- Arraignment: Sometime after arriving at the police station, you will attend a hearing, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
- DMV Hearing: Independant of the criminal charge process, 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: It's possible to be held in jail before your trial, but that's not very likely in DUI cases. In the interim, your Reseda DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will communicate with the Reseda district attorney 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 creating a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: Most DUI cases won't go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- 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 fight any allegation, on both the criminal defense and bureaucratic side. Whether you've just been arrested or are on the eve of your trial (or anywhere in-between), give us a call so that we can help!
Reseda DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Reseda, 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 at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI defense lawyers will fight both.
Here are important factors for both case types, and what our attorneys will do for your justice and vehicular rights:
Reseda, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To protect yourself against the allegations, you'll need to fight in the Reseda, CA, legal system.
The general court process is the same as any other criminal case – after an arrest, you're formally charged in an arraignment, go through pretrial motions/negotiations, and can eventually go to trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we protect your rights and attack the accusations. We'll examine the lawfulness of the traffic stop, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and see if there's anything the police missed that can result in a not guilty plea.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our Reseda, CA, clients from jail time. In many cases, 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 work to give you an alternative to jail, in the form of probation.
Reseda, CA, DUI License Suspension
Even though the criminal charges may sound like the more serious matter, don't neglect the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and to successfully fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
At the administrative hearing, you're not facing criminal charges. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, this administrative hearing is focused on if you were lawfully 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. When you hire us, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If you waited too long and it's past the deadline to request a hearing, though, you'll likely have to endure the suspension. Outside of rare cases, you don't get an extra chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Reseda DUI defense lawyer without delay after being arrested.
Reseda DUI Sentences and Consequences
Reseda, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – while some are 'just' misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
On this table, you can review the different penalties you could be trying to avoid, depending on how exactly your charged and your history:
| 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 |
Beyond the Reseda, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and impacts on your employment.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. 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 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. For individuals working on the naturalization process, 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 Reseda, 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 and plea deals that can keep a DUI off your record, fight against removal proceedings, and guide you through your citizenship application.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether your case ends in a conviction or an acquittal, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. The bad news is that your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, there's a chance you're eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Reseda, CA, DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a Reseda, CA DUI Attorney
No matter what DUI allegations you've been charged with, it's key to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the expertise, preparation, and ties to secure a positive outcome for your case. When you speak with Reseda, 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, you get a team that has former judges, prosecutors, and police officers, totalling over five decades of experience.
- Availability: You should be able to get help fast, whenever you need it. We're available 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Reseda and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Not just with clients and friends, but also amongst their peers. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is proud to have received top ratings from several legal evaluators and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- Track Record of Success: You want to work with an attorney who has successfully fought DUI charges in the past. We have. In fact, 95% of our DUI cases result in no jail time.
Our recent DUI Case results speak for themselves. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Reseda
Criminal and administrative, whatever type of DUI charges you're fighting in Reseda, CA – our DUI defense team is prepared to defend you against the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI allegations 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 Reseda, CA
Our Reseda, CA, DUI lawyers will examine your case and suggest a defensive strategy that will maximize your chances of a positive outcome. 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 Legitimacy of the Arrest
If the arresting officer failed to obey the rules for investigating a DUI, 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
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. Our team will highlight the ways that these tests can give false readings, 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 'walk-and-turn,' are a widely-recognized way of evaluating somebody's level of impairment. But there are several other factors that can affect your performance besides whether or not alcohol was in your system. An experienced Reseda, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and provide alternate explanations for your performance.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Perhaps the officer properly conducted a breathalyzer test, and your BAC was over the legal limit. Even though this is harder to fight, it's not the end of your case. 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.
Start Your Defense Today – Speak With Our Reseda DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY
If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Reseda, CA, it can feel like you barely have a chance to think. Your license is suspended, a law enforcement official might be asking you hard questions, you're assigned a court date…it's easy to be stressed out. To fight through the allegations, your first step is to hire a lawyer as soon as possible.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. 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 Reseda, CA DUI charges. We're equipped with the tools to build your case today and will start protecting your driving privileges and your freedom right away. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or set up an appointment online for a confidential case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Reseda, CA:
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