DUI Lawyer San Bruno. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. You can face DUI charges even for just refusing to take the tests, and when you refuse, you can face the same penalties as a high blood-alcohol level DUI. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If the San Bruno, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to fight 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 fight for your rights.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience. When you work with us, you're getting a team of accomplished defense attorneys who know how to fight for you in the San Bruno, CA, legal system and find the best result for your case.
If you want to build an effective defense, you need to act now. Call anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or tell us how we can help online to start crafting your defense strategy today.
San Bruno, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
We'd all love to drive without any risk of being pulled over, but even if you've done nothing wrong, you need to know how to navigate the situation. Here are four tips from a San Bruno, CA, DUI Lawyer for you which can protect you from arrests and charges:
Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
Keep your license, insurance card, and vehicle registration together and easily accessible. 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 avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
You never need to answer a question that might incriminate you. You have the right to remain silent at all points in the legal process. Don't talk without an attorney present.
Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
In California, field sobriety tests are voluntary unless you are under the age of 21 or are on probation. The officer may not like it, but they can't compel you to participate. However, if you have been arrested and refuse a blood or breath test, your license will be suspended.
Tip #4: Don't Argue With the Officer
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't improve your case — it will likely be something you regret. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, though; it also aids your defense: Any time you open your mouth, whether or not the police asked you a question, you are giving the police more evidence, which may help justify an arrest.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in San Bruno?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or even if you refuse to be tested at all. The police can use other methods to determine whether or not you were safe to drive, generally via field sobriety tests, then make arrests 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. After the arrest, be prepared for the following:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – on the spot, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your actual license will be taken. While you're proceeding through the system, 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 go to court, 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 want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. Meanwhile, your San Bruno DUI defense attorney will file pretrial motions, likely including some to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to have another test run on your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will contact the San Bruno prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be creating a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we're prepared to fight for your freedom in front of a jury, no matter what .
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case proceeds, you may face consequences. 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 provide you with advice on the best way to move forward, on both the criminal defense and license 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!
San Bruno DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
San Bruno, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the fight for your license. In CA, these are always two separate processes, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and what our attorneys will do for your freedom and ability to drive:
San Bruno, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, for which you will need to go through the CA legal system.
If you're familiar with the process of other criminal charges, DUI cases follow the same format – 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 provide expert defense and attack the supposed wrongdoing. We'll examine the lawfulness of the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for contaminations or errors in blood, breath, or urine tests, and hunt for other evidence that can tell a different story.
We know what it takes to keep DUI defense clients out of jail in San Bruno, CA. In many cases, we'll get the prosecutor 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.
San Bruno, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your San Bruno criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect regardless of where you're at in the criminal process, and to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
When you go through the DMV hearing, your criminal charges may not be a major focus. 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 alcohol tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. These hearings have serious consequences that require an expert San Bruno, CA, DUI lawyer to navigate. At the hearing, we'll question 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, there probably isn't a way to get your license back immediately. 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 San Bruno DUI defense lawyer immediately after being arrested.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in San Bruno
San Bruno, CA, DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – while many are considered misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, you can read through the different penalties you could be fighting against, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| 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 any sentence that a judge in San Bruno, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as rising insurance rates and barriers between you and professional licenses.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can be devastating. 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 will become grounds for deportation. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, even if you aren't deported, it hurts your application process.
A DUI accusation doesn't have to end your time in the United States. You can get help from your San Bruno, CA, immigration lawyer. 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 to protect your record, represent you at deportation hearings, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found guilty or not guilty, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record won't go away on its own. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. A San Bruno, 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
Accused of a DUI in San Bruno? It is crucial to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the abilities, practice, and contacts to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in San Bruno, CA, you want to judge the following:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI lawyers have previous experience as judges, district attorneys, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience with the law.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. You can speak with one of our team members 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We have experience working with the prosecutors in San Bruno and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: If your lawyer is known for successfully fighting DUI charges, that is a major positive. 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. If you're ready to join our list of successes, call now.
DUI Case Types We Defend Against in San Bruno
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in San Bruno, CA – our DUI defense team is prepared for the charges.
Below, you can review a list of the DUI allegations we typically 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 San Bruno, CA
Our San Bruno, CA, DUI lawyers will examine your case and suggest a defensive strategy that will maximize your chances of a positive outcome. 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 Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If the police did not follow proper procedure while stopping and examining you, we can challenge the evidence, and even the legitimacy of the case itself. This defense could be used if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Flaws in Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
Fighting against chemical tests can be difficult, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will know how to look for flaws in them. We will highlight the ways that these tests can give false readings, introduce alternative evidence when possible, and look for any issues in how the evidence was handled.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are often used by officers to evaluate whether someone is impaired or not. But these tests are subjective. We will audit the test records and point out situations where law enforcement unfairly failed our clients on these tests.
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. Even though this is harder to fight, you do still have viable defense strategies. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Timing is Critical – Contact Our San Bruno DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
San Bruno, CA, DUI accusations are serious. After an arrest, it feels like there's no space to breathe. You lose your license, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you get a court date…it's easy to feel like there's no way forward. What you need to do is hire a DUI defense attorney immediately.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't miss your chance for a DMV administrative hearing to protect your license. 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 San Bruno, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case right now and will start safeguarding your license and searching for positive outcomes as soon as you call. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a no strings attached consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in San Bruno, CA:
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