DUI Lawyer Turlock. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. You're not just facing the loss of your license; you're up against thousand dollar fines, years in jail, and more. You can face DUI charges even for just refusing to take the tests, and the consequences you face might be even worse than a DUI conviction. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you don't want to be alone. Trying to defend yourself against the charges is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to defend you.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and have extensive experience defending against all types of DUI charges. When you choose us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to defend your rights in the Turlock, CA, court system and find the best result for your case.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Reach out as soon as possible at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start putting together your case's defense today.
Turlock, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Most people don't plan to be pulled over, but knowing what to do if you are in a traffic stop can help you avoid an arrest. Here are four tips from a Turlock, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to remember if you're ever pulled over:
Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
After being pulled over, but before the police officer approaches your car, grab your license, vehicle registration, and insurance documentation. If police see you fumbling as you try to gather these documents, they could think that you've been drinking. But if you don't need to search for them, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
If law enforcement asks how much you've had to drink tonight, you don't need to give them an answer. You have the right to remain silent during any form of questioning. Protect yourself by keeping quiet until your lawyer arrives.
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. 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: Be Polite and Don't Argue
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't help — it can end up making your case harder to defend. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, 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 Turlock?
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. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, often with field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on how you do.
Once you've been arrested, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. In most DUI cases, here's how things will progress:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can start the minute the officer arrests you – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and you will lose your regular license (at least for now). In the meantime, they are providing a record of the arrest to the Turlock, CA, DMV, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: Sometime after arriving at the police station, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will read out the allegations that you are formally being charged with.
- DMV Hearing: While all of the criminal proceedings are going on, you'll have just 10 days to begin the process of protecting your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Turlock, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. Between your potential release and the trial, your Turlock DUI defense attorney will building the framework of your defense and filing motions to throw out illegal 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 speak with the Turlock prosecutor to find a positive outcome for you that avoids a trial through a plea deal. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be building a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges 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 consequences. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, you may be eligible to have your record sealed.
Our DUI legal experts can help you out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. For advice on any stage with your charges, we have the experience to help you move towards a positive outcome!
Turlock, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Turlock, 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 skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are important factors for both case types, and how we fight to protect your liberty and ability to drive:
Turlock, 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.
Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another 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 listen to your side of the story and fight against the allegations. We'll debate the legality of the traffic stop, argue against he officer's observations, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can present an alternate narrative.
We have an extremely strong track record of clients who have avoided jail time in Turlock, CA. For several 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 argue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Turlock, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Turlock 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 successfully fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
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 outcome of the DMV hearing hinges on whether or not you were lawfully 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. When you work with us, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If the tenth day since the arrest has passed, though, you're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get an extra chance to request that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Turlock DUI defense lawyer immediately after the arrest.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in Turlock
Turlock, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – while many are considered misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be up against, 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 |
In addition to any criminal sentence in Turlock, CA, you're also facing collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and roadblocks when applying for professional licenses.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences have the potential to be life-altering. 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 become grounds for deportation. For immigrants seeking citizenship, even if you aren't deported, it can count against your "good moral character," which you need to establish before becoming a citizen.
These accusations can be intimidating, but they are not the end. Your Turlock, 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, represent you at deportation hearings, and offer expert advice as you apply for citizenship.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. A Turlock, CA, DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you a way to clean your record.
When You're Picking a Turlock, CA, DUI Lawyer, Consider These Factors
Accused of a DUI in Turlock? It is crucial to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the expertise, background, and connections to offer the best possible outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Turlock, CA, you want to judge the following:
- 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 law enforcement, totalling over five decades of experience with the law.
- Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. Our team will leverage our connections with the prosecutors in Turlock 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 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. And we'd be proud to represent you as well.
DUI Case Types We Fight in Turlock
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Turlock, CA – the Law Offices of David S. Chesley 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 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 Strategies in Turlock, CA
Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Turlock, CA, DUI attorneys can help you fight it. There is no one-size-fits-all defensive strategy against DUI allegations, but below, we've listed out some of the most effective ones.
Contest the Legitimacy of the Arrest
If the police did not follow proper procedure while stopping and examining you, your case could be thrown out on legal grounds. This defense is effective if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Show Issues With Chemical Tests
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. Our team will investigate whether or not the procedure was followed when administering the tests, retest when possible, and advocate for you during the discovery process to identify flaws in the state's evidence.
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 field sobriety tests are not objective measures of whether you're safe to drive or not. We will audit the test records and provide additional context for your performance, such as the stress of the situation.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
In most cases, law enforcement will follow proper procedure when testing your blood alcohol level. Let's say that this is true for your stop, and your BAC was .08 or higher. While properly conducted BAC tests are hard to disprove, there are still ways to fight it. If you have a medical condition like diabetes, we can use that to help provide an alternate explanation to elevated BAC levels.
Get Rapid Assistance – Speak With Our Turlock DUI Defense Attorneys AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
When you're up against Turlock DUI charges, it can feel like you barely have a chance to think. Your license is suspended, you could find yourself in an interrogation room, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to be lost. To fight through the allegations, your first step is to call aTurlock, CA, DUI attorney now.
Don't give the state a chance to put you behind bars. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. Don't hesitate and lose your freedom. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to fight for you.
We're experts at defending all Turlock, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case now and will start safeguarding your license and your rights as soon as you call. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online for a no strings attached consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Turlock, CA:
Payment Plans
