DUI Lawyer Victorville. If you're up against a DUI in Victorville, it can feel overwhelming. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. Declining a breathalyzer or blood test on its own can result in charges, and in some cases, refusing can give you even worse penalties. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts is a fight you want backup for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to defend you.
We are CA's leading DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of former prosecutors who know how to protect you in the Victorville, CA, court system and get you the best outcome possible.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Call anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start building your defense today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Victorville?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or if you don't blow at all. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, often using field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on the results.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can start the minute the officer arrests you – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and the police will take away your existing license. Meanwhile, the police are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, beginning the formal suspension.
- Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
- 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: You'll likely be given bail or released on your own recognizance. In the meantime, your Victorville DUI defense attorney will be filing motions, including motions to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will communicate with the Victorville prosecutor to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if the case goes to trial, your attorney should be preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: It's rare that a DUI case will go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the outcome of your case, you may face sanctions. 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 with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and license side. Whatever stage in the process you're at, give us a call so that we can help!
Defending Against Victorville DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Victorville, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the license suspension. In CA, these are always two separate processes, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and ways we defend your freedom and ability to drive:
Victorville, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
Criminal cases, including DUIs, all follow the same basic process – arrest, arraignment, pretrial activity, and possibly trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we protect your rights and attack the supposed wrongdoing. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, argue against he officer's observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, 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. For several cases, we'll work out a plea for reduced charges, frequently to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll alsoargue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Victorville, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Victorville criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension doesn't wait for your criminal case, 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, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Instead, the focus of this hearing is whether or not you were rightfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused to alcohol tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with us, we'll challenge 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 a second chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Victorville DUI defense lawyer immediately after being arrested.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in Victorville
CA DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – even for the ones considered misdemeanors, you could still end up with a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, we've listed 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 |
On top of whatever sentence you receive in Victorville court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and roadblocks when applying for professional licenses.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, odds are, you'll want to leave it in the past and move forward with your life. However, your arrest and/or criminal record can stick with you. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you a chance to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
No matter what DUI alleges you've been charged with, it's crucial to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the abilities, history, and relationships to provide the optimal outcome for your case. Here are the main things to look for in your Victorville, CA, DUI defense lawyer:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience.
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Victorville and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. We're proud to have received numerous accolades and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in CA.
- Track Record of Success: Winners win. It's as simple as that. And we win, a lot. 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 Defend Against in Victorville
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Victorville, CA – the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared for the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI allegations we frequently 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
Don't Wait – Contact Our Victorville DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
After a DUI arrest, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. You lose your license, they might try to do additional tests, you're given a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. And that's why it's all the more important to call a lawyer 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 wait and realize that it's suddenly too late. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Victorville, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense right now and will begin protecting your license and your rights as soon as you call. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Victorville, CA:
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