DUI Lawyer Watsonville. If you're up against a DUI in Watsonville, it can feel overwhelming. You're being accused of a crime; you're up against thousand dollar fines, years in jail, and more. California law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and that can even result in tougher penalties. And there are differences in DUI alcohol versus DUI marijuana cases, or other drugs.
If you find yourself in this situation, you don't want to be alone. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to defend you.
We are California's top DUI defense lawyers and have extensive experience defending against all types of DUI charges. When you hire us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to operate the Watsonville, CA, legal system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
While you're hesitating, the odds are stacking up against you. Speak with one of our attorneys right away at (800) 755-5174 or tell us how we can help online to start building your defense today.
Watsonville, 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 Watsonville, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
After being pulled over, but before the police officer approaches your car, grab your license, vehicle registration, and insurance documentation. 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: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
You aren't required to answer any questions if the officer says that they smell alcohol. You have Fifth Amendment protections at all points in the legal process. Trying to explain away the smell of alcohol will probably just get you in more trouble.
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. If you haven't been arrested, you can decline to participate. However, you cannot legally refuse a BAC test once you are in custody, without losing your driving privileges.
Tip #4: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't help — it will likely be something you regret. 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, which can be used against you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Watsonville?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you regardless of your blood alcohol level, or even if you aren't tested 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 arrests based on how you do.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. After the arrest, be prepared for the following:
- Suspension: Your license suspension effective immediately after your arrest – right away, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. While you're processing this, they are providing a record of the arrest to the Watsonville, CA, DMV, at which point, you're officially facing a license suspension.
- Arraignment: Before you are released, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will list out the laws you're accused of breaking.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, 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: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. While you're waiting for the trial, your Watsonville DUI defense expert will building the framework of your defense and filing motions to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will speak with the Watsonville district attorney to find a plea deal that minimizes penalties for you. But if you end up on trial in front of a judge, 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 how your case proceeds, you may face consequences. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, it's possible that your record will be eligible for sealing.
Our DUI legal experts can help you out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and bureaucratic side. If you need help today, we have the experience to help you move towards a positive outcome!
DUIs in Watsonville, CA and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Watsonville, CA, DUI charges require particular expertise because there are two sides that each need to be defended: The criminal case and the driver's case. In CA, these are always two separate processes, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI defense lawyers will fight both.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and how we fight to protect your liberty and right to drive:
Watsonville, 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 Watsonville, CA, legal system.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other criminal charge – charges are formally filed against you, you'll probably be given bail and/or conditions of release, then your attorney will proceed with pretrial motions and negotiations. It's unlikely (but possible) that you'll reach a trial at some stage.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we craft a staunch defense and dissect the allegations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, display flaws in the officer's analysis, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and look for evidence that can present an alternate narrative.
If you're facing jail time in Watsonville, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. For many clients, we'll work out a plea for reduced charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also avoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Watsonville, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and in order 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 focus of this hearing is whether or not you were legitimately 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 a Watsonville, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll argue over 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 another chance to request that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Watsonville DUI defense lawyer promptly after an arrest.
DUI Punishments in Watsonville
Watsonville, CA, DUI criminal penalties can permanently affect your life – while many are considered misdemeanors, it's possible to receive 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 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 |
In addition to any criminal sentence in Watsonville, 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 can be devastating. The good news is that, currently, a first-time DUI is generally not grounds for removal. 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 be put on the same level as serious felonies when it comes to immigration consequenceses. For immigrants seeking citizenship, even if you aren't deported, it hurts your application process.
Whether you are an immigrant citizen, are here on a work visa, or are anywhere in between, a Watsonville, CA, immigration lawyer can help you navigate the situation. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we know that you need someone who has knowledge of both immigration and criminal law. We have both: We'll explore diversion programs that will protect you from the harshest outcomes, fight against removal proceedings, and guide you through your citizenship application.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found innocent or not, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, there's a chance you're eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Watsonville, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you a path to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
No matter what DUI allegations you've been charged with, it's critical to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the skills, practice, and contacts to provide the optimal outcome for your case. The top Watsonville, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Experience: If possible, both defending against charges and as government agents. 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.
- Availability: You should be able to get help fast, whenever you need it. 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 Watsonville and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Not just with clients and friends, but also amongst their peers. We are proud of our reputation with former clients and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- 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. 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 Watsonville
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Watsonville, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared stand by you against the charges.
Below, you can review a list of the DUI case types we have experience defending:
- 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 Watsonville, CA
When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, your Watsonville, CA, DUI attorney will draw from years of experience with effective defense strategies. There are several defensive tactics available, but not every one will work for your case. Below are some of the most common ones we use.
Challenge the Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, we can argue for your case to be dismissed. This defense is a good option if, for example, the police officer pulled you over without probable cause, the entire traffic stop could be made invalid.
Flaws in BAC Tests
Chemical tests that measure the amount of alcohol in your blood, breath, or urine are strong evidence, but are not infallible. Our team will investigate any possible errors that were made when you took the test, introduce alternative evidence when possible, and analyze the state's case to see if there was an error made in how your evidence was processed.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are standard practice for police officers to use. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. An experienced Watsonville, 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. Even though this is harder to fight, our lawyers have more defense strategies we can pull from. 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 – Talk To Our Watsonville DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY
Watsonville, CA, DUI accusations are serious. After an arrest, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. You lose your right to drive, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you're told you have a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. Your path forward begins when you contact a DUI defense lawyer immediately.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. Don't just hope it will all just go away. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to fight for you.
We're experts at defending all Watsonville, CA DUI charges. We're standing by to answer your call now and will work on a strategy to defend your license and your liberty as soon as you call. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a no-obligation consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Watsonville, CA:
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