DUI Lawyer Woodland. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; 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 fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If the Woodland, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you shouldn't need to do this without help. 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 available to protect you in Woodland.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of former prosecutors who know how to navigate the Woodland, CA, justice system and find the best result for your case.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Call without delay at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start constructing your defense strategy today.
Woodland, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
We'd all love to drive without any risk of being 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 Woodland, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
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. Dropping them or failing to find them could just be a result of stress, but it can give the impression that you're impaired. By following this tip, 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 both before and after an arrest. Call your DUI lawyer and stay quiet until they arrive.
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, if you have been arrested and refuse a blood or breath test, your license will be suspended.
Tip #4: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't help — it will come back to bite you. 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 come back up later in court.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Woodland?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or even if you don't blow at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, likely utilizing field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on their evaluation of you.
As soon as you're arrested, 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 starts right away, when you're arrested – right away, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. Meanwhile, the police are updating your records with the DMV to account for the arrest, beginning the formal suspension.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will inform you of the charges against you.
- DMV Hearing: Independant of the criminal charge process, you'll have just 10 days to begin the process of protecting your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Woodland, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. Meanwhile, your Woodland DUI defense attorney will file pretrial motions, likely including some to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Alongside pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Woodland prosecutor to find a positive outcome for you that avoids a trial through a plea deal. But if the case goes to trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the result of your case, you may face a punishment. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, our record clearing attorneys can help you get a fresh start.
Our DUI legal experts can help you with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and DMV side. No matter where you are in your case, call now and we'll be happy to assist!
Defending Against Woodland DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Woodland, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the fight for your license. These are handled separately by the state, but both cases can be fought by the same DUI defense lawyer.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and ways we defend your freedom and vehicular rights:
Woodland, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, which will involve legal proceedings in CA court.
If you're familiar with the process of other criminal charges, DUI cases follow the same format – 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 defend your freedom and dissect the charges. We'll challenge the legitimacy of the traffic stop, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and hunt for other evidence that can exonerate you.
The vast majority of our DUI clients in Woodland do not receive any jail sentence. Frequently, 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.
Woodland, CA, DUI License Suspension
While it might be tempting to focus exclusively on the criminal case, you also need to consider the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect regardless of where you're at in the criminal process, and if you want to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
The criminal charges are not always relevant in the DMV hearing. In fact, even if you receive a "not guilty" verdict, you can still lose your license. Instead, the hearing is to determine if 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. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, 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 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 Woodland DUI defense lawyer without delay after the traffic stop.
Punishments After a DUI Conviction in Woodland, CA
Woodland, CA, DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – while some are 'just' misdemeanors, it's possible to receive a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, you can read through the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on the allegations you're facing:
| 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 Woodland, CA, you're also facing collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and impacts on your employment.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences are very serious. 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. For immigrants seeking citizenship, even if you aren't deported, it can set your efforts back by several years.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Woodland, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, can provide assistance with all of your legal needs, not just against criminal accusations: We'll explore diversion programs and plea deals that can keep a DUI off your record, fight to keep you in the country, and offer expert advice as you apply for citizenship.
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 doesn't go away easily. Depending on your case outcome, there's a chance you're eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Woodland, 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
Defending yourself against a DUI in Woodland? It's essential to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the talent, preparation, and contacts to give you opportunities for a positive outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Woodland, CA, you want to judge 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, district attorneys, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience with the law.
- Availability: You shouldn't need to wait till 9 AM on Monday to contact an attorney. You can get a hold of us 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Woodland and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. We are proud to be respected amongst our peers 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. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Woodland
Whatever type of DUI charge you need help with in Woodland, CA – our DUI defense team is prepared to defend you against the charges.
Below, you can review a list of the DUI case types 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
DUI Defense Tactics in Woodland, CA
If you want to craft an effective defense strategy, our Woodland, CA, DUI lawyers are here to help. 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
The police need to follow rules when initiating a traffic stop and investigating a potential DUI. If they broke those rules, you might be able to secure a dismissal of the charges. This defense is a good option if, for example, you were not read your Miranda rights before an interrogation, anything you said could be thrown out.
Flaws in Chemical Tests
If you were arrested and given a breathalyzer, blood, or urine test, that can be the center of the prosecution's case. Our team will investigate whether or not the procedure was followed when administering the tests, retest when possible, and find any other mistakes law enforcement made that could exonerate you.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'horizontal gaze nystagmus,' are standard practice for police officers to use. But these tests are subjective. We will examine the evidence and look for expert analysis that will show your performance in a more favorable light.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Perhaps the officer properly conducted a breathalyzer test, and your BAC was over the legal limit. While properly conducted BAC tests are hard to disprove, our lawyers have more defense strategies we can pull from. If you have certain medical conditions, those can cause false positives. For example, some inhalers can artificially raise the amount of alcohol in your breath, depending on how they are used.
Get Immediate Help – Call Our Woodland DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
When you're up against Woodland DUI charges, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. Your license disappears, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you're given a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. Your path forward begins when you call aWoodland, CA, DUI attorney immediately.
Don't sit by and watch the evidence mount against you. Don't wait too long and lose your driving privileges. Don't just sit idly by while everything collapses. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.
We're experts at defending all Woodland, CA DUI charges. We're available to help fast and will start protecting your driving privileges and searching for positive outcomes now. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or let us know what you need online for a no strings attached consultation.
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