DUI Lawyer Woodland Hills. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. You're being accused of a crime; if you're facing years in prison for a repeat offense, your car is the least of your worries. In California, you're required to participate in DUI tests if you're driving. Refusal to do so is another crime, and that can even result in tougher penalties. And there are differences in DUI alcohol versus DUI marijuana cases, or other drugs.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to defeat the allegations is a fight you want backup for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to defend you.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and know the ins and outs of DUI defense strategies that work. When you hire us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to operate the Woodland Hills, CA, judicial system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
If you wait too long to build a defense, it could become too late. Reach out without delay at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start putting together your case's defense today.
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
You may be a careful driver who doesn't violate any traffic laws, but to successfully get through the situation when it does happen, you need to be prepared. Below are four tips from a Woodland Hills, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Keep Your Documents Together
Your heart might start to pound as soon as the police officer asks for your ID, registration, and insurance. Dropping them or failing to find them could just be a result of stress, but it can give the impression that you're impaired. But if you don't need to search for them, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
If either the officer alleges that they smell alcohol, or you can smell alcohol yourself, don't answer any questions. You have Fifth Amendment protections both before and after an arrest. Protect yourself by keeping quiet until your lawyer arrives.
Tip #3: Refuse Voluntary 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. 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: Respect the Law Enforcement Officer
Refusing to cooperate with the police won't help — it will come back to bite you. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also benefits 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 can be used against you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Woodland Hills?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you independant of your blood alcohol concentration, or even if you aren't tested at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, probably with field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on their evaluation of you.
Once this happens, the CA legal system will proceed with 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 – on the spot, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your actual license will be taken. While you're processing this, they are providing a record of the arrest to the Woodland Hills, CA, DMV, at which point, you're officially facing a license suspension.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will list out the laws you're accused of breaking.
- DMV Hearing: Independant of the criminal charge process, 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: Most people accused of DUIs in Woodland Hills, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. In the interim, your Woodland Hills DUI defense lawyer will building the framework of your defense and filing motions to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will speak with the Woodland Hills prosecutor to find a plea deal that minimizes penalties for you. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: Your case probably will not 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, we may be able to help you clean your record.
Our DUI legal experts can provide guidance for any charge, 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), the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are here for you!
Woodland Hills DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the administrative case. These will never be handled in the same hearing, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI defense lawyers will fight both.
Here are important factors for both case types, and insights into how we protect your freedom and ability to drive:
Woodland Hills, 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.
Criminal cases, including DUIs, all follow the same basic process – 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 protect your rights and dissect the allegations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and look for evidence that can show you are not guilty.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our Woodland Hills, CA, clients from jail time. For several cases, we'll plea bargain for a reduction of the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also work to give you an alternative to jail, in the form of probation.
Woodland Hills, 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 doesn't wait for your criminal case, and to successfully 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 receive a "not guilty" verdict, you can still lose your license. 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 to participate in tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you hire us, 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 any more chances to request that hearing. This is why it's crucial to contact a Woodland Hills DUI defense lawyer without delay after an arrest.
DUI Punishments in Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – even though some are misdemeanors, you could still be sentenced to 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 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 |
On top of whatever sentence you receive in Woodland Hills court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and impacts on your employment.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can be incredibly serious. If this is the first time you've been accused of driving under the influence, you probably won't face removal proceedings. 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. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, even if you aren't deported, it will hurt your application chances, especially for repeat or aggravated offenses.
If you're a United States immigrant facing a DUI, you need to stay in the country and contact a Woodland Hills, CA, immigration lawyer immediately. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we don't stop at just defending you against the criminal charge: We'll explore diversion programs with alternatives to criminal sentencing, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, 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, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A Woodland Hills, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a Woodland Hills, CA DUI Attorney
Accused of a DUI in Woodland Hills? It is crucial to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the abilities, practice, and connections to provide the optimal outcome for your case. The top Woodland Hills, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over five decades of experience.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. Our offices are always available if you need to talk 24/7.
- Relationships: An attorney who knows the local prosecutor can use that relationship to their advantage. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Woodland Hills and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is proud to have received top ratings from several legal evaluators 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. We want you to be our next success story.
DUI Case Types We Defend Against in Woodland Hills
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Woodland Hills, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared to battle against the charges.
Below are some of the DUI cases 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 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 Strategies in Woodland Hills, CA
Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Woodland Hills, CA, DUI attorneys can help you fight it. 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 Arrest
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, then the evidence arising from that traffic stop could be invalid. This defense could be used 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 look into any issues with how the equipment was stored or used, re-examine the evidence to look for alternate explanations, 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 'one-leg stand,' 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
It's easy to feel like you're out of options if you were tested and your BAC was .08 or higher. Even though this is harder to fight, you do still have viable defense strategies. 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.
Don't Wait – Call Our Woodland Hills DUI Defense Attorneys RIGHT AWAY
When you're up against Woodland Hills DUI charges, it feels like there's no space to breathe. You lose your right to drive, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you get a court date…it's easy to be stressed out. And that's why it's all the more important to contact a DUI defense attorney now.
Don't sit by and watch the evidence mount against you. Don't let your license go without a fight. Don't try to handle it on your own. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.
We're experts at defending all Woodland Hills, CA DUI charges. We're equipped with the tools to build your case right now and will begin protecting your license and searching for positive outcomes right away. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a confidential case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Woodland Hills, CA:
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