Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers

Our Santa Barbara Office is located at:

Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.
Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Attorneys and DUI Lawyers

7 West Figueroa Street, Suite 200
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 791-2162

Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Lawyer

Santa Barbara is the set of Santa Barbara County. It sits on a rare stretch of coastline that faces south – the longest stretch of south-facing coastline on the West Coast. Like many California cities, the area was inhabited by Native Americans before being settled by Spanish explorers. Spanish settlers first arrived in the Santa Barbara area in the mid-16th century. After three hundred years of Spanish rule, the Mexican War of Independence left the area largely self-reliant.

It became a ranching community through the late 19th century when oil was discovered in the area, leading to an economic surge. After World War II, many servicemen returned home to Santa Barbara, and the community grew and diversified its expanding economy. Today, the city has employment in technology, manufacturing, health care, finance, education, agriculture, and local government.

In the event that you have been accused of a crime in the Santa Barbara area, you should contact an attorney right away. At the Law Offices of David Chesley, we have the experience required to resolve your criminal case as favorably as possible Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with a Santa Barbara criminal defense attorney.

Here are some links to helpful local resources:

Santa Barbara Police Department
215 East Figueroa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Telephone: (805) 897-2300
Fax: (805) 897-2434

Santa Barbara Library
40 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Telephone: (805) 962-7653
Fax: (805) 564-5660

Santa Barbara City Hall
735 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Telephone: (805) 963-0611

Local Attractions

Santa Barbara Zoo
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Telephone: (805) 962-5339

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2559 Puesta Del Sol
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Telephone: (805) 682-4711

Crime in Santa Barbara
Neighborhood Scout reports that Santa Barbara is safer than just 13 percent of U.S. cities. It also has a higher rate of violent crimes than the national and state averages. Property crimes are also higher in Santa Barbara than in the U.S. or California. This might sound discouraging, but the rate is comparable to other communities in Southern California. The Santa Maria Times also reports that the crime rate dropped 7.2 percent in Santa Barbara between 2019 and 2020.

Santa Barbara Court Houses

Superior Court of Santa Barbara County
1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Telephone: (805) 882-4520

The Consequences of a DUI
If you have been charged with a DUI, you are probably overwhelmed by all the many things that happen at once. You could have a summons to court, to the DMV, and to a professional board hearing all at once. You do not have to go through these processes on your own. An experienced DUI lawyer can help mitigate the consequences of a DUI. Here are just some of the penalties you could face as a result of a DUI arrest:

Criminal Penalties
DUI is usually charged as a misdemeanor. This limits the amount of jail time and fines that are allowed on a sentence. A first-time DUI conviction usually results in a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of up to $1000. But it is important to understand that DUI charges can quickly become far more serious. Higher blood alcohol concentrations can result in more serious penalties. If you have previous DUI convictions, this can also result in more serious charges and sentences. Repeat DUI offenders are often charged with felonies. This results in the loss of civil rights (including gun and voting rights) and can make it more difficult to get a job or housing.

Driving Penalties
After a DUI conviction, your driver’s license will likely be suspended. But even if you are not convicted of a DUI, your license can still be suspended if you refuse to take a blood or breath test when requested to do so by an officer. This is known as an “administrative per se” suspension. Your attorney can challenge a per se suspension through the DMV if there are legal grounds to do so. If the tests show a blood alcohol concentration above .08, your license can still be suspended, even if you are not later convicted in the criminal court. It is important to consult with an attorney about your legal rights in dealing with your driving privileges. Driver’s license suspensions make it more difficult to get to work, see your family, and simply live your life.

Complications With Your Job
It is possible that you will also face problems at work due to a DUI conviction – or even just an arrest. Some jobs have very specific safety requirements, and employees can be let go for any alleged safety violations, even if they occur while off the clock. Other jobs require a valid driver’s license. In this case, you could be let go as soon as your driver’s license is suspended. You might have some recourse, but this is not always the case. Problems at work are just one more reason why it is important to prevent unlawful convictions or excessive sentences.

Sometimes, the problem is not with your employer but with a professional licensing board. Many jobs in California – everything from nail technicians to brain surgeons – require a professional license from the state. These licenses are issued by agencies that have the authority to suspend or revoke them. If your professional license is not valid, your employer might have no choice but to let you go. This is one more problem that a good DUI lawyer can help you prevent. You are entitled to a hearing, and your attorney can make your case to the board. There are many things your attorney can do to show the licensing board that you are not a danger to the public.

Experienced, Aggressive Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Attorneys For All Types of Criminal Charges

You don’t have to spend hours online searching for “Santa Barbara defense lawyers near me.” The Law Offices of David S. Chesley serves clients in Santa Ynez, Montecito, Summerland, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Isla Vista, and throughout Santa Barbara County. Call our Santa Barbara offices at (661) 473-0422 to schedule your case review. Don’t wait to get legal advice: the sooner you have a defense lawyer fighting on your side, the better protected your legal rights will be. Our defense lawyers have years of experience defending clients on all types of criminal charges.