DUI Lawyer Beverly Hills. If convicted, a DUI can permanently change your life for the worse. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; depending on your history, you could go to prison. California law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and that can even result in tougher penalties. And while the same CA law covers DUIs involving alcohol and other drugs, the defense strategies can be wildly different.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to defend yourself against the charges is a fight you want backup for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is available to protect you in Beverly Hills.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience. When you choose us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to fight for you in the Beverly Hills, CA, judicial system and find the best result for your case.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Call now at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start crafting your defense strategy today.
Beverly 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. Here are four tips from a Beverly Hills, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
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 already have them ready, 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 during the entirety of your interactions with the law. Even just saying "I only had two drinks" can work against you.
Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
Participation in field sobriety tests is not required for people over the age of 21 who aren't on probation. The officer may not like it, but they can't compel you to participate. However, California does require individuals to participate in in blood and breath tests after they've been arrested, and refusing in these circumstances will lead to an automatic license suspension.
Tip #4: Don't Argue With the Officer
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't improve your case — it will make things worse. Nobody enjoys being pulled over, but remaining calm and respectful not only makes it easier for the officer; it also helps your defense: If you try to talk back or argue with the officer, you are giving the police more evidence, which could contribute to their probable cause to arrest you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Beverly Hills?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or even if you refuse to be tested at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, likely through field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on their evaluation of you.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. Here's the typical process for a DUI case to make its way through the system:
- Suspension: Your license suspension effective immediately after your arrest – when arrested, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. While you're proceeding through the system, the police are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, beginning the formal suspension.
- Arraignment: Sometime after arriving at the police station, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will list out the laws you're accused of breaking.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, 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. Meanwhile, your Beverly Hills DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to throw out illegal evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Alongside pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will negotiate with the Beverly Hills prosecutor to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if you do have to fight the charges in a 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 how you plea or are found, you may face sanctions. 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 provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and driver's license side. If you're facing a potential conviction, call now and we'll be happy to assist!
DUIs in Beverly Hills, CA and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Beverly Hills, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the driver's case. This will always require two separate defenses, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and how we fight to protect your liberty and ability to drive:
Beverly Hills, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, which will involve legal proceedings in CA court.
Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another criminal charge – first, you're arrested. Second, you're informed of the charges at an arraignment. Third, you go through pretrial motions and negotiations. And finally, if it comes to it, a trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we present reasonable doubt and dissect the supposed wrongdoing. We'll debate the legality of the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and hunt for other evidence that can show the events in a more favorable light.
We know what it takes to keep DUI defense clients out of jail in Beverly Hills, CA. 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 work out probation over jail or prison time.
Beverly 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 is independent of the criminal case, and to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
The criminal charges are not always relevant in the DMV hearing. In fact, even if you secure a plea deal for a reduced charge, that won't (directly) affect your license suspension. 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 alcohol tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with a Beverly Hills, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll challenge the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
Outside of that ten-day window, though, you're out of luck. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Beverly Hills DUI defense attorney immediately after the arrest.
Sentence You Could Face for a DUI in Beverly Hills, CA
Beverly Hills, CA, DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – even though some are 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 up against, depending on the allegations you're facing:
| Formal DUI Charge | 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 Beverly Hills court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as loss or increased expense of insurance and impacts on your employment.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences are very 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 conviction will qualify an immigrant for deportation. If you are currently applying to become a U.S. citizen, even if you aren't deported, it can set your efforts back by several years.
A DUI accusation doesn't have to end your time in the United States. You can get help from your Beverly Hills, CA, immigration lawyer. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you can rest assured that our lawyers can guide you through both your criminal case and your citizenship process: We'll explore diversion programs to protect your record, fight to keep you in the country, and guide you through your citizenship application.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, you're liking looking forward to putting this all behind you. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record doesn't go away easily. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A Beverly Hills, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you a way to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a Beverly Hills, CA DUI Attorney
Accused of a DUI in Beverly Hills? It is key to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the skills, experience, and ties to secure a positive outcome for your case. When you speak with Beverly Hills, CA, DUI attorneys about your case, ask them about the following:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI lawyers have previous experience as judges, district attorneys, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience with the law.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. You can get a hold of us 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Beverly Hills and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. We are proud of our reputation with former clients and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- Track Record of Success: You don't want to trust your case to someone who doesn't know how to win it. Our attorneys do. 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 Fight in Beverly Hills
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Beverly Hills, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared for the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI cases we often 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 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 Strategies in Beverly Hills, CA
Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Beverly 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.
Contest the Legality 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, we can challenge the evidence, and even the legitimacy of the case itself. This defense is effective if, for example, the officer did not observe you for the full 15-minute period required before asking you to take a breath test.
Show Issues With Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
If your case is centered on a BAC test that put you over the legal limit, that can sound impossible to overcome. But it isn't. We will look into any issues with how the equipment was stored or used, 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 'one-leg stand,' are standard practice for police officers to use. But you can still challenge them – they are not ironclad proof of guilt. We will audit the test records and provide alternate explanations for your performance.
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. While this is can be difficult to overcome, there are still ways to fight it. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Get Rapid Assistance – Contact Our Beverly Hills DUI Defense Attorneys RIGHT AWAY
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, it can feel like you barely have a chance to think. Your license is suspended, there could be interrogations, you're assigned a court date…it's easy to feel overwhelmed. What you need to do is call aBeverly Hills, CA, DUI lawyer immediately.
Don't give the state a chance to put you behind bars. 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 Beverly Hills, CA DUI charges. We're equipped with the tools to build your case fast and will start protecting your driving privileges and searching for positive outcomes right away. Reach out to us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online for a no strings attached consultation.
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