DUI Lawyer Glendora. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. This isn't just an administrative issue; you're up against thousand dollar fines, years in jail, and more. Declining a breathalyzer or blood test on its own can result in charges, and by declining, you could face even harsher penalties. And it doesn't matter if it was alcohol, marijuana, or another substance affecting your ability to drive.
If you find yourself in this situation, you need someone in your corner. 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 Glendora.
We are California's best DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you choose us, you're getting a team of veteran defense attorneys who know how to navigate the Glendora, CA, legal system and get you the best outcome possible.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Get a hold of us right away at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online to start crafting your defense today.
Glendora, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
We'd all love to drive without any risk of being pulled over, but knowing how to handle the situation is important for all Glendora, CA, residents. Below are four tips from a Glendora, CA, DUI Lawyer for you which can protect you from arrests and charges:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
It's typical for an officer to request for your license, registration, and proof of insurance during a traffic stop. Many sober people will have trouble gathering up these documents under pressure. But if you don't need to search for them, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Don't Talk If Alcohol Is Smelled
If law enforcement asks how much you've had to drink tonight, you don't need to give them an answer. You have the right to remain silent during the entirety of your interactions with the law. Don't talk without an attorney present.
Tip #3: Refuse Voluntary Tests
In California, field sobriety tests are voluntary unless you are under the age of 21 or are 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: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't improve your case — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. You should be respectful for more than its own sake, though; it also helps your defense: By acting out or arguing, you are giving the police more evidence, which may come back up later in court.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Glendora?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, or even if you don't blow at all. Officers are able to arrest you this way because CA allows them to make subjective judgements, typically through field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on that.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. In most DUI cases, here's how things will progress:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can go into effect at the time of the arrest – on the spot, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and you will lose your regular license (at least for now). In the meantime, the police are informing the DMV about the arrest, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will announce what charges you're up against.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: It's possible to be held in jail before your trial, but that's not very likely in DUI cases. Meanwhile, your Glendora DUI defense lawyer will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While filing pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will communicate with the Glendora prosecutor to find a positive outcome for you that avoids a trial through a plea deal. But if you end up on trial in front of a judge, your attorney should be refining a defense strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges go to trial, but if it reaches that point, we'll have a staunch defense ready for you.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case proceeds, you may face penalties. 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 with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and bureaucratic side. Whatever stage in the process you're at, you can start with a call to our offices!
Glendora DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Glendora, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided 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 what our attorneys will do for your justice and driving privileges:
Glendora, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Glendora, CA, court.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other criminal charge – 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 build your defense and discredit the allegations. We'll argue whether the police had the justification needed to pull you over, argue against he officer's observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can show you are not guilty.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our Glendora, CA, clients from jail time. Often, we'll negotiate a plea deal to reduce the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also argue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Glendora, 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 automatically applied, and to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
It's typical for the criminal case to be, by and large, separate from the DMV hearing. In fact, no matter what the court decision was, it won't automatically give you back 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 cooperate when the officer tried to test you, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you hire us, we'll work to undermine the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
Outside of that ten-day window, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license back immediately. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's vital to contact a Glendora DUI defense attorney without delay after the traffic stop.
Glendora DUI Sentences and Consequences
Glendora, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – while some are 'just' misdemeanors, it's possible to receive a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
On this table, you can review the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on what your charges are:
| 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 |
Beyond the Glendora, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as rising insurance rates and impacts on your employment.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences have the potential to be life-altering. 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 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 be put on the same level as serious felonies when it comes to immigration consequenceses. If you are trying to become an American citizen, even if you aren't deported, it hurts your application process.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Glendora, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. 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 with alternatives to criminal sentencing, fight against removal proceedings, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, it's natural to want to move on and leave this in the past. It doesn't take long to realize, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. Fortunately, if you're in Glendora, CA, our DUI lawyers will also fight to protect you in this way, and give you a chance to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a Glendora, CA DUI Attorney
Up against DUI charges? It's important to pick the right lawyer to defend your innocence. Your team needs the proficiency, practice, and connections to offer the best possible outcome for your case. The top Glendora, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Experience: If it's both for and against the state, even better. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you will work with a team of attorneys including former judges, district attorneys, and police officers, totalling over 50 years of experience with the law.
- Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. Our lines are never off, and you can contact us 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. Our team will leverage our connections with the prosecutors in Glendora 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: 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. If you're ready to join our list of successes, call now.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Glendora
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Glendora, CA – your DUI defense lawyer from our team prepared help you navigate the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI charges we commonly 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 Glendora, CA
Every DUI case needs a defensive strategy, and our Glendora, CA DUI defense lawyers are here to help you find the right one. 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 Arrest
If the arresting officer failed to obey the rules for investigating a DUI, your case could be thrown out on legal grounds. This defense is relevant if, for example, the police officer pulled you over without probable cause, the entire traffic stop could be made invalid.
Flaws in BAC Tests
Fighting against chemical tests can be difficult, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will know how to look for flaws in them. We will look into any potential procedural errors, introduce alternative evidence when possible, and look for any issues in how the evidence was handled.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are a typical part of any traffic stop that turns into a DUI investigation. But field sobriety tests are not objective measures of whether you're safe to drive or not. An experienced Glendora, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and provide additional context for your performance, such as the stress of the situation.
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. This may sound bad, but our lawyers have more defense strategies we can pull from. If you have a respiratory ailment, or another medical condition, that could impact how the breathalyzer measures your BAC, we will use that as a part of your defense.
Don't Wait – Talk To Our Glendora DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY
If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Glendora, CA, it can feel like you don't even have time to think. Your license is suspended, you might be interrogated, you're told you have a court date…it's easy to be out of control. Your path forward begins when you hire an attorney 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 just hope it will all just go away. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Glendora, CA DUI charges. We're standing by to answer your call today and will begin protecting your license and your rights now. Reach out to us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online for a confidential case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Glendora, CA:
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