DUI Lawyer Hanford. Hanford DUI charges are very serious. You're not just facing the loss of your license; 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 the consequences you face might be even worse than a DUI conviction. And it doesn't matter if it was alcohol, marijuana, or another substance affecting your ability to drive.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to stand up for yourself against the prosecution is a fight you want backup for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared to defend your freedom.
We are California's premier DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you choose us, you're getting a team of former prosecutors who know how to defend your rights in the Hanford, CA, justice system and get you the best outcome possible.
Take too long to start your defense, and you could miss your chance. Talk to a lawyer now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online to start constructing your defense today.
Hanford, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but knowing how to handle the situation is important for all Hanford, CA, residents. Here are four tips from a Hanford, CA, DUI Lawyer for you which can protect you from arrests and charges:
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 don't need to search for them, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: Don't Talk If Alcohol Is Smelled
You aren't required to answer any questions if the officer says that they smell alcohol. You have the right to remain silent during any form of questioning. Trying to explain away the smell of alcohol will probably just get you in more trouble.
Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
In California, field sobriety tests are voluntary unless you are under the age of 21 or are on probation. Refusing won't force the officer to let you go, but on its own, there aren't any penalties for refusing. However, you can face consequences if you refuse a blood alcohol content test after you've been arrested.
Tip #4: Don't Argue With the Officer
Resisting the police won't help — it can end up making your case harder to defend. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also helps your defense: By acting out or arguing, you are giving the police more evidence, and depending on what you do, it could make you appear intoxicated.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Hanford?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you independant of your blood alcohol concentration, or even if you refuse to be tested at all. The police can use other methods to determine whether or not you were safe to drive, likely via field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on their evaluation of you.
Once you've been arrested, 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 begin as soon as you're arrested – right away, 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, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: Before you are released, you will attend a hearing, and a prosecutor will inform you of the charges against you.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, you'll want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: In most DUI cases, you'll be released in some capacity pending a trial. In the interim, your Hanford DUI defense lawyer will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Alongside pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will speak with the Hanford district attorney 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 crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Outside of extraordinary circumstances, it's rare for a DUI case to go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case proceeds, you may face consequences. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, you can explore record clearing options with our lawyers.
Our DUI legal experts can help you with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and driver's license side. Whether you've just been arrested or are on the eve of your trial (or anywhere in-between), give us a call so that we can help!
Hanford DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Hanford, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the DMV case. These will never be handled in the same hearing, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and ways we defend your freedom and vehicular rights:
Hanford, 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.
The general court process is the same as any other criminal case – 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 defend your freedom and fight against the charges. We'll challenge the legitimacy of the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for contaminations or errors in blood, breath, or urine tests, and look for evidence that can present an alternate narrative.
We have an extremely strong track record of clients who have avoided jail time in Hanford, CA. For several cases, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also avoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Hanford, 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 in order to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
In many cases, the status of your criminal case doesn't have a huge impact on the DMV hearing. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, this administrative hearing is focused on if 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 work with a Hanford, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If the tenth day since the arrest has passed, though, you're out of luck. Outside of rare cases, you don't get an extra chance to request that hearing. This is why it's crucial to contact a Hanford DUI defense attorney promptly after being arrested.
Hanford DUI Sentences and Consequences
Hanford, CA, DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – though you could 'only' be facing misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Here's an outline of the different penalties you could be trying to avoid, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| 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 any sentence that a judge in Hanford, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as elevated insurance costs and career setbacks.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. The good news is that, currently, a first-time DUI is generally not grounds for removal. 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 indefinitely pause your efforts to become a citizen.
Whether you are an immigrant citizen, are here on a work visa, or are anywhere in between, a Hanford, CA, immigration lawyer can help you navigate the situation. 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 that can protect you from a conviction, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, you're liking looking forward to putting this all behind you. The bad news is that your arrest and/or criminal record won't go away on its own. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. A Hanford, CA, DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you a path to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
Up against DUI charges? It's important to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the skills, background, and contacts to find the best outcome for your case. When evaluating DUI lawyers in Hanford, CA, you want to judge the following:
- Experience: If possible, both defending against charges and as government agents. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, district attorneys, and police, totalling over five decades of experience handling cases.
- Availability: You should be able to get help fast, whenever you need it. We're available 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Hanford and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. We are proud of our reputation with former clients 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. And we'd be proud to represent you as well.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Hanford
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Hanford, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared stand by you against the charges.
This is a list of the DUI allegations we have experience defending:
- 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 Hanford, CA
Our Hanford, CA, DUI lawyers will examine your case and suggest a defensive strategy that will maximize your chances of a positive outcome. 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 arresting officer failed to obey the rules for investigating a DUI, then the evidence arising from that traffic stop could be invalid. This defense is relevant if, for example, you were not read your Miranda rights before an interrogation, anything you said could be thrown out.
Flaws in Chemical Tests
Fighting against chemical tests can be difficult, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will know how to look for flaws in them. Our team will look into any potential procedural errors, retest when possible, and advocate for you during the discovery process to identify flaws in the state's evidence.
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 examine the evidence and look for expert analysis that will show your performance in a more favorable light.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Maybe there were no mistakes with your blood, breath, or urine test, and your BAC was .08 or higher. While this is can be difficult to overcome, we won't give up yet. 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 Rapid Assistance – Contact Our Hanford DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Hanford, CA, things move pretty fast. You lose your right to drive, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to feel overwhelmed. What you need to do is call a DUI defense lawyer immediately.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't miss your chance for a DMV administrative hearing to protect your license. Don't just sit idly by while everything collapses. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Hanford, CA DUI charges. We're equipped with the tools to build your case right now and will start safeguarding your license and your freedom as soon as you call. Reach out to us now at (800) 755-5174 or set up an appointment online for a confidential case review.
We also provide the following legal services in Hanford, CA:
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