DUI Lawyer Manteca, CA

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DUI Lawyer Manteca. DUI law in Manteca is complex. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; 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 that can even result in tougher penalties. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.

If you find yourself in this situation, you should consult with an expert to find your best path forward. Trying to defend yourself against the charges is a challenge nobody should have to face on their own, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared to defend your freedom.

We are California's best DUI defense lawyers and decades of experience fighting against these charges. When you retain us, you're getting a team of experienced, high-quality lawyers who know how to navigate the Manteca, CA, justice system and get you the best outcome possible.

Take too long to start your defense, and you could miss your chance. Get a hold of us anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start building your defense today.

Manteca, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:

Most people don't plan to be pulled over, but it's still important to know how to handle a traffic stop. Below are four tips from a Manteca, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to remember if you're ever pulled over:

Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
It's normal to be nervous after being pulled over and asked for your ID, registration, and insurance. If you're struggling to locate them and keep hold of them, the officer may think you're intoxicated. 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 the right to remain silent both before and after an arrest. Don't talk without an attorney present.

Tip #3: Don't Participate in Field Sobriety Tests, Unless Required
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. You can still be arrested if the officer believes you've broken the law, but you're giving them less evidence this way. However, if you have been arrested and refuse a blood or breath test, your license will be suspended.

Tip #4: Respect the Law Enforcement Officer
Arguing with the officer won't help — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. This isn't just something you're doing out of courtesy, though; it also helps 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 may come back up later in court.

What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Manteca?

California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you regardless of your blood alcohol level, or even if you don't undergo any tests at all. The police can use other methods to determine whether or not you were safe to drive, typically utilizing field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on your performance.

Right after your arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Manteca, CA, follow this progression:

1. Suspension: Your license suspension can go into effect at the time of the arrest – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and you will lose your regular license (at least for now). In the meantime, they are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, which means your license is officially suspended.
2. Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will be summoned to a court hearing, and a prosecutor will list out the laws you're accused of breaking.
3. DMV Hearing: Independant of the criminal charge process, you'll have 10 days after the arrest to contact the DMV for a hearing.
4. Pretrial Motions: It's possible to be held in jail before your trial, but that's not very likely in DUI cases. Between your potential release and the trial, your Manteca DUI defense attorney will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
5. Negotiations With the Prosecutor: At the same time as pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Manteca prosecutor to find a positive outcome for you that avoids a trial through a plea deal. But if the case goes to trial, your attorney should be creating a defense now.
6. Criminal Trial: Outside of extraordinary circumstances, it's rare for a DUI case to go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
7. Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, you may face some form of sentence. 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 out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and driver's license side. If you're facing a potential conviction, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!

Manteca, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings

Manteca, CA, DUI charges are always a two-pronged challenge: The criminal case and the administrative case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but a leading DUI defense attorney from our offices will fight for you in both cases.

Here are descriptions of both case categories, and our process for defending your justice and license:

Manteca, CA, DUI Criminal Charges

Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Manteca, 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 defend your freedom and push back against the criminal accusations. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, argue against he officer's observations, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can show you are not guilty.

If you're facing jail time in Manteca, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. For many clients, 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 avoid jail time with a probation sentence.

Manteca, CA, DUI License Suspension

Even though the criminal charges may sound like the more serious matter, don't neglect 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.

When you go through the DMV hearing, your criminal charges may not be a major focus. In fact, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Instead, this administrative hearing is focused on if you were lawfully 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 Manteca, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, 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 any more chances to schedule that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Manteca DUI defense lawyer as soon as you can after being arrested.

Manteca DUI Sentences and Consequences

Manteca, 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 fighting against, depending on the allegations you're facing:

In addition to any criminal sentence in Manteca, CA, you're also facing collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and roadblocks when applying for professional licenses.

DUIs and Immigration

DUI immigration consequences can turn your world upside down. 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 you have faced DUI charges before, you can qualify for deportation. What's worse, if H.R.875 passes, any DUI can result in removal from the country. For immigrants seeking citizenship, 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 Manteca, 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, represent you at deportation hearings, 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. Unfortunately, your arrest and/or criminal record can stick with you. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. Fortunately, if you're in Manteca, CA, our DUI lawyers will also fight to protect you in this way, and give you a chance to clean your record.

Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Manteca: What You Need to Know

Accused of a DUI in Manteca? It is important to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the abilities, experience, and ties to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When you speak with Manteca, CA, DUI attorneys about your case, ask them about the following:

1. Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team that has former judges, district attorneys, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience with the law.
2. Availability: You should be able to get help fast, whenever you need it. You can speak with one of our team members 24/7.
3. Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We know how to connect with the prosecutors in Manteca and all throughout CA.
4. Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. We're proud to have received numerous accolades and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
5. Track Record of Success: At the end of the day, results matter. And our results are great. 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 Take On in Manteca

Administrative, criminal, or anything else related to DUIs in Manteca, CA – your DUI defense lawyer from our team prepared for the charges.

Here are some of the DUI case types we can provide defenses for:

DUI Defense Tactics in Manteca, CA

Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Manteca, 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 law enforcement made a mistake while conducting their investigation, you might be able to secure a dismissal of the charges. 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.

Show Issues With Chemical Tests
If you were arrested and given a breathalyzer, blood, or urine test, that can be the center of the prosecution's case. We will look into any potential procedural errors, introduce alternative evidence when possible, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.

Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'one-leg stand,' are a typical part of any traffic stop that turns into a DUI investigation. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. An experienced Manteca, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and point out situations where law enforcement unfairly failed our clients on these tests.

Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
In most cases, law enforcement will follow proper procedure when testing your blood alcohol level. Let's say that this is true for your stop, and your BAC was .08 or higher. Even though this is harder to fight, there are still ways to fight it. 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 – Call Our Manteca DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY

If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Manteca, CA, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. You lose your license, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you get a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. And that's why it's all the more important to call an attorney now.

Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't wait too long and lose your driving privileges. Don't wait and realize that it's suddenly too late. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.

We're experts at defending all Manteca, CA DUI charges. We're available to help fast and will start protecting your driving privileges and your liberty now. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

We also provide the following legal services in Manteca, CA:

• Criminal Defense Lawyer