DUI Lawyer Woodland. If convicted, a DUI can permanently change your life for the worse. This isn't just an administrative issue; if you're facing years in prison for a repeat offense, your car is the least of your worries. California law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and the consequences you face might be even worse than a DUI conviction. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
If you find yourself in this situation, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to defend yourself against the charges is a problem you shouldn't have to solve without help, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is available to protect you in Woodland.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you choose us, you're getting a team of accomplished defense attorneys who know how to navigate the Woodland, CA, court system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
While you're hesitating, the odds are stacking up against you. Get a hold of us today at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online to start putting together your defense strategy today.
Woodland, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but to successfully get through the situation when it does happen, you need to be prepared. Here are four tips from a Woodland, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to remember if you're ever pulled over:
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. Many sober people will have trouble gathering up these documents under pressure. By following this tip, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
If law enforcement asks how much you've had to drink tonight, you don't need to give them an answer. You have Fifth Amendment protections during the entirety of your interactions with the law. Call your DUI lawyer and stay quiet until they arrive.
Tip #3: Don't Automatically Consent to Tests
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, this isn't the case for every test; if you're already in custody and are asked to perform a breath or blood based test, California law does require you to participate.
Tip #4: Be Polite and Don't Argue
Resisting the police won't improve your case — it can end up making your case harder to defend. 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 could contribute to their probable cause to arrest you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Woodland?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or even if you don't blow at all. California allows the police to make a call about whether or not you were driving impaired regardless of your alcohol level, probably with field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on their evaluation of you.
Once this happens, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can start the minute the officer arrests you – when arrested, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your actual license will be taken. Meanwhile, they are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will inform you of the charges against you.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll need to start fighting for your license right away. This starts with arranging a DMV hearing, which you need to do within 10 days.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Woodland, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. Between your potential release and the trial, your Woodland DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to throw out illegal evidence, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: In the midst of pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will work directly with the Woodland district attorney to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if the prosecutor won't give you a favorable offer, your attorney should be building a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: It's rare that a DUI case will go to trial, but if it reaches that point, we'll have a staunch defense ready for you.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, 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 provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and DMV side. No matter where you are in your case, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!
DUIs in Woodland, CA and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Woodland, CA, DUI charges require particular expertise because there are two sides that each need to be defended: The criminal case and the driver's case. This will always require two separate defenses, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI defense lawyers will fight both.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and ways we defend your justice and right to drive:
Woodland, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Woodland, CA, court.
Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another criminal charge – after an arrest, you're formally charged in an arraignment, go through pretrial motions/negotiations, and can eventually go to trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we provide expert defense and attack the charges. We'll challenge the legitimacy of the traffic stop, display flaws in the officer's analysis, look for contaminations or errors in blood, breath, or urine tests, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can present an alternate narrative.
If you're facing jail time in Woodland, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. Commonly, 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 search for a deal that protects your freedom and avoids any jail sentence.
Woodland, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Woodland criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and if you want 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, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Instead, the hearing is to determine if you were rightfully 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. These hearings have serious consequences that require an expert Woodland, CA, DUI lawyer to navigate. At the hearing, we'll challenge the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If you miss that ten-day deadline, though, you'll likely have to endure the suspension. Outside of rare cases, you don't get any more chances to arrange for that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Woodland DUI defense lawyer promptly after the traffic stop.
Sentence You Could Face for a DUI in Woodland, CA
Woodland, CA, DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – though you could 'only' be facing misdemeanors, you could still end up with a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be trying 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 Woodland, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and roadblocks when applying for professional licenses.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences have the potential to be life-altering. The level of impact often depends on how many prior offenses are on your record. First-time alleged DUIs don't typically result in deportation. 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 will become grounds for deportation. If you are trying to become an American citizen, even if you aren't deported, it hurts your application process.
A DUI accusation doesn't have to end your time in the United States. You can get help from your Woodland, CA, immigration lawyer. 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 and plea deals that can keep a DUI off your record, fight against removal proceedings, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, odds are, you'll want to leave it in the past and move forward with your life. Unfortunately, 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 Woodland, CA, DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you a way to clean your record.
When You're Picking a Woodland, CA, DUI Lawyer, Consider These Factors
When you're facing DUI charges, it's important to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the abilities, background, and ties to secure a positive outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Woodland, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: Experience gives your attorney knowledge on how to win these cases. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, district attorneys, and police officers, totalling over five decades of experience handling cases.
- Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. Our team will leverage our connections with the prosecutors in Woodland and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. We are proud to be respected amongst our peers and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
- 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 Fight in Woodland
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Woodland, CA – all of our DUI defense attorneys are prepared help you navigate the charges.
Here are some of the DUI allegations we frequently 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 Woodland, CA
Our Woodland, CA, DUI lawyers will examine your case and suggest a defensive strategy that will maximize your chances of a positive outcome. There is no one-size-fits-all defensive strategy against DUI allegations, but below, we've listed out some of the most effective ones.
Challenge the Legality of the Arrest
If the arresting officer failed to obey the rules for investigating a DUI, we can argue for your case to be dismissed. This defense could be used if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Show Issues With 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 highlight the ways that these tests can give false readings, introduce alternative evidence when possible, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are often used by officers to evaluate whether someone is impaired or not. But there are several other factors that can affect your performance besides whether or not alcohol was in your system. Our attorneys will review the footage and provide alternate explanations for your performance.
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 over the legal limit. This may sound bad, but 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 – Call Our Woodland DUI Defense Lawyers TODAY
If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Woodland, CA, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. Your license is suspended, a law enforcement official might be asking you hard questions, you get a court date…it's easy to feel out of control. And that's why it's all the more important to call aWoodland, CA, DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
Don't give the state a chance to put you behind bars. Don't lose your license because you missed the DMV hearing window. Don't wait and realize that it's suddenly too late. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Woodland, CA DUI charges. We're available to help now and will begin protecting your license and your freedom right away. Talk to one of our team members now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a free, confidential consultation.
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