DUI Lawyer Woodland Hills. If convicted, a DUI can permanently change your life for the worse. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. If you declined to take an alcohol test, you can face separate charges, and by declining, you could face even harsher penalties. And while the same CA law covers DUIs involving alcohol and other drugs, the defense strategies can be wildly different.
If the Woodland Hills, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you should consult with an expert to find your best path forward. 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 here to fight for your rights.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and know the ins and outs of DUI defense strategies that work. When you work with us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to navigate the Woodland Hills, CA, court system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Get in touch now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start preparing your defense strategy today.
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Traffic police are just a part of driving. It's not exciting, but even if you've done nothing wrong, you need to know how to navigate the situation. Here are four tips from a Woodland Hills, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to remember if you're ever pulled over:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
It's normal to be nervous after being pulled over and asked for your ID, registration, and insurance. If police see you fumbling as you try to gather these documents, they could think that you've been drinking. By keeping these documents on hand, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
If either the officer alleges that they smell alcohol, or you can smell alcohol yourself, don't answer any questions. You have Fifth Amendment protections during any form of questioning. Protect yourself by keeping quiet until your lawyer arrives.
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. If you haven't been arrested, you can decline to participate. However, you cannot legally refuse a BAC test once you are in custody, without losing your driving privileges.
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 doesn't just help you get through the traffic stop; it also aids your defense: If you try to talk back or argue with the officer, you are giving the police more evidence, which can be used against you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Woodland Hills?
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, often through field sobriety tests, then make judgements based on that.
Once you've been arrested, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can begin as soon as you're arrested – on the spot, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your actual license will be taken. Meanwhile, the police are informing the DMV about the arrest, which means your license is officially suspended.
- Arraignment: Sometime after arriving at the police station, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
- DMV Hearing: Independant of the criminal charge process, you'll have 10 days after the arrest to contact the DMV for a hearing.
- Pretrial Motions: In most DUI cases, you'll be released in some capacity pending a trial. In the meantime, your Woodland Hills DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will negotiate with the Woodland Hills district attorney to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we're prepared to fight for your freedom in front of a jury, no matter what .
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the outcome of your case, you may face penalties. 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 administrative side. No matter where you are in your case, give us a call so that we can help!
Woodland Hills DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI charges are always a two-pronged challenge: The criminal case and the fight for your license. These will never be handled in the same hearing, but at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our DUI defense lawyers will fight both.
Here are important factors for both case types, and how we fight to protect your freedom and right to drive:
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
Criminal cases, including DUIs, all follow the same basic process – arrest, arraignment, pretrial activity, and possibly trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we craft a staunch defense and discredit the accusations. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can show you are not guilty.
If you're facing jail time in Woodland Hills, 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 search for a deal that protects your freedom and avoids any jail sentence.
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and to effectively 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, even if you receive a "not guilty" verdict, you can still lose your license. Instead, the outcome of the DMV hearing hinges on whether or not you were lawfully 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 hire us, we'll challenge the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If you miss that ten-day deadline, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license unsuspended. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to request that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Woodland Hills DUI defense attorney right away after being arrested.
DUI Punishments in Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills, CA, DUI criminal penalties can leave a mark on your record for life – 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 facing, depending on the allegations you're facing:
| DUI Criminal 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 Woodland Hills court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as loss or increased expense of insurance and potential punitive actions from professional licensing organizations.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences are very serious. If this is your first DUI, the good news is that you will likely be able to stay in the country. 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 trying to become an American citizen, even if you aren't deported, it can set your efforts back by several years.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Woodland Hills, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, can provide assistance with all of your legal needs, not just against criminal accusations: We'll explore diversion programs and plea deals that can keep a DUI off your record, fight against removal proceedings, and offer expert advice as you apply for citizenship.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found innocent or not, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. A Woodland Hills, CA, DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
No matter what DUI allegations you've been charged with, it's essential to pick the right lawyer to take your case. Your team needs the expertise, practice, and connections to secure a positive outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Woodland Hills, CA, look for these signs:
- 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, prosecutors, and police, totalling more than five decades of experience.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. We're available 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. Our firm has experience working with the prosecutors in Woodland Hills and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. We're proud to have received numerous accolades 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. We want you to be our next success story.
DUI Case Types We Defend Against in Woodland Hills
Criminal and administrative, whatever type of DUI charges you're fighting in Woodland Hills, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared stand by you against the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI case types 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 Tactics in Woodland Hills, CA
Whatever type of charge you're facing, our Woodland Hills, CA, DUI attorneys can help you fight it. Choosing the correct defense for your particular circumstances is essential in finding the best possible outcome. Below are some of the most effective ones.
Contest the Legality of the Arrest
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, your case could be thrown out on legal grounds. 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.
Flaws in Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
Chemical tests that measure the amount of alcohol in your blood, breath, or urine are strong evidence, but are not infallible. We will investigate any possible errors that were made when you took the test, retest when possible, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
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 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, our lawyers have more defense strategies we can pull from. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Get Immediate Help – Contact Our Woodland Hills DUI Defense Attorneys RIGHT AWAY
If you've been arrested or accused of a DUI in Woodland Hills, CA, it can feel like you don't even have time to think. Your license disappears, you could find yourself in an interrogation room, you get a court date…it's easy to feel like there's no way forward. In order to find a way out of all that, you need to hire a DUI defense lawyer right away.
Don't let the state decide how your case will go. Don't let your license go without a fight. Don't try to handle it on your own. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Woodland Hills, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case today and will work on a strategy to defend your license and your freedom right away. Call us now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a confidential consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Woodland Hills, CA:
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