DUI Lawyer Blythe. The consequences of a DUI can be devastating. You're being accused of a crime; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. You can face DUI charges even for just refusing to take the tests, and when you refuse, you can face the same penalties as a high blood-alcohol level DUI. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If the Blythe, CA, district attorney is coming after you, you don't want to be alone. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts 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 DUI defense lawyers and have extensive experience defending against all types of DUI charges. When you choose us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to operate the Blythe, CA, justice system and provide paths to positive outcomes.
If you want to build an effective defense, you need to act now. Reach out today at (800) 755-5174 or tell us how we can help online to start constructing your case's defense today.
Blythe, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
You may be a careful driver who doesn't violate any traffic laws, but to successfully get through the situation when it does happen, you need to be prepared. Below are four tips from a Blythe, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:
Tip #1: Have Your Documents Ready
It's typical for an officer to request for your license, registration, and proof of insurance during a traffic stop. If you're struggling to locate them and keep hold of them, the officer may think you're intoxicated. By following this tip, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: If You or the Officer Smells Alcohol, Don't Speak
You never need to answer a question that might incriminate you. You have Fifth Amendment protections during the entirety of your interactions with the law. Even just saying "I only had two drinks" can work against you.
Tip #3: Identify the Test Being Requested
A roadside exercise, a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) breath test and a post-arrest chemical test are different requests. Age, DUI probation, the circumstances of the arrest and the test requested affect the applicable rules. The California DMV explains license consequences for refusing or failing to complete a required PAS or chemical test. Do not assume that declining one test lets you decline every other test without consequences. Tell counsel exactly what the officer requested and what warnings were given.
Tip #4: Respect the Law Enforcement Officer
Being rude won't improve your case — it can end up making your case harder to defend. This doesn't just help you get through the traffic stop; it also helps 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 Blythe?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you independant of your blood alcohol concentration, or even if you don't undergo any tests at all. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, probably utilizing field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on their evaluation of you.
As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. Most DUI cases in Blythe, CA, follow this progression:
- Suspension: The officer may take your regular license and issue an order of suspension with a temporary license. For an otherwise valid California license that is not suspended or revoked for another reason, the temporary license permits driving for 30 days from the date the order was issued. Check the order and your current driving status. A license suspension proceeding is separate from the criminal case, and the DMV hearing request deadline is generally 10 days from receipt of the order.
- Arraignment: At this court hearing, the judge explains the charges and your rights, and you enter a plea. Some defendants attend after release; others remain in custody. If you are still in custody, the judge addresses bail or release conditions. Follow the date and location on your current court papers.
- 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 interim, your Blythe DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to review the arrest footage, and a "blood split" motion to reexamine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Blythe district attorney to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be refining a defense strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges 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 some form of sentence. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, you may be eligible to have your record sealed.
Our DUI legal experts can help you fight any allegation, on both the criminal defense and DMV side. If you need help today, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!
Blythe, CA, DUI Differences: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Blythe, CA, DUI charges include two separate fights: The criminal case and the DMV case. These are handled separately by the state, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are important factors for both case types, and ways we defend your justice and vehicular rights:
Blythe, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To protect yourself against the allegations, you'll need to fight in the Blythe, CA, legal system.
Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another criminal charge – arrest, arraignment, pretrial activity, and possibly trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we present reasonable doubt and fight against the accusations. We'll challenge the legitimacy of the traffic stop, argue against he officer's observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and look for witness testimony and other proof that can exonerate you.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our Blythe, CA, clients from jail time. Commonly, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also work out probation over jail or prison time.
Blythe, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension doesn't wait for your criminal case, and to effectively fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
It's typical for the criminal case to be, by and large, separate from the DMV hearing. In fact, even if you secure a plea deal for a reduced charge, that won't (directly) affect your license suspension. 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 blow, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with a Blythe, CA, DUI lawyer from our firm, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
Outside of that ten-day window, though, you're out of luck. Outside of rare cases, you don't get any more chances to arrange for that hearing. This is why it's vital to contact a Blythe DUI defense attorney immediately after being arrested.
Blythe DUI Sentences and Consequences
Blythe, CA, DUI criminal penalties can permanently affect your life – though you could 'only' be facing 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 the nature of the allegations:
| Formal DUI 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 |
In addition to any criminal sentence in Blythe, CA, you're also facing collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and career setbacks.
DUIs and Immigration
DUI immigration consequences depend on the charged offense, the conviction record, immigration status and the benefit or proceeding involved. Criminal charges, removal grounds and eligibility for citizenship require separate analysis. USCIS guidance says two or more DUI convictions during the relevant statutory period can create a rebuttable presumption of a lack of good moral character; that is not a universal rule of permanent ineligibility. H.R. 875 concerns proposed changes to DUI-related immigration grounds. Check current official legislative status and any enacted text rather than treating a proposal as an automatic outcome. Have qualified immigration counsel review a proposed plea and your individual record.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Blythe, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you can rest assured that our lawyers can guide you through both your criminal case and your citizenship process: We'll explore diversion programs that will protect you from the harshest outcomes, represent you at deportation hearings, and guide you through your citizenship application.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, odds are, you'll want to leave it in the past and move forward with your life. It doesn't take long to realize, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record doesn't go away easily. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. Fortunately, if you're in Blythe, CA, our DUI lawyers will also fight to protect you in this way, and give you a path to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Blythe: What You Need to Know
Defending yourself against a DUI in Blythe? It's critical to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the talent, preparation, and contacts to give you opportunities for a positive outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Blythe, CA, look for these signs:
- Availability: You shouldn't need to wait till 9 AM on Monday to contact an attorney. Our offices are always available if you need to talk 24/7.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. We are proud to be respected amongst our peers and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in California.
Our recent DUI Case results speak for themselves. With us, you can take advantage of a team that knows how to secure positive outcomes for our clients.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Blythe
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Blythe, CA – our DUI defense attorneys are prepared to defend you against the charges.
Here are some of the DUI cases we regularly 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 Blythe, CA
When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, your Blythe, CA, DUI attorney will draw from years of experience with effective defense strategies. 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 Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If the police did not follow proper procedure while stopping and examining you, you might be able to secure a dismissal of the charges. This defense is relevant if, for example, the police officer did not properly calibrate the breathalyzer before administering the test, that evidence is invalid.
Show Issues With BAC Tests
If your case is centered on a BAC test that put you over the legal limit, that can sound impossible to overcome. But it isn't. We will investigate any possible errors that were made when you took the test, re-examine the evidence to look for alternate explanations, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'horizontal gaze nystagmus,' are a widely-recognized way of evaluating somebody's level of impairment. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. Your local DUI lawyer will inspect any records of the test and provide alternate explanations for your performance.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Perhaps the officer properly conducted a breathalyzer test, and your BAC was .08 or higher. This may sound bad, but you do still have viable defense strategies. 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.
Start Your Defense Today – Speak With Our Blythe DUI Defense Attorneys RIGHT AWAY
When you're up against Blythe DUI charges, it feels like there's no space to breathe. You lose your right to drive, you could find yourself in an interrogation room, you get a court date…it's easy to feel overwhelmed. In order to find a way out of all that, you need to contact a DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Don't give up and let the district attorney win. Don't let your license go without a fight. Don't just hope it will all just go away. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Blythe, CA DUI charges. We're standing by to answer your call now and will start safeguarding your license and keep you out of jail as soon as you call. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a no-obligation consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Blythe, CA:
