DUI Lawyer Corona. Corona DUI charges are very serious. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. CA law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and that can even result in tougher penalties. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you need someone in your corner. Trying to fight against the prosecution is a challenge nobody should have to face on their own, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is available to protect you in Corona.
We are CA's leading DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of legal experts who know how to navigate the Corona, CA, court system and find the best result for your case.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Call right away at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start preparing your defense today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Corona?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you without a BAC level over the limit, or if you don't blow at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, probably utilizing field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on the results.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. In most DUI cases, here's how things will progress:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and the police will take away your existing license. While you're proceeding through the system, the police are informing the DMV about the arrest, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will announce what charges you're up against.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, you'll need to set up an administrative hearing with the DMV within 10 days to fight the suspension.
- Pretrial Motions: You'll likely be given bail or released on your own recognizance. In the interim, your Corona DUI defense attorney will file pretrial potions, likely including some to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While filing pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will negotiate with the Corona prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be building a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges go to trial, but if it reaches that point, we'll have a staunch defense ready for you.
- 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, you may be eligible to have your record sealed.
Our DUI legal experts can help you with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and license side. Whatever stage in the process you're at, give us a call so that we can help!
Corona DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Corona, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: 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 things to watch out for with both cases, and how we fight to protect your freedom and ability to drive:
Corona, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, which will involve legal proceedings in CA court.
The general court process is the same as any other criminal case – 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 push back against the allegations. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can tell a different story.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our clients from jail time. Often, we'll negotiate a plea deal to reduce the charges, frequently to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll alsoargue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Corona, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Corona criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect automatically, and to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
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 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 to blow, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with us, we'll fight 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 unsuspended. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's crucial to contact a Corona DUI defense lawyer immediately after an arrest.
DUI Punishments in Corona
CA DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – even though some are misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be facing, depending on the nature of the allegations:
| 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 Corona, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as rising insurance rates and potential punitive actions from professional licensing organizations.
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. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record doesn't go away easily. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. Our DUI defense team can also assist you with sealing/expunging records, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Corona: What You Need to Know
When you're facing DUI charges, it's essential to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the expertise, experience, and relationships to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Corona, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, totalling more than 50 years of experience.
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Corona and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. We're proud to have received numerous accolades and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in CA.
- Track Record of Success: Regardless of all of the points above, you want someone who knows how to get a positive outcome for your case. And we have a history of doing just that. In fact, 95% of our DUI cases result in no jail time.
Our recent DUI Case results speak for themselves. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Corona
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Corona, CA – our DUI defense team is prepared for the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI charges 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
- Drug DUI
- Drunk in Public
- DUI Alcohol
- DUI and Professional Licenses in California
- DUI Causing Injury
- DUI Checkpoint Defense Attorney
- DUI Defense Costs
- DUI Expungement in California
- DUI Immigration Consequences
- DUI Probation Violation
- DUI Marijuana
- DUI Prescription Drugs
- DUI Refusal Cases
- DUI Penalties
- 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
- Out-of-State DUI
- Public Intoxication
- Reckless Driving
- Street Racing
- Second Time DUI
- Third DUI California
- Underage DUI
- Watson Murder / DUI Murder
- Wet Reckless
Don't Wait – Contact Our Corona DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. Your license disappears, there could be interrogations, you're told you have a court date…it's easy to feel overwhelmed. And that's why it's all the more important to call a DUI defense lawyer immediately.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. 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 Corona, 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. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or set up an appointment online for a free consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Corona, CA:
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