DUI Lawyer Corona. If convicted, a DUI can permanently change your life for the worse. You're not just facing the loss of your license; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. You can face DUI charges even for just refusing to take the tests, and by declining, you could face even harsher penalties. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
If you've been accused of a DUI in Corona, CA, you should consult with an expert to find your best path forward. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to stand by your side.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and have extensive experience defending against all types of DUI charges. When you work with us, you're getting a team of DUI defense experts who know how to defend your rights in the Corona, CA, justice system and will always be honest with you about the state of your case and the best path forward.
If you wait too long to build a defense, it could become too late. Call anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start building your defense strategy today.
Corona, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Most people don't plan to be pulled over, but even if you've done nothing wrong, you need to know how to navigate the situation. Below are four tips from a Corona, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Keep Your Documents Together
Keep your license, insurance card, and vehicle registration together and easily accessible. Many sober people will have trouble gathering up these documents under pressure. By following this tip, you avoid that risk.
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. Don't talk without an attorney present.
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: Treat the Officer Respectfully
Resisting the police won't improve your case — it will come back to bite you. This is about more than just avoiding an arrest in the short term; it also benefits your defense: When you resist or act disrespectfully, you are giving the police more evidence, which may help justify an arrest.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Corona?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal limit, 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 the results.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system will proceed with both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- 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: 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: In most DUI cases, you'll be released in some capacity pending a trial. Meanwhile, your Corona DUI defense attorney will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to review the arrest footage, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While working through pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will contact the Corona district attorney to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if the prosecutor won't give you a favorable offer, your attorney should be creating a defense now.
- Criminal Trial: Your case probably will not go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how you plea or are found, you may face sanctions. 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 help you fight any allegation, on both the criminal defense and bureaucratic side. If you need help today, give us a call so that we can help!
Defending Against Corona DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Corona, CA, DUI charges include two separate fights: The criminal case and the DMV case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.
Here are some things you need to know about both, and what our attorneys will do for your justice and vehicular rights:
Corona, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Corona, 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 discredit the supposed wrongdoing. We'll challenge the legitimacy of the traffic stop, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for contaminations or errors in blood, breath, or urine tests, and look for evidence that can result in a not guilty plea.
The vast majority of our DUI clients in Corona do not receive any jail sentence. For many clients, we'll contact the district attorney on their behalf and negotiate a charge reduction, 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.
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 doesn't wait for your criminal case, and to successfully 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, no matter what the court decision was, it won't automatically give you back your license. Instead, the focus of this hearing is 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 us, we'll argue over the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If it's been more than ten days after your arrest, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license unsuspended. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Corona DUI defense attorney promptly after the arrest.
Punishments After a DUI Conviction in Corona, CA
Corona, CA, DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – while many are considered misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, you can read through 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 Corona, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and barriers between you and professional licenses.
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.
Whether you are an immigrant citizen, are here on a work visa, or are anywhere in between, a Corona, CA, immigration lawyer can help you navigate the situation. 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 to protect your record, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and offer expert advice as you apply for citizenship.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found guilty or not guilty, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A Corona, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a Corona, CA DUI Attorney
Up against DUI charges? It's crucial to pick the right lawyer to defend your innocence. Your team needs the abilities, history, and relationships to find the best outcome for your case. The top Corona, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:
- Availability: You should be able to get help fast, whenever you need it. We're available 24/7.
- Local procedure: Ask who will handle your case, how counsel will confirm the assigned court and hearing dates, and how the evidence and applicable law will guide negotiations with the prosecutor.
- Reputation: Having a good reputation as someone who secures positive outcomes for clients is essential. 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. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Corona
Administrative, criminal, or anything else related to DUIs in Corona, CA – all of our DUI defense attorneys are prepared for the charges.
This is a list of the DUI cases 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 Tactics in Corona, CA
Our Corona, CA, DUI lawyers will examine your case and suggest a defensive strategy that will maximize your chances of a positive outcome. Choosing the correct defense for your particular circumstances is essential in finding the best possible outcome. Below are some of the most effective ones.
Challenge the Legality of the Traffic Stop
If law enforcement made a mistake while conducting their investigation, your case could be thrown out on legal grounds. 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
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. We will investigate any possible errors that were made when you took the test, retest when possible, and look for any issues in how the evidence was handled.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'horizontal gaze nystagmus,' are standard practice for police officers to use. But you can still challenge them – they are not ironclad proof of guilt. An experienced Corona, CA, DUI attorney will know how to dissect any records and provide additional context for your performance, such as the stress of the situation.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
While the police can make mistakes with breathalyzer tests, most of the time they perform them properly. This could be bad news if you were tested and your BAC was .08 or higher. While this is can be difficult to overcome, we won't give up yet. 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.
Get Rapid Assistance – Speak With Our Corona DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY
When you're up against Corona DUI charges, it can be a whirlwind of legal processes. You lose your license, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you're assigned a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. Your path forward begins when you hire aCorona, CA, DUI lawyer now.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. 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 Corona, CA DUI charges. We're available to help right now and will can fight for your license and your rights today. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a no strings attached consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Corona, CA:
