DUI Lawyer Diamond Bar. DUI law in Diamond Bar is complex. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; 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 in some cases, refusing can give you even worse penalties. And there are differences in DUI alcohol versus DUI marijuana cases, or other drugs.
If you find yourself in this situation, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts is a battle you need a team behind you for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to defend you.
We are CA's leading DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you hire us, you're getting a team of former prosecutors who know how to navigate the Diamond Bar, CA, court system and get you the best outcome possible.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Reach out right away at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start preparing your defense strategy today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Diamond Bar?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or if you aren't tested at all. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, likely using field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on your performance.
Once this happens, 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 can start the minute the officer arrests you – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and your permanent license will be confiscated by the officer. Meanwhile, the police are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: While under arrest, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will give you a formal notice of the charges you're facing.
- 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: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. Meanwhile, your Diamond Bar DUI defense attorney will file pretrial potions, likely including some to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will negotiate with the Diamond Bar prosecutor to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Your case probably will not go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case turns out, you may face penalties. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, we may be able to help you clean your record.
Our DUI legal experts can provide you with advice on the best way to move forward, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. No matter where you are in your case, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!
Defending Against Diamond Bar DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Diamond Bar, CA, DUI charges are always a two-pronged challenge: The criminal case and the license suspension. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, 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 ways we defend your freedom and license:
Diamond Bar, 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 – first, you're arrested. Second, you're informed of the charges at an arraignment. Third, you go through pre-trial motions and negotiations. And finally, if it comes to it, a trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we build your defense and push back against the allegations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, 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 show you are not guilty.
The vast majority of our DUI clients in Diamond Bar do not receive any jail sentence. For several cases, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, frequently to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll alsowork out probation over jail or prison time.
Diamond Bar, CA, DUI License Suspension
On the other side of a Diamond Bar DUI charge is the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension doesn't wait for your criminal case, and to fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest.
The criminal charges are not always relevant in the DMV hearing. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, the outcome of the DMV hearing hinges on 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. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we'll challenge the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If it's been more than ten days after your arrest, though, you're out of luck. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Diamond Bar DUI defense attorney as soon as you can after an arrest.
DUI Punishments in Diamond Bar
CA DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – even for the ones considered misdemeanors, you could still end up with a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, we've listed the different penalties you could be trying to avoid, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense:
| 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 |
You'll also be facing significant collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and roadblocks when applying for professional licenses.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. Unfortunately, your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, you may be eligible to either expunge or seal your records. A DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Diamond Bar: What You Need to Know
Up against DUI charges? It's crucial to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the skills, experience, and relationships to find the best outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Diamond Bar, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, totalling more than 50 years of experience.
- Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. You can get a hold of us 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Diamond Bar and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is proud to have received top ratings from several legal evaluators and to be recognized as the top DUI lawyer in CA.
- 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're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Defend Against in Diamond Bar
Criminal and administrative, whatever type of DUI charges you're fighting in Diamond Bar, CA – the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared to battle against the charges.
Below are some of the DUI case types we typically 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 – Call Our Diamond Bar DUI Defense Lawyers NOW
After a DUI arrest, it feels like there's no space to breathe. The police officer takes your license, you might be interrogated, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to be overwhelmed. In order to find a way out of all that, you need to call a DUI defense lawyer right away.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't let your license go without a fight. Don't just sit idly by while everything collapses. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to defend you.
We're experts at defending all Diamond Bar, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case now and will begin protecting your license and your rights immediately. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online for a confidential consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Diamond Bar, CA:
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