DUI Lawyer Inglewood. Inglewood DUI charges are very serious. This isn't just an administrative issue; if you're facing years in prison for a repeat offense, your car is the least of your worries. If you declined to take an alcohol test, you can face separate charges, and in some cases, refusing can give you even worse penalties. And while the same CA law covers DUIs involving alcohol and other drugs, the defense strategies can be wildly different.
If you're facing these types of charges in CA, you need help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to fight against the prosecution is a fight that you need a team for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is at your service.
While you're hesitating, the odds are stacking up against you. Get a hold of us 24/7 at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start preparing your case's defense today.
Inglewood, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Most people don't plan to be pulled over, but knowing what to do if you are in a traffic stop can help you avoid an arrest. Here are four tips from a Inglewood, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to use the next time a police officer stops you on the road:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
After being pulled over, but before the police officer approaches your car, grab your license, vehicle registration, and insurance documentation. If you're struggling to locate them and keep hold of them, the officer may think you're intoxicated. But if you already have them ready, you stop yourself from appearing inebriated.
Tip #2: Don't Talk If Alcohol Is Smelled
If there's a scent of alcohol on your person or in your vehicle, don't talk. You have the right to remain silent during any form of questioning. Protect yourself by keeping quiet until your lawyer arrives.
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: Be Polite and Don't Argue
Arguing with the officer won't help — it will make things worse. Nobody enjoys being pulled over, but remaining calm and respectful not only makes it easier for the officer; it also benefits your defense: Any time you open your mouth, whether or not the police asked you a question, you are giving the police more evidence, which may come back up later in court.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Inglewood?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or even if you aren't tested at all. California allows the police to make a call about whether or not you were driving impaired regardless of your alcohol level, often with field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on their evaluation of you.
Once this happens, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. After the arrest, be prepared for the following:
- 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 meantime, your Inglewood DUI defense attorney will file pretrial motions, likely including some to throw out illegal evidence, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will negotiate with the Inglewood prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if that doesn't work, your attorney should be refining a defense strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Outside of extraordinary circumstances, it's rare for a DUI case to go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- 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, it's possible that your record will be eligible for sealing.
Our DUI legal experts can provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and bureaucratic side. If you're facing a potential conviction, call now and we'll be happy to assist!
Defending Against Inglewood DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Inglewood, CA, DUI charges are special because of their dual-nature: The criminal case and the driver's case. In CA, these are always two separate processes, but a leading DUI defense attorney from our offices will fight for you in both cases.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and our process for defending your freedom and ability to drive:
Inglewood, 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 Inglewood, CA, legal system.
Most of the steps in a DUI criminal case are identical to that of another criminal charge – after being formally told what crime you're being charged with, you'll likely be given terms of release and undergo pretrial procedures such as filing motions. As we mentioned above, trials are rare in DUI cases, but it is possible for them to reach that stage.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we listen to your side of the story and push back against the criminal accusations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, poke holes in the subjective analysis of the officer, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and see if there's anything the police missed that can show the events in a more favorable light.
If you're facing jail time in Inglewood, CA, our attorneys can help you avoid it. Frequently, 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.
Inglewood, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Inglewood criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension is automatically applied, and if you want to 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, no matter what the court decision was, it won't automatically give you back your license. Instead, the outcome of the DMV hearing hinges on whether or not you were legitimately arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused to cooperate when the officer tried to test you, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. These hearings have serious consequences that require an expert Inglewood, CA, DUI lawyer to navigate. At the hearing, we'll fight 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 back immediately. Outside of rare cases, you don't get any more chances to arrange for that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Inglewood DUI defense lawyer right away after the arrest.
Punishments After a DUI Conviction in Inglewood, CA
Inglewood, CA, DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – though you could 'only' be facing misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, you can read through the different penalties you could be fighting against, depending on how exactly your charged and your history:
| 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 Inglewood, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums 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.
A DUI accusation doesn't have to end your time in the United States. You can get help from your Inglewood, CA, immigration lawyer. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we don't stop at just defending you against the criminal charge: We'll explore diversion programs and plea deals that can keep a DUI off your record, defend you against efforts to expel you from the country, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. Unfortunately, your arrest and/or criminal record can cause some major issues for your life. Depending on your case outcome, you could have an avenue to either expunge or seal your records. A Inglewood, CA, DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you a chance to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Inglewood: What You Need to Know
Defending yourself against a DUI in Inglewood? It's essential to pick the right lawyer to defend your innocence. Your team needs the abilities, history, and ties to give you opportunities for a positive outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Inglewood, CA, look for these signs:
- Availability: You should be able to get help fast, whenever you need it. You can get a hold of us 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. And we'd be proud to represent you as well.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Inglewood
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Inglewood, CA – our DUI defense attorneys are prepared to defend you against the charges.
This is a list of the DUI allegations 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
- 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 Inglewood, CA
If you want to craft an effective defense strategy, our Inglewood, CA, DUI lawyers are here to help. When fighting cases, here are some of the possible defenses we'll use.
Challenge the Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
The police need to follow rules when initiating a traffic stop and investigating a potential DUI. If they broke those rules, we can challenge the evidence, and even the legitimacy of the case itself. This defense is effective if, for example, you were not read your Miranda rights before an interrogation, anything you said could be thrown out.
Flaws in Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
Many DUI cases center around a blood-alcohol content test. Our team will investigate whether or not the procedure was followed when administering the tests, push for tests to be redone, and find any other mistakes law enforcement made that could exonerate you.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are often used by officers to evaluate whether someone is impaired or not. But ultimately, these are judgment calls on the part of the officer. Your local DUI lawyer will inspect any records of the test and look for expert analysis that will show your performance in a more favorable light.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
In most cases, law enforcement will follow proper procedure when testing your blood alcohol level. Let's say that this is true for your stop, and your BAC was over the legal limit. While this is can be difficult to overcome, it's not the end of your case. Medications and health conditions can create false positives – even just over-the-counter cold medicine often contain alcohol, which can linger in your mouth, impacting the test.
Get Immediate Help – Speak With Our Inglewood DUI Defense Lawyers TODAY
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, it feels like there's no space to breathe. You lose your right to drive, there could be interrogations, you get a court date…it's easy to be lost. What you need to do is call an attorney immediately.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't wait too long and lose your driving privileges. Don't try to handle it on your own. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to represent you.
We're experts at defending all Inglewood, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case immediately and will can fight for your license and your freedom right away. Speak with a lawyer 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 Inglewood, CA:
