DUI Lawyer Lancaster. Lancaster DUI charges are very serious. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. Declining a breathalyzer or blood test on its own can result in charges, and in some cases, refusing can give you even worse 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 defend yourself against the charges is a battle you need a team behind you for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared to defend your freedom.
We are CA's top 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 accomplished defense attorneys who know how to protect you in the Lancaster, CA, legal system and find the best result for your case.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Get in touch right away at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start preparing your defense today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Lancaster?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or if you aren't tested at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, probably using field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on that.
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 can start the minute the officer arrests you – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, and the police will take away your existing license. Meanwhile, the police are providing a record of the arrest to the CA DMV, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will be brought before a judge, and a prosecutor will announce what charges you're up against.
- DMV Hearing: While all of the criminal proceedings are going on, 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. In the meantime, your Lancaster DUI defense lawyer will be filing motions, including motions to suppress evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While filing pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will work directly with the Lancaster prosecutor to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges 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, 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. For advice on any stage with your charges, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!
Lancaster DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Lancaster, CA, DUI charges can be twice as complicated as some other charges, because of their two-sided nature: The criminal case and the administrative case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but both cases can be fought by the same DUI defense lawyer.
Here are the key things to be aware of for each, and ways we defend your freedom and driving privileges:
Lancaster, 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 – 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 attack the supposed wrongdoing. 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 result in a not guilty plea.
The vast majority of our DUI clients in Lancaster do not receive any jail sentence. Frequently, 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.
Lancaster, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Lancaster 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.
At the administrative hearing, you're not facing criminal charges. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. 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 alcohol tests, 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.
After ten days, though, you'll likely have to endure the suspension. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Lancaster DUI defense attorney as soon as you can after being arrested.
Lancaster DUI Sentences and Consequences
CA DUI criminal penalties are a lot to face – while many are considered misdemeanors, you could still end up with 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 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 |
You'll also be facing significant collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and barriers between you and professional licenses.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found guilty or not guilty, you'll want to get back to life as normal, before the charges. Unfortunately, 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. A DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you a chance to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Lancaster: 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 skills, experience, and ties to secure a positive outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Lancaster, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience.
- Availability: DUI allegations can happen any time, day or night. We're available 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Lancaster 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: 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 want you to be our next success story.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Lancaster
Criminal and administrative, whatever type of DUI charges you're fighting in Lancaster, CA – our DUI defense attorneys are prepared to battle against the charges.
Here are some of the DUI case types we commonly 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
Start Your Defense Today – Contact Our Lancaster DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY
After a DUI arrest, things move pretty fast. You lose your license, you might be interrogated, you're told you have a court date…it's easy to be out of control. With everything going on, your best way out is to contact a DUI defense attorney right away.
Don't give the state a chance to put you behind bars. Don't lose your license because you missed the DMV hearing window. Don't wait and realize that it's suddenly too late. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.
We're experts at defending all Lancaster, CA DUI charges. We're equipped with the tools to build your case today and will start safeguarding your license and keep you out of jail as soon as you call. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a confidential consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Lancaster, CA:
Payment Plans
