DUI Lawyer Murrieta. Murrieta 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. 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 help from a DUI defense expert. Trying to navigate the laws and the courts is a fight you want backup for, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is available to protect you in Murrieta.
We are CA's best DUI defense lawyers and have successfully fought countless DUI charges. When you hire us, you're getting a team of accomplished defense attorneys who know how to navigate the Murrieta, CA, court system and get you the best outcome possible.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Get in touch right away at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start building your defense today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Murrieta?
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, likely using field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on your performance.
As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, while the officer will keep your regular license. While you're proceeding through the system, 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 inform you of the charges against you.
- 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. Meanwhile, your Murrieta DUI defense lawyer will file pretrial potions, likely including some to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: Inbetween pretrial motions, your DUI defense lawyer will work directly with the Murrieta prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if the case goes to trial, your attorney should be preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case proceeds, you may face sanctions. 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 help you out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and license side. No matter where you are in your case, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!
Murrieta DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Murrieta, 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 both cases can be fought by the same DUI defense lawyer.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and ways we defend your liberty and license:
Murrieta, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
Your DUI case will typically go through the same process as any other criminal charge – 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 craft a staunch defense and push back against the supposed wrongdoing. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, argue against he officer's observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and see if there's anything the police missed that can show you are not guilty.
The vast majority of our DUI clients in Murrieta do not receive any jail sentence. Often, we'll work out a plea for reduced charges, frequently to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll alsoavoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Murrieta, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry about the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension doesn't wait for your criminal case, and if you want 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, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. 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. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
After ten days, though, you're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Murrieta DUI defense attorney immediately after an arrest.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in Murrieta
CA DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – even though some are 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 increased insurance premiums and barriers between you and 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. However, your arrest and/or criminal record keeps coming up and getting in your way. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible 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.
How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer
When you're facing DUI charges, it's key to pick the right lawyer to defend you. Your team needs the skills, practice, and connections to secure a positive outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Murrieta, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: If it's both for and against the state, even better. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and police, totalling over 50 years of experience.
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. You can get a hold of us 24/7.
- Relationships: You need connections to get a good plea deal. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Murrieta and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: Both in the community and in the legal sphere. 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 want you to be our next success story.
DUI Case Types We Defend Against in Murrieta
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Murrieta, CA – our DUI defense attorneys are prepared to defend you against the charges.
Here are some 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 Murrieta DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
When you're up against Murrieta DUI charges, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. Your license is suspended, you might be interrogated, you're informed of a court date…it's easy to be out of control. With everything going on, your best way out is to hire a DUI defense lawyer immediately.
Don't wait for the prosecution to build a case against you. Don't let your license go 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 Murrieta, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case now and will work on a strategy to defend your license and your freedom as soon as you call. Reach out to us now at (800) 755-5174 or set up an appointment online for a free, confidential consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Murrieta, CA:
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