DUI Lawyer Pasadena. DUI law in Pasadena is complex. This isn't just an administrative issue; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. If you declined to take an alcohol test, you can face separate charges, and when you refuse, you can face the same penalties as a high blood-alcohol level DUI. And fighting against a DUI case involving drugs is very different than fighting against a DUI involving alcohol.
When you're up against the CA legal system, you shouldn't need to do this without help. Trying to defeat the allegations is a challenge nobody should have to face on their own, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is prepared for any DUI charges in Pasadena, CA.
We are California's leading DUI defense lawyers and have extensive experience defending against all types of DUI charges. When you hire us, you're getting a team of accomplished defense attorneys who know how to fight for you in the Pasadena, CA, judicial system and find the best result for your case.
If you wait too long to build a defense, it could become too late. Speak with one of our attorneys 24/7 at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your charges online to start preparing your case's defense today.
Pasadena, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
Nobody gets excited when they see red and blue flashing lights behind them, but it's still important to know how to handle a traffic stop. Here are four tips from a Pasadena, CA, DUI Lawyer for you to help you get through any traffic stops unscathed:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
Your heart might start to pound as soon as the police officer asks for your ID, registration, and insurance. If you're struggling to locate them and keep hold of them, the officer may think you're intoxicated. When you're already prepared to give them to the officer, 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 both before and after an arrest. 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: Respect the Law Enforcement Officer
Arguing with the officer won't help — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. 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 Pasadena?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you independant of your blood alcohol concentration, or even if you don't blow at all. Police officers can do this because they when they rely on other methods to tell if you are impaired, often utilizing field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on how you do.
Once this happens, 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: 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: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Most people accused of DUIs in Pasadena, CA, are able to secure pretrial release, although they'll likely need to pay bail. In the meantime, your Pasadena DUI defense attorney will file pretrial motions, likely including some to throw out illegal evidence, and a "blood split" motion to get a second test for your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: At the same time as pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will bargain with the Pasadena prosecutor 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 refining a defense strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: It's unlikely that your DUI case will go to trial, but we're prepared to defend your license and freedom if it does.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on the result of your case, you may face sanctions. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, you may be eligible to have your record sealed.
Our DUI legal experts can provide guidance for any charge, on both the criminal defense and driver's license side. Whether you've just been arrested or are on the eve of your trial (or anywhere in-between), give us a call so that we can help!
Pasadena DUI Allegations and Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Pasadena, CA, DUI charges include two separate fights: The criminal case and the driver's case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but a leading DUI defense attorney from our offices will fight for you in both cases.
Here are descriptions of both case categories, and how we fight to protect your justice and vehicular rights:
Pasadena, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. And that means you'll have to go to Pasadena, 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 present reasonable doubt and push back against the accusations. We'll challenge the legitimacy of the traffic stop, argue against he officer's observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and hunt for other evidence that can show the events in a more favorable light.
We have an extremely strong track record of clients who have avoided jail time in Pasadena, CA. For many clients, we'll plea bargain for a reduction of the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also avoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Pasadena, 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 to successfully fight it, you'll need to request an administrative hearing within ten days of being arrested.
In many cases, the status of your criminal case doesn't have a huge impact on the DMV hearing. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, this administrative hearing is focused on if you were rightfully arrested, if your BAC was at or above 0.08, the legal limit, or, if you refused BAC tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you work with us, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If the tenth day since the arrest has passed, though, the suspension is probably hear to stay. Outside of rare cases, you don't get an extra chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's vital to contact a Pasadena DUI defense attorney as soon as you can after being arrested.
DUI Punishments in Pasadena
Pasadena, 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.
On this table, you can review the different penalties you could be trying to avoid, depending on how exactly your charged and your history:
| DUI Criminal Charge | 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 Pasadena, CA legal sentence collateral consequences, such as increased insurance premiums and roadblocks when applying for 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.
If any of the above situations apply to you, don't panic: Call one of our Pasadena, CA, immigration lawyers to get immediate help. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we can help you in all aspects of your case: We'll explore diversion programs to protect your record, fight against removal proceedings, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
After the case, regardless of the outcome, it's natural to want to move on and leave this in the past. The bad news is that 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 Pasadena, CA, DUI defense lawyer from the Law Offices of David S. Chesley can also assist with this process, and give you a path to clean your record.
Important Qualities You Need in a Pasadena, CA DUI Attorney
Up against DUI charges? It's vital to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the skills, history, and ties to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When you speak with Pasadena, CA, DUI attorneys about your case, ask them about the following:
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. 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: Not just with clients and friends, but also amongst their peers. 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 California.
Our recent DUI Case results speak for themselves. We want you to be our next success story.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Pasadena
Criminal and administrative, whatever type of DUI charges you're fighting in Pasadena, CA – all of our DUI defense attorneys are prepared for the charges.
Here are some 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 Strategies in Pasadena, CA
If you want to craft an effective defense strategy, our Pasadena, CA, DUI lawyers are here to help. There is no one-size-fits-all defensive strategy against DUI allegations, but below, we've listed out some of the most effective ones.
Challenge the Legitimacy of the Traffic Stop
If law enforcement made a mistake while conducting their investigation, we can argue for your case to be dismissed. This defense is a good option if, for example, the officer did not observe you for the full 15-minute period required before asking you to take a breath test.
Show Issues With Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
If you were arrested and given a breathalyzer, blood, or urine test, that can be the center of the prosecution's case. Our team will look into any potential procedural errors, retest in some cases, using a "blood-split" motion, and highlight any errors in the chain of custody.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'walk-and-turn,' are a widely-recognized way of evaluating somebody's level of impairment. But you can still challenge them – they are not ironclad proof of guilt. Your local DUI lawyer will inspect any records of the test and point out situations where law enforcement unfairly failed our clients on these tests.
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, there are still ways to fight it. 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 Immediate Help – Call Our Pasadena DUI Defense Attorneys RIGHT AWAY
When you're up against Pasadena DUI charges, it can feel like you barely have a chance to think. Your license disappears, you might be interrogated, you're told you have a court date…it's easy to be stressed out. And that's why it's all the more important to contact a DUI defense lawyer 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 fight for you.
We're experts at defending all Pasadena, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case today and will start safeguarding your license and your liberty as soon as you call. Speak with a lawyer now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a free, confidential consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Pasadena, CA:
