DUI Lawyer Pico Rivera. If you're up against a DUI in Pico Rivera, it can feel overwhelming. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; 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 that can even result in tougher penalties. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
If you're facing these types of charges in CA, you need someone in your corner. 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 fight for your rights.
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 defend your rights in the Pico Rivera, CA, court system and find the best result for your case.
Take too long to start your defense, and you could miss your chance. Get a hold of us anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start preparing your defense strategy today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Pico Rivera?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or if you don't blow at all. Officers are able to arrest you this way because CA allows them to make subjective judgements, likely utilizing 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. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, while the officer will keep your regular license. In the meantime, they are informing the DMV about the arrest, which updates their records to show your license as suspended.
- Arraignment: After your arrest and before your release, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will tell you the exact laws you're charged with breaking.
- DMV Hearing: Separate from the criminal charges, you'll want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. In the meantime, your Pico Rivera DUI defense lawyer will file motions to strengthen your defense, such as ones to dismiss charges, and a "blood split" motion to have an independent lab examine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: While filing pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will work directly with the Pico Rivera prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if you do have to fight the charges in a trial, your attorney should be crafting a strategy now.
- Criminal Trial: Only a small percentage of DUI charges go to trial, but if it reaches that point, we'll have a staunch defense ready for you.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case turns out, you may face some form of sentence. 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 with any step of the legal process, on both the criminal defense and license side. No matter where you are in your case, we have the experience to help you move towards a positive outcome!
Pico Rivera DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Pico Rivera, CA, DUI charges are always a two-pronged challenge: The criminal case and the administrative case. These are handled separately by the state, but a skilled DUI defense attorney will help you with both.
Here are some things you need to know about both, and insights into how we protect your liberty and license:
Pico Rivera, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, for which you will need to go through the CA legal system.
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 defend your freedom and attack the allegations. We'll deconstruct the traffic stop, question the legitimacy of the officer's subjective observations, look for weaknesses in the breathalyzer test, and look for evidence that can result in a not guilty plea.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our clients from jail time. In many 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.
Pico Rivera, CA, DUI License Suspension
On the other side of a Pico Rivera DUI charge is the DMV and your license suspension. This suspension goes into effect automatically, and if you want 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, you can lose your license regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. 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 BAC tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we'll fight the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If you miss that ten-day deadline, though, you're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's important to contact a Pico Rivera DUI defense attorney right away after an arrest.
Pico Rivera DUI Sentences and Consequences
CA DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – while many are considered misdemeanors, it's possible to receive a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
In this table, you can review the different penalties you could be trying to avoid, depending on the nature of the allegations:
| 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 |
On top of whatever sentence you receive in Pico Rivera court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and barriers between you and professional licenses.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whatever happens in the court case, odds are, you'll want to leave it in the past and move forward with your life. You'll find, though, that 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.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Pico Rivera: What You Need to Know
No matter what DUI alleges you've been charged with, it's essential to pick the right lawyer to fight for you. Your team needs the expertise, experience, and connections to secure a positive outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Pico Rivera, 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 more than 50 years of experience.
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Pico Rivera 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: Winners win. It's as simple as that. And we win, a lot. 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 Pico Rivera
Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Pico Rivera, CA – our DUI defense lawyers are prepared to battle against the charges.
Below are some of the DUI allegations 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
- 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 Pico Rivera DUI Defense Attorneys NOW
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, things move pretty fast. Your license disappears, they might try to do additional tests, you're given a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. With everything going on, your best way out is to call an attorney immediately.
Don't sit by and watch the evidence mount against you. Don't miss your chance for a DMV administrative hearing to protect your license. 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 Pico Rivera, CA DUI charges. We're prepared to start building your defense now and will start safeguarding your license and your rights immediately. Get a hold 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 Pico Rivera, CA:
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