DUI Lawyer Redondo Beach. DUI law in Redondo Beach is complex. You're not just facing the loss of your license; you're also facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. You can face DUI charges even for just refusing to take the tests, and the consequences you face might be even worse than a DUI conviction. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.
If you've been accused of a DUI in Redondo Beach, CA, you shouldn't need to do this without help. Trying to fight against the prosecution is a problem you shouldn't have to solve without help, which is why the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here to fight for your rights.
Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Get in touch anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or tell us how we can help online to start constructing your defense today.
Redondo Beach, CA, DUI Lawyer Traffic Stop Tips:
We'd all love to drive without any risk of being pulled over, but it's still important to know how to handle a traffic stop. Below are four tips from a Redondo Beach, CA, DUI Lawyer for you that will guide you through your next traffic stop:
Tip #1: Be Prepared With Your Documents
It's typical for an officer to request for your license, registration, and proof of insurance during a traffic stop. With an officer staring you down, asking for documents you may not have had to touch in months, it's easy to get flustered. When you're already prepared to give them to the officer, you avoid that risk.
Tip #2: Be Silent When Alcohol Is Smelled
If either the officer alleges that they smell alcohol, or you can smell alcohol yourself, don't answer any questions. You have Fifth Amendment protections at all points in the legal process. Call your DUI lawyer and stay quiet until they arrive.
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
Acting belligerent and uncooperative won't help — it will increase your chances of getting in trouble. This doesn't just help you get through the traffic stop; it also aids 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 could contribute to their probable cause to arrest you.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Redondo Beach?
California DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you regardless of your blood alcohol level, or even if you don't blow at all. California allows the police to make a call about whether or not you were driving impaired regardless of your alcohol level, probably using field sobriety tests, then decide whether or not to arrest you based on your performance.
If you've been placed under arrest, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. Here's the typical process for a DUI case to make its way through the system:
- 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 want to set up a DMV hearing within 10 days to protect your license.
- Pretrial Motions: You'll likely be given bail or released on your own recognizance. While you're waiting for the trial, your Redondo Beach DUI defense attorney will file pretrial motions, likely including some to throw out illegal evidence, and a "blood split" motion to reexamine your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: At the same time as pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will speak with the Redondo Beach district attorney to present you with plea deal offers that could protect your freedom. But if that doesn't work, your attorney should be preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: Most DUI cases won't go to trial, but just in case it does, our team always crafts a trial-ready defense.
- Sentencing/Sealing: Depending on how your case turns out, 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 help you out, no matter where you are in the process, on both the criminal defense and administrative side. No matter where you are in your case, our team has the knowledge to guide you forward!
Redondo Beach DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Redondo Beach, 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. 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 important factors for both case types, and ways we defend your freedom and right to drive:
Redondo Beach, 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 – first, you're arrested. Second, you're informed of the charges at an arraignment. Third, you go through pretrial motions and negotiations. And finally, if it comes to it, a trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we build your defense and discredit the charges. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, demonstrate any present errors in the police officer's judgement, look for faults in laboratory examinations, and search for other witnesses or evidence that can exonerate you.
We know what it takes to keep DUI defense clients out of jail in Redondo Beach, CA. For several cases, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, typically to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll also argue for probation to maintain your freedom.
Redondo Beach, CA, DUI License Suspension
Meanwhile, you need to worry 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.
The criminal charges are not always relevant in the DMV hearing. In fact, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. 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 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 waited too long and it's past the deadline to request a hearing, though, you're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to request that hearing. This is why it's vital to contact a Redondo Beach DUI defense lawyer right away after the arrest.
Sentence You Could Face for a DUI in Redondo Beach, CA
Redondo Beach, CA, DUI criminal penalties can permanently affect your life – though you could 'only' be facing misdemeanors, you're still facing a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Below, we've listed the different penalties you could be looking to avoid, depending on the nature of the allegations:
| Formal DUI 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 any sentence that a judge in Redondo Beach, CA, sentences you to, you also need to worry about collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance 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.
These accusations can be intimidating, but they are not the end. Your Redondo Beach, CA, immigration lawyer can give you practical advice on what comes next. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we know that you need someone who has knowledge of both immigration and criminal law. We have both: We'll explore diversion programs and plea deals that can keep a DUI off your record, fight to keep you in the country, and act as your guide through the citizenship application process.
After the Case: Expungement/Sealing
Whether you're found innocent or not, you'll probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. You'll find, though, that your arrest and/or criminal record doesn't go away easily. Depending on your case outcome, it might be possible to either expunge or seal your records. A Redondo Beach, CA, DUI defense lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you a path to clean your record.
When You're Picking a Redondo Beach, CA, DUI Lawyer, Consider These Factors
No matter what DUI allegations you've been charged with, it's key to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the proficiency, background, and relationships to find the best outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA, look for these signs:
- Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our offices are always available if you need to talk 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. We're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Take On in Redondo Beach
It doesn't matter what kind of DUI you're facing in Redondo Beach, CA – all of our DUI defense attorneys are prepared help you navigate the charges.
Below are some of the DUI cases we often 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 Tactics in Redondo Beach, CA
When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, your Redondo Beach, CA, DUI attorney will draw from years of experience with effective defense strategies. Choosing the correct defense for your particular circumstances is essential in finding the best possible outcome. Below are some of the most effective ones.
Contest the Legality of the Arrest
If the officer didn't have probable cause to pull you over, or made an error when interviewing you, we can argue for your case to be dismissed. This defense is a good option if, for example, the police officer pulled you over without probable cause, the entire traffic stop could be made invalid.
Show Issues With Blood, Breath, and/or Urine Tests
If your case is centered on a BAC test that put you over the legal limit, that can sound impossible to overcome. But it isn't. Our team will highlight the ways that these tests can give false readings, retest when possible, and advocate for you during the discovery process to identify flaws in the state's evidence.
Challenge Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests, like 'one-leg stand,' are a widely-recognized way of evaluating somebody's level of impairment. But field sobriety tests are not objective measures of whether you're safe to drive or not. Our attorneys will review the footage and show whether or not you were fairly judged.
Explain BAC With Medical Conditions
Perhaps the officer properly conducted a breathalyzer test, and your BAC was .08 or higher. This may sound bad, but you do still have viable defense strategies. We can examine your diet and medical conditions to find alternative explanations.
Start Your Defense Today – Contact Our Redondo Beach DUI Defense Lawyers NOW
Redondo Beach, CA, DUI accusations are serious. After an arrest, you'll hardly get a chance to catch your breath. You can't drive anymore, law enforcement might try to do additional tests, you get a court date…it's easy to feel out of control. With everything going on, your best way out is to call aRedondo Beach, CA, DUI attorney right away.
Don't let the state decide how your case will go. Don't lose your ability to drive without a fight. Don't just hope it will all just go away. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to fight for you.
We're experts at defending all Redondo Beach, CA DUI charges. We're standing by to answer your call today and will start safeguarding your license and keep you out of jail as soon as you call. Get a hold of us now at (800) 755-5174 or let us know what you need online for a free, confidential consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Redondo Beach, CA:
