DUI Lawyer Riverside. Riverside DUI charges are very serious. Your ability to drive isn't the only thing at risk; criminal charges can result in prison, fines, and additional harsh penalties. CA law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and in some cases, refusing can give you even worse penalties. And while the same CA law covers DUIs involving alcohol and other drugs, the defense strategies can be wildly different.
If you find yourself in this situation, you don't want to be alone. 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 ready to stand by your side.
We are CA's leading 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 navigate the Riverside, CA, court system and find the best result for your case.
Don't wait and let your chance slip away. Reach out 24/7 at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to start preparing your defense strategy today.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Riverside?
CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you blow below the legal 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, probably via field sobriety tests, then arrest you based on the results.
Right after your arrest, the CA legal system automatically begins the process for both a license suspension and criminal charges. You can expect the following steps to play out in your case:
- Suspension: Your license suspension can start the minute the officer arrests you – at that time, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, while the officer will keep your regular license. While you're proceeding through the system, they 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 go to court, and a prosecutor will announce what charges you're up against.
- DMV Hearing: As soon as you're released from jail, you'll need to set up an administrative hearing with the DMV within 10 days to fight the suspension.
- Pretrial Motions: Often, at the same time as your arraignment, the court will set conditions for your release, pending a trial. Meanwhile, your Riverside DUI defense lawyer will file pretrial potions, likely including some to suppress unlawfully collected evidence, and a "blood split" motion to retest your blood sample.
- Negotiations With the Prosecutor: At the same time as pretrial motions, your DUI defense attorney will work directly with the Riverside prosecutor to try and secure a favorable deal before a trial. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be preparing now.
- Criminal Trial: Your case probably will not 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 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 provide you with advice on the best way to move forward, on both the criminal defense and license side. For advice on any stage with your charges, give us a call so that we can help!
Defending Against Riverside DUIs: Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings
Riverside, CA, DUI charges include two separate fights: The criminal case and the DMV case. Different CA organizations cover each of these aspects, but both cases can be fought by the same DUI defense lawyer.
Here are things to watch out for with both cases, and how we fight to protect your liberty and driving privileges:
Riverside, CA, DUI Criminal Charges
Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges. To fight them, you'll have to go through CA courts.
The general court process is the same as any other criminal case – arrest, arraignment, pretrial activity, and possibly trial.
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we defend your freedom and attack the charges. We'll challenge the legitimacy of 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 show you are not guilty.
With our defense strategies, we are almost always successful at protecting our clients from jail time. For several cases, we'll get the prosecutor to reduce the charges, frequently to a wet reckless, exhibition of speed, or reckless driving charge. We'll alsoavoid jail time with a probation sentence.
Riverside, CA, DUI License Suspension
While your Riverside criminal charges may be top of mind, don't forget 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, your license can still be suspended even if you do not receive a criminal conviction. 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 BAC tests, whether or not you were properly informed of the consequences. When you hire us, we'll question the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.
If it's been more than ten days after your arrest, though, you're out of options. Outside of rare cases, you don't get a second chance to set up that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Riverside DUI defense lawyer right away after an arrest.
Potential Penalties for a DUI in Riverside
CA DUI criminal penalties can be harsh – while many are considered misdemeanors, they can still result in up to a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.
Here's an outline of the different penalties you could be up against, 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 probably be looking to move on as soon as possible. Unfortunately, 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 DUI defense attorney can help you out here, too, and give you an opportunity to clean your record.
Top DUI Defense Attorneys in Riverside: What You Need to Know
No matter what DUI alleges you've been charged with, it's key to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the skills, experience, and relationships to provide the optimal outcome for your case. When looking for a DUI defense lawyer in Riverside, CA, look for these signs:
- Experience: Ideally from multiple sides of the legal system. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, several of our members are former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, totalling over 50 years of experience.
- Availability: Because alleged DUIs can happen outside of the 9-to-5. Our phones are ready for your call 24/7.
- Relationships: Part of getting a positive plea deal is knowing the right people. We have experience working with the prosecutors in Riverside and all throughout CA.
- Reputation: The best lawyers are often professionally recognized. 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're ready to add you to our list of success stories.
DUI Case Types We Defend in Riverside
Criminal and administrative, whatever type of DUI charges you're fighting in Riverside, CA – our DUI defense team is prepared to battle against the charges.
Here is a list of the DUI case types 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
Don't Wait – Contact Our Riverside DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY
DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, things move pretty fast. The police officer takes your license, they might try to do additional tests, you're given a court date…it's easy to be stressed out. And that's why it's all the more important to call a DUI defense lawyer immediately.
Don't give the state a chance to put you behind bars. Don't miss your chance for a DMV administrative hearing to protect your license. 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 Riverside, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case today and will start safeguarding your license and your freedom as soon as you call. Talk with one of us now at (800) 755-5174 or get in touch online for a free consultation.
We also provide the following legal services in Riverside, CA:
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