DUI Lawyer Santa Barbara, CA

DUI Lawyer Santa Barbara. If you're up against a DUI in Santa Barbara, it can feel overwhelming. Besides losing your license, there's a lot at stake; you're up against thousand dollar fines, years in jail, and more. CA law also prohibits you from refusing to take a DUI test, and by declining, you could face even harsher penalties. And DUIs involving drugs are treated differently than those involving alcohol.

If you find yourself in this situation, you need someone in your corner. 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 here to defend you.

We are CA's best 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 defend your rights in the Santa Barbara, CA, legal system and get you the best outcome possible.

Acting fast is key to protecting your freedom and license. Call anytime, day or night, at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to start building your defense today.

What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Santa Barbara?

CA DUI Law allows an officer to arrest you even if you BAC is below .08, or if you aren't tested at all. This is because the officer can make a subjective judgment about whether you are impaired or not, likely utilizing field sobriety tests, then make arrests based on the results.

As soon as you're arrested, the CA legal system starts moving towards both a license suspension and criminal charges. In most DUI cases, here's how things will progress:

Suspension: Your license suspension starts right away, when you're arrested – on the spot, you will be given a 30-day, temporary license, while the officer will keep your regular license. Meanwhile, the police are contacting the DMV about your DUI arrest, beginning the formal suspension.
Arraignment: At some point when you're in jail, you will go to court, and a prosecutor will inform you of the charges against you.
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: In most DUI cases, you'll be released in some capacity pending a trial. Meanwhile, your Santa Barbara DUI defense attorney will be filing motions, including motions 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 communicate with the Santa Barbara prosecutor to avoid a trial with a plea deal that protects you. But if it does go to trial, your attorney should be building a defense 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 outcome of your case, you may face some form of sentence. However, if you are found not guilty or enough time has passed, we may be able to help you clean your record.

Our DUI legal experts can provide you with advice on the best way to move forward, on both the criminal defense and DMV side. No matter where you are in your case, we have the experience to help you move towards a positive outcome!

Santa Barbara DUI: Fighting Criminal Cases vs. DMV Hearings

Santa Barbara, 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 when you hire the right attorney, they can defend you in both cases.

Here are some things you need to know about both, and how we fight to protect your freedom and ability to drive:

Santa Barbara, CA, DUI Criminal Charges

Allegedly violating DUI laws will result in criminal charges, which will involve legal proceedings in CA court.

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 pre-trial motions and negotiations. And finally, if it comes to it, a trial.

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we defend your freedom and fight against the supposed wrongdoing. We'll question whether or not the traffic stop was legitimate, 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.

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.

Santa Barbara, CA, DUI License Suspension

While your Santa Barbara 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 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 hearing is to determine if 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 challenge the legitimacy of the stop, the arrest, and the BAC reading.

If you miss that ten-day deadline, though, there probably isn't a way to get your license unsuspended. Outside of rare cases, you don't get another chance to schedule that hearing. This is why it's critical to contact a Santa Barbara DUI defense attorney right away after an arrest.

Potential Penalties for a DUI in Santa Barbara

CA DUI criminal penalties are intimidating – even for the ones considered misdemeanors, it's possible to receive a year in jail, or six months for a first offense.

Below, we've listed the different penalties you could be up against, depending on how exactly your charged and your history:

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 Santa Barbara court, you have to endure several collateral consequences, such as more expenses on your insurance and roadblocks when applying for 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. Unfortunately, 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 lawyer can help you with these processes, and give you a chance to clean your record.

How to Pick the Right DUI Defense Lawyer

Up against DUI charges? It's critical to pick the right lawyer to represent you. Your team needs the abilities, experience, and relationships to find the best outcome for your case. The top Santa Barbara, CA, DUI defense attorneys will have all of the following:

Experience: As defense attorneys, and also prosecutors. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our team includes former judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, totalling over 50 years of experience.
Availability: So that you can get help right away when you need it. Our lines are never off, and you can contact us 24/7.
Relationships: Relationships are key in negotiating strong plea bargains. We're familiar with the prosecutors in Santa Barbara and all throughout CA.
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 CA.
Track Record of Success: Regardless of all of the points above, you want someone who knows how to get a positive outcome for your case. And we have a history of doing just that. In fact, 95% of our DUI cases result in no jail time.

Our recent DUI Case results speak for themselves. And we'd be proud to represent you as well.

Call our DUI Lawyers today for a free consult.

DUI Case Types We Defend Against in Santa Barbara

Whatever DUI charge you're up against in Santa Barbara, CA – our DUI defense team is prepared for the charges.

Here are some of the DUI charges we often defend:

Timing is Critical – Call Our Santa Barbara DUI Defense Lawyers RIGHT AWAY

DUI allegations are no joke. After you've been charged, it feels like there's no space to breathe. The police officer takes your license, there could be interrogations, you're given a court date…it's easy to feel stressed out. In order to find a way out of all that, you need to call a lawyer immediately.

Don't sit by and watch the evidence mount against you. Don't let your license go without a fight. Don't just sit idly by while everything collapses. Hire the Law Offices of David S. Chesley to protect you.

We're experts at defending all Santa Barbara, CA DUI charges. We're ready to take on your case today and will begin protecting your license and your freedom immediately. Call us now at (800) 755-5174 or fill out our contact form online for a confidential consultation.

We also provide the following legal services in Santa Barbara, CA:

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Los Angeles County(213) 341-4427
Sacramento / Sonoma(916) 248-4717
Orange County(714) 442-2601
Alameda / San Joaquin(510) 403-8809
San Bern / Riverside(909) 748-5272
Ventura County(805) 248-7408
San Diego County(619) 752-2235
Fresno / Santa Clara(559) 365-7055
Kern / Santa Barbara(661) 473-0422
Northern California(530) 427-4167

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Areas We Serve

Los Angeles County(213) 341-4427
Orange County(714) 442-2601
San Diego County(619) 752-2235
Ventura County(805) 248-7408
San Bernardino County(909) 748-5272
Riverside County(951) 329-9499
Alameda / San Joaquin(510) 403-8809
Santa Barbara(805) 791-2162
Sacramento / Sonoma(916) 248-4717
South L.A. / Long Beach(562) 786-8383
City of L.A. / East L.A.(310) 882-6466
Fresno / Santa Clara(559) 365-7055
San Fernando Valley(818) 614-9567
OC Coastal Cities(949) 891-0102
Bakersfield / Kern(661) 473-0422
San Francisco(510) 403-8809

Recent Results

Our client faced multiple serious charges in Los Angeles County, including Penal Code § 211 (Robbery), § 245(a)(1) (Assault with a Deadly Weapon), and § 245(a)(4) (Assault with Force Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury). Unlike a co-defendant represented by another firm who pled to a felony conviction with a "strike," our legal team pursued a different strategy. Through the submission of a comprehensive mitigation package to the District Attorney, we successfully negotiated a complete dismissal of all charges.
Our client faced serious charges under Penal Code section 211 for alleged felony robbery involving force and fear in Riverside County (Murrieta Court) . The prosecution argued that probation was not appropriate due to our client’s prior felony convictions in San Bernardino County, including a previous robbery in April 2021 and grand theft in November 2019. Despite the severity of these allegations, our legal team successfully demonstrated insufficient evidence during the preliminary hearing. As a result, all charges were dismissed. This outcome allowed our client to move forward without the burden of a new conviction.
Multiple defendants each facing 7 years charged with smuggling prescription drugs into California from Mexico our client was the only defendant who received NO JAIL TIME!
Client facing 5 years for possession of deadly weapon we negotiated a plea for NO JAIL TIME!
Client facing 3 life terms for multiple felony counts of Child Molestation and Sodomy with child we proved the charges were fabricated by victims mother DISMISSAL of all charges at preliminary hearing!
Strike case: Client charged with possession of methamphetamine facing 25 years we filed a Romero Motion which was granted case REDUCED TO MISDEMEANOR!
Client's estranged girlfriend alleged Client broke into her room and choked her facing 14 years in State Prison we won at trial JURY ACQUITTAL.
Police allegedly discovered 3 bags of marijuana in client's glove box faced 6 years we filed a 1538.5 motion to suppress resulting in DISMISSAL of all charges!

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What our clients say Client Testimonials

I am truly pleased with my experience with the Law Offices Of David S Chesley. They answered all my questions and provided me with great advice and legal services. My case resolved quickly. Thank you! Rodrigo L.

I left court yesterday with my last case being wrapped up. Two court appearances and that’s it. He represented me in a couple of different cases and was impressive to say the least. Always a phone call or text message away. Confident and aggressive when he needed to be. Calming and thorough when meeting with me. Attorney Chesley did exactly what he said he would and I got the results I needed. He seemed to know all the right people at the Temple Street courthouse. You can always get in contact with him quickly and he is a great lawyer. I highly recommend his legal services. Ricardo Esteves

My brother was given a very caring attorney that was assigned to his case and we had very helpful case managers throughout the process. I strongly recommend David Chesley to anyone who is in trouble. I called in to get help on my brothers case and right away I liked their service. My brothers charges were eventually dismissed after the attorney got him into a program, now he could go on without the trouble of having anything on his record Erica Geller

I retained Mr. Chesley and his firm and from the beginning they were extremely professional both in communicating the status of my case to me, explaining the situation as a whole, and just downright taking care of business. It was money well spent for a job well done. Thanks again to David and Melissa others that worked on my case. I recommend this firm to anyone in need of legal representation. Don’t just accept things the courts force on you, call this firm and protect yourself. Elizabeth F.

I contacted Mr. Chesley and his firm because some unfortunate events had left me in a jam. Detectives were demanding I testify or be prosecuted for a crime I didn’t commit. (I wasn’t involved or even at the scene of the alleged crime when it supposedly took place.) Mr. Chesley explained to me that he had been through similar situations with his clients before and understood exactly what was going on. His response to what took place was nothing short of amazing. No matter how small my concern, Mr. Chesley addressed it in a timely manner. He advocated for what is right and empathized with me in dealing with the Court system. After meeting with the supervising D.A. and providing alibi evidence he was able to get me out the situation. I’m very grateful to have found him. Leon Hanley

I hired David Chesley for my criminal defense in 2012. he was recommended to us for is success results and his low fees. David is very smart and his professional legal advice was honest & much appreciated during these stressful time. David’s knowledge, advice, and communication about what we were to expect was reassuring and beneficial to me. He charged me a reasonable flat rate and didn’t charge me any surprise fees. In my case David Chesley was able to negotiate with the prosecution attorney for the best result I could hope for. He had success at getting my criminal charges dismissed with the judges approval. You will not be disappointed if you hire The Law Offices of David S. Chesley. Britanny Givens

David is very professional, yet very casual. Although it is typically not easy to speak straight up with an attorney, he is very easy to talk to. He replied to my questions quickly and was available all hours. Not only did he get my case resolved with a dismissal, he went above and beyond and got me an expungement without me even requesting it. He never beats around the bush and tells you like it is. At the same time is willing to work overtime to get the results you request. I would use David’s services again in the future. Andrew A.

very satisfied being a client with the Law Offices of David Chesley.. Negin represented both my husband and I and got both our cases dis issued… Negin was on top of our cases she really cares and did everything she said she would do!!! thanks a lot Negin Rita K.

I don’t write many reviews, however this time I had to share my admiration and appreciation for this firm. Attorney Negin Akhavan is definitely a person you want representing you in any criminal legal battle. She is the clear definition of the frace “is not what you know, but who you know ” she is not only knowledgeable, she also has the relationships with the right people. I couldn’t be happier with the results she was able to provide. Thank you Negin. Gabriel V.

An old felony charge came up, so I hired David and his team in June, and he got me a release on my own cognition on a felony charge in July which has never happened to me, and got it dismissed in October. He was responsive when I called and always kept me updated. Got my case dismissed, was easy to work and handled everything for me. He did an excellent job. I highly recommend David Chesley for any criminal defense. Jason Corona

They really helped me out in a timely manner. I had a drug charge from 16 years ago and they dealt with it quickly. I can’t recommend them enough. If you have a criminal charges check them out they are awesome. Santiago L.