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Los Angeles DUI/DWI Defense Lawyers

Experienced Attorneys Representing Individuals Facing DUI/DWI Charges in Los Angeles California

Drunk driving is a serious problem in the State of California and can lead to motor vehicle accidents and deaths. As a result, DUI is punished very harshly under the California Penal Code.
In addition to fines and jail time following a DUI conviction, you may face an administrative driver’s license suspension by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). There are also special considerations with DUI refusal cases, which arise when a driver refuses to take a breathalyzer test.

If you are facing DUI or DWI charges in the State of California, you should have an experienced criminal defense lawyer by your side advocating for your rights. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our Los Angeles DUI Lawyers legal team has years of experience representing individuals charged with drunk driving offenses. Our experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys can represent you in court and may be able to negotiate a favorable plea deal – such as for a “wet reckless” – on your behalf.

The Basics of California DUI’s

In the State of California, it is against the law for anyone to operate a motor vehicle under the following circumstances:

0.08 percent or more blood alcohol concentration (BAC) if you are an adult who is 21 years of age or older who is operating a passenger vehicle in the State
0.04 percent or more BAC if you hold a commercial driver’s license and you are operating a commercial vehicle, such as a tractor-trailer or other large truck
0.01 percent or higher BAC if you are under the age of twenty-one

California DUI laws apply to more than just alcohol. Specifically, you cannot legally operate a motor vehicle in the State if you are under the influence of illegal drugs or if you have consumed an excessive amount of over-the-counter or prescription drugs which have alcohol in them, such as cough medicine.

A DUI conviction in the State of California can result in serious penalties that may affect both your personal and work life, as well as your ability to drive. Potential penalties for a California DUI conviction include:

Monetary fines
Criminal license suspensions
Jail time
Community Service
Completion of a driver improvement program (i.e., DUI school)
Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on your motor vehicle
Administrative license suspension

A good criminal defense lawyer on your side during a DUI trial or sentencing hearing can make all the difference. The Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers at The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can advocate for a reduced penalty on your behalf and help to minimize the most serious consequences associated with a criminal DUI conviction.

Refusing to Take a Blood or Breath Test for Alcohol

In addition to the standard penalties imposed for a DUI conviction, if the driver refuses to take a breath or blood test at the scene, the court may impose additional penalties. These additional penalties are known as sentence enhancements, rather than as additional criminal charges. Although an enhancement does not require an additional court appearance, it can still result in additional jail time, probation, or community service hours.

The amount of the additional penalty for the refusal depends upon a variety of factors considered by the sentencing judge. Those factors typically include:

The driver’s criminal history of arrests and convictions
The driver’s prior history of refusals (if he or she has been charged with prior DUI’s)

If the driver made a good-faith effort to take a blood or breath test but was unable to do so, that may result in a dismissal of the refusal or a reduction in the criminal enhancement penalty. Generally speaking, a first offense refusal can result in an additional 48 hours of jail time, while a second offense refusal can result in an additional 96 hours. A third offense refusal can result in an additional ten days of incarceration.

In some instances, an experienced California DUI defense lawyer can reduce a sentence enhancement by putting forth a strong legal argument on your behalf. The skilled Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers at The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can help you do just that.

DMV Hearings

If a California police officer arrests you for drunk driving, he or she will take your driver’s license and provide you with a notice of suspension. This notice serves as your temporary driver’s license for the next 30 days.

The notice also states that you are entitled to a DMV hearing in order to prevent your license from being suspended. However, you must request this hearing within ten days following your DUI arrest. If you fail to request a DMV hearing during this ten-day time period, you will face an automatic license suspension once the 30 days expire.

During a DMV hearing, the rules of evidence and other legal guidelines are much more relaxed than they are in a traditional courtroom setting. In some instances, the hearing may even take place over the phone. At a DMV hearing, you can be represented by a lawyer that you pay to represent you. During the hearing, you will be allowed to do the following:

Challenge any evidence which is introduced against you
Subpoena witnesses to testify at the hearing (including the police officer who arrested you)
Examine witnesses under oath
Cross-examine witnesses called by the State
Testify as to your version of the events that transpired

The California DUI defense lawyers at The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can represent you at a DMV hearing and can introduce evidence on your behalf, in order to help minimize the consequences of your DUI arrest.

Plea Deals and the “Wet Reckless” Charge

One of the legal benefits of having a lawyer represent you during a DUI case is that he or she may be able to negotiate a favorable plea deal on your behalf. In some cases, a California prosecutor may offer a wet reckless plea where your blood alcohol concentration is at 0.08 percent – or if the prosecutor would rather have you convicted of an alcohol-related offense than face the risk of losing the DUI case at trial.

There are some advantages to pleading to a wet reckless charge. A wet reckless plea looks better than a DUI conviction on your record and also appears better for prospective employers or educational institutions who may be looking at your criminal record. It also generally has a shorter period of probation associated with it and may make you eligible for a misdemeanor expungement more quickly.

An experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney at The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can help you decide if accepting a wet reckless plea is something you should do under your unique circumstances.

Call a Los Angeles CA DUI Lawyer Today

DUI penalties upon conviction can be harsh, and self-representation is not usually the best way to proceed. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, our skilled Los Angeles DUI attorney are experienced at representing drivers at DMV hearings, criminal DUI trials, and sentencing hearings. Our Los Angeles DUI lawyers are tireless advocates who can help you obtain the best possible result in your DUI case and minimize the consequences as much as possible.

To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a Los Angeles DUI/DWI lawyer, please call us today at 1-800-755-5174, or contact us online.

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!

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.