Ventura DUI Defense Lawyers

In California, a DUI is nothing to joke about. Even a >first-time offender in Ventura County faces a mandatory 48 hours in jail or five days of work-release; three years of probation; at least three months of alcohol education classes; court fees and fines of more than $1,500; at least four months without a driver's license; and more. Repeat offenders and drivers under 21 face higher penalties, and your penalties may also be raised if you had special circumstances like an accident or a child in the vehicle. Then there are the non-criminal but practical penalties of a DUI, including an immediate increase in your auto insurance premiums and possible loss of your job when you can no longer drive. With all this at stake, it only makes sense to look for help from an experienced Ventura DUI defense attorney.

Wallin & Klarich can help. For more than 30 years, we have defended clients throughout Ventura County and Southern California who are accused of driving under the influence. Thanks to our long experience as Ventura criminal defense lawyers, we know a 0.08% on a test isn't proof that you drove under the influence. Breath tests are notoriously inaccurate, which is why we never allow our clients to plead guilty based on a breath test result alone. We know all the most common arguments prosecutors use to convict DUI defendants, and we know how to destroy those arguments. In cases where pleading guilty is truly the right move, our defense attorneys can negotiate charges down or ask for lighter or alternative penalties that better fit the crime.

Police agencies throughout the United States use breath tests, but that doesn't mean they're the best tool for determining whether someone is truly driving drunk. Repeated scientific evidence has shown that breath tests can be thrown off by dozens of different variables, including the food in the test subject's stomach, any alcohol left in the mouth, health conditions or special diets, or even the weather. The training and behavior of the testing officer can also skew the results. If your test result was on or near the legal limit, you could be convicted of a DUI in Ventura without even being guilty! Wallin & Klarich will work to get unreliable test results thrown out and force the prosecution to drop your case.

Almost all DUI cases in California have a second component: The suspension of your driver's license for four months to several years. In Ventura County, where a car is a virtual necessity, this can immediately cripple a defendant's ability to work, buy food and generally live an independent life. You're entitled to fight the suspension by requesting a hearing at the DMV, but you have to make that request quickly -- within ten days of your release from custody. Our experienced Ventura drunk driving defense lawyers can defend you at the DMV administrative hearing, coordinating your defense with the DUI case, which is separate. Even if you miss the deadline, Wallin & Klarich may still be able to get you a restricted temporary license.

At Wallin & Klarich, we approach each case with the belief that we could easily be defending one of our own family members. Because we've defended DUIs in California for more than three decades, we've seen firsthand how stressful the charge can be to our clients and their families. That's why we're committed to always being available when our clients call: 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every day of the year. And we offer free initial consultations, so there's no risk to you in calling Wallin & Klarich for an expert opinion on your case. We promise to be there when you call.