Some Counties in Southern California have a reputation for being tough on defendants charged with DUI. The two Counties that we have experienced most difficulties with are Ventura County and Riverside County.

If you are facing a prosecution for misdemeanor or felony DUI in Ventura or Riverside counties, you should expect greater penalties than would normally be typical for Los Angeles or even Orange County. Both Riverside and Ventura impose jail time routinely on first time DUI offenders. In Riverside, it is typically five to ten days and in Ventura, it is typically two days on a first offense. Both jurisdictions will allow a work release program instead which is run by the local Sheriff's Department. In Ventura, the period of work release is normally five days.

Ventura County also places defendants on formal probation for DUI, even for a first time misdemeanor DUI. The cost of probation is passed on to the defendant so that the total fines and costs of probation on a first offense can exceed five thousand dollars.

The most difficult aspect of defending DUI charges in Ventura is that the District Attorneys Office has a policy of non negotiation, which means that you either take their offer, whatever it is, or go to trial. This is a clear failure to follow the accepted policy in criminal cases of looking at every case on an individual basis and taking into account mitigating information.

A change in venue is not normally possible, so if you are arrested for DUI in Ventura or Riverside County, you have to deal with the court system there.

Please call Nigel Witham of Gold and Witham Attorneys at Law at 562 938 7771 if you have any questions or concerns about this blog.