BUI Lawyer in Ventura

Former Officers & a Prosecutor Defending BUI Charges in Ventura

Boating under the influence is a criminal charge, not a citation. California Harbors and Navigation Code 655 makes it unlawful to operate a vessel, water skis, an aquaplane, or a similar device while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and many people arrested on the water don’t realize they’re facing the same legal system as a DUI defendant. At Wilfert Law P.C., we represent Ventura residents charged with boating under the influence and work to protect their rights from the moment of arrest forward.

Time matters after a BUI arrest. Early action preserves evidence, protects against procedural missteps, and gives your defense a stronger foundation. Our attorneys are available around the clock to begin that work immediately.

If you’ve been arrested for BUI in the Ventura area, don’t wait. Call Wilfert Law P.C. at (805) 324-6777 for a free initial case review, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A Defense Team with Law Enforcement Roots

Our team includes two former police officers, a former Ventura Police Officer and a former Oxnard Police Officer, along with a former county prosecutor. That background isn’t incidental. It’s the lens through which we examine every BUI case.

When marine or harbor patrol officers conduct a stop on the water, administer field sobriety tests on a moving deck, or collect a chemical sample, they follow specific procedures. Our attorneys know those procedures from the inside. We review every step to find inconsistencies in how a stop was initiated, how testing was conducted, and how evidence was handled. You’ll work directly with attorneys who maintain consistent communication throughout your case and pursue every available avenue toward a more favorable outcome.

What California’s BUI Law Covers

Harbors and Navigation Code 655 sets two blood alcohol concentration (BAC) thresholds. Recreational vessel operators face a legal limit of 0.08 percent BAC. Commercial vessel operators are held to a stricter standard of 0.04 percent. Either result, combined with operation of a covered watercraft, can support a criminal charge.

One common misconception: unlike the open-container rule for motor vehicles, California law doesn’t prohibit having an open alcoholic beverage aboard a boat as long as the person at the controls isn’t impaired. The charge turns on the operator’s condition, not the presence of alcohol on board.

Chemical test results carry particular weight under state law. A test taken within three hours of operating a vessel can create a rebuttable presumption, meaning the result stands as evidence of the operator’s BAC at the time they were on the water. Challenging the reliability or timing of that test is often central to the defense.

Talk to a Ventura BUI Attorney Today

A boating under the influence conviction can mean jail time, fines, and a criminal record that follows you long after the case closes. The sooner you have counsel reviewing the facts, the better positioned your defense may be. We offer a free initial case review and are reachable any time, day or night.

Call us at (805) 324-6777 to speak with a member of our team and start building your defense today.