DUI Arrest In Port Townsend, Washington: Things To Know About Jefferson County Criminal Cases

All DUI defendants in Jefferson County will appear at the Jefferson County Courthouse. 

It is located at 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368

You can’t miss the courthouse because it is one of the most eye-catching buildings in Jefferson County. In fact, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The City of Port Townsend has an agreement with the county to handle prosecutions at the Jefferson County Courthouse. So, regardless of whether your arresting agency is a City of Port Townsend Police Officer or Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy, you will be appearing in court at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

While appearing for a criminal case is less than ideal, one nice thing about Jefferson County is that the people who work at this courthouse tend to be friendly and helpful. It doesn’t have the “mill” feeling of the larger counties where we appear. When it comes to DUI defense, having approachable friendly court staff is a very positive thing! 

While the Judge and staff are friendly, the Jefferson County court does not fool around on DUI cases. In fact, it is not uncommon to have some of the more strict conditions of release set at your arraignment. 

Judge Walker wants to make certain that any defendant accused of DUI is not using alcohol or marijuana while the case is pending (standard conditions of release). So, don’t be surprised if you have install an ignition interlock device in your car while you wait for your case to be negotiated or go to trial. 

If you have multiple DUI arrests in your past, expect the conditions of release to be pretty tough. All across Washington State, DUI history is a strong predictor of how cases will be prosecuted and resolve. The more history you have – even if decades old – the tougher the prosecutor will be. In fact, the law recently changed from 10 years to a 15 year “look back period” for purposes of charging a fourth DUI as a felony.

One unique fact about Jefferson County DUI cases is that they tend to have more court involvement in terms of monitoring pre and post resolution of your case. 

Unlike Thurston and Kitsap Counties, the Jefferson County Court will have more “check-ins” and communication with clerks than larger countries. For some defendants, more involvement can be a good thing because it involves keeping contact information up to date so that you don’t end up with a warrant by missing your court date! 

This may sound like a small thing but reaching a human on the phone when you’re facing a criminal charge is very comforting. Thankfully, in Jefferson County, you won’t find chat bots and crazy phone trees. When you have questions about court procedures or court dates, just call the court clerks and talk to a helpful human. 

Better yet, if you are a Witt Law Group client, just call us. We will take some of the stress away and make sure you know what to expect prior to every court hearing!

If you have been arrested or charged with DUI in Port Townsend, Chimacum, Port Hadlock, or elsewhere in Jefferson County, do not assume that you have to navigate the process alone or use a public defender. 

Remember, public defenders can’t help you with the DUI Department of Licensing Hearing to suspend your license (you only have 7 days to request!) since those are administrative and not criminal. If you want to try to avoid the suspension, you need to hire a private DUI attorney.

Witt Law Group PS attorneys provide DUI defense in Jefferson County, Washington – helping clients understand their options and prepare for the legal process. 

If you are looking for a DUI lawyer in Jefferson County WA or a Port Townsend DUI defense attorney, contact the Witt Law Group firm for 25+ years of experience. We are consistently recognized as leaders in our field and have received numerous awards.

We are available 7 days a week for calls. Reach out today. (360) 792-1000

DUI Process