Once you find a place to park the next challenge is getting into the building. Security is tight so you are looking at a long line to get through a metal detector. The lines can be long and they move slowly so plan about an extra 20 minutes to your schedule just for getting into the building. Next you must located the right line for your needs whether it’s the traffic clerk’s window, GC Services, the criminal clerk, the health office for DUI program referrals, or the courtroom or any of the numerous clerk’s offices hidden throughout the courthouse. If you are looking for the traffic clerk, take the escalator up to the second floor and get in the line that looks like it belongs at Disneyland.

If you are an unlicensed driver or a driver with a suspended license, do not drive to the Van Nuys West Courthouse. Van Nuys is more aggressive than almost any other jurisdiction in Los Angeles when it comes to the apprehension and prosecution of people for these offenses.  Several of the attorneys that blog on this site have alerted us that their DUI clients are often followed by law enforcement upon leaving the Van Nuys West Courthouse to ensure that they do not get in a vehicle and attempt to drive away on a suspended license.