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Board questions drinking during tolling as Dr. Vanessa Perossier seeks early termination of probation after 2020 DUI
Summary
Dr. Vanessa Perossier told the Board of Behavioral Sciences she considers a 2020 DUI an isolated incident and described rehabilitation steps and clinical work; board members pressed her about drinking during periods when probation was tolled and closed the record for deliberation.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences heard sworn testimony Nov. 20 from Dr. Vanessa Lee Perossier, who requested early termination of disciplinary probation arising from a 2020 driving-under-the-influence conviction. Administrative Law Judge Christopher Dietrich presided over the Office of Administrative Hearings matter (OAH case 2025100975); Deputy Attorney General Anahita Crawford presented the accusation and documentary exhibits.
Crawford told the board that Perossier’s license was placed on probation under a stipulated settlement effective 07/22/2021 following a DUI conviction on 08/20/2020. The deputy attorney general reported that the underlying accusation alleged a blood-alcohol content of 0.189% and that probation terms included psychological evaluation, psychotherapy, supervised practice, dependency support programming, abstaining from substances, and testing. Crawford said the petitioner’s underlying criminal probation was later terminated and expunged in June 2022 but that probation with the Board remains in effect; tolling over several periods increased the remaining time and the deputy noted an adjusted termination date in 2027.
Under oath, Perossier described the crash, saying she “fell asleep at the wheel” and acknowledged the BAC reading. She said she voluntarily attended a moderation-management course, re-engaged in therapy, complied with testing and other terms, and provided character references and documentation in support of early termination. Perossier said she currently conducts immigration-related psychological evaluations in private practice, works with an outside supervisor for clinical oversight, and participates in community programs.
Board members focused their questioning on multiple probation tolling periods and whether Perossier drank alcohol while probation was tolled. Perossier said she is a casual drinker and acknowledged drinking during at least some inactive (tolled) periods, saying she believed abstinence did not apply while probation was inactive. Board members repeatedly raised concern that drinking while tolled undercuts abstinence-related terms and the board’s consumer-protection mandate.
The board did not vote at the hearing; Judge Dietrich closed the record and the matter was submitted for closed-session deliberation. The panel will mail its written decision when available.
The transcript documents the accusation (BAC 0.189), the admitted exhibits and detailed questioning about tolling and supervision; no on-the-record decision was announced at the meeting.
