Charged with drunk driving? You may have to go to DUI School

 Posted on March 16, 2017 in OWI

It is easy to go out with friends to a party or a bar and have a few too many. Imagine having a night out and on your way home, a police officer pulls you over. The officer charges you with driving under the influence. A DUI charge can come with some very serious consequences. If convicted, you could face jail time, large fines and probation. Furthermore, a conviction on your record could limit future job prospects.

Along with the consequences mentioned above, you may also have to attend a DUI prevention program. If you are facing a DUI charge, it is important to understand your rights and options. A criminal defense attorney in the Waukesha area can review your case. Read further for more information on DUI schools and alcohol treatment.

State laws

DUI criminal courts at the state level, as well as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), have the authority to order an offender to participate in classes or a treatment program that focuses on alcohol abuse. Usually, the court will take your completion of such a program into consideration when determining your sentence.

Eligibility

Unless the court has ordered your attendance, a DUI charge does not mean that you are automatically eligible to attend an education or treatment program. In determining your eligibility, a judge will consider multiple factors. For example, the court will look at your record for repeat DUI offenses. Other factors include whether or not your DUI resulted from a car accident that seriously hurt or killed someone. Additionally, if you have already participated in an alcohol treatment program, you may not be eligible to do so again.

Length of program

The length of the program the court orders you to attend generally depends on the seriousness of your offense and whether or not you are a repeat offender. For example, if this was your first DUI charge, you may have to complete 36 hours of classes. However, for second offenders, the program could occur in several sections. First, you may have to attend weekly sessions, which eventually change to every other week. People that have three or more DUI charges may have to take a 30-month program on alcohol abuse.

Programs

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the most popular alcohol treatment programs in the U.S. It is easy to find chapters in most major cities around the country. AA meetings are known for providing supportive spaces for people to openly discuss the challenges of dealing with alcoholism and the harmful effects the disease has on its victim and their loved ones.

The National Highway Safety Commission provides a listing of other alcohol education and treatment programs that might be available in your area.

If you have been charged with a DUI, it is important to understand what kind of consequences you might face if the court convicts you. There are many defenses for DUI charges that could help you avoid conviction.