A DUI conviction carries with it the possibility of having to attend DUI classes as part of your sentence. DUI school is an educational program approved by a court to teach DUI offenders about the effects of alcohol on drivers, the immediate and long-term consequences of a DUI, and how to avoid future offenses.
Who Takes DUI Classes?
In most states around the country, judges order DUI offenders to attend DUI alcohol education and treatment programs, or what is more commonly known as DUI School.
If you’re court-mandated to take DUI classes, you’ll have to pay for the classes yourself. The cost of DUI school can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on how many hours you’re required to complete and whether you choose in-person classes or online DUI treatment.
It’s important to note, though, that DUI classes are not exclusive to those who are required to take them. You may voluntarily attend a DUI class after committing a DUI offense or if you think your drug and alcohol use is already affecting your daily life.
What Can You Expect from the Program?
DUI school can last anywhere between six weeks to thirty months. The length of the program is usually determined by your DUI arrest history and your BAC level at the time of the arrest.
To successfully complete DUI school, you must meet all the requirements of your program, which are typically discussed during your orientation.
Also, you’re allowed to miss a few face-to-face or online DUI classes, given that you make up for them. Too many absences, however, will result in a dismissal from the program and may have severe consequences.
5 Reasons Why You Should Complete Your DUI Education Classes
Whether you’re taking up DUI education voluntarily or as part of the requirements of your probation, completing your program has plenty of benefits.
Here are five good reasons to finish DUI school:
1. Fulfill the Requirements of Your Probation
If the court requires you to attend DUI classes, then you’re expected to see the program through to the end. For first-time offenders, DUI classes can take around 12 to 30 hours over the course of three months. Repeat offenders, on the other hand, may need to attend DUI classes for 9 or even up to 30 months before they can get their license back.
It’s a crime to break the terms of your probation. If you do so, the judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest.
2. Avoid the Possibility of Harsher DUI Punishments
As mentioned, skipping or failure to complete a DUI program ordered by the court is a very serious offense. This breach of probation will almost certainly result in an arrest and the offender may have to face the maximum sentence for the DUI charge, including an extension of the term of your probation and or jail time.
If you’re taking DUI classes to regain your driving privileges, failing to finish the program could result in the DMV suspending your license or revoking it completely.
3. Avoid the Grave Consequences of a Future DUI Offense
All DUI classes aim to impress on their students that driving while intoxicated is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious bodily injuries, even death. And this lesson is reinforced by real life situations.
At some point in the program, you’ll hear personal testimonies from people who have suffered the loss of a loved one as a result of drunk driving and DUI convicts reflecting on
how their carelessness has affected almost every aspect of their life going forward. Their words, combined with the awareness of how a DUI conviction can undermine your opportunities and haunt you for years, could be enough to dissuade you from driving drunk ever again.
4. Learn to Identify the Triggers of Alcohol Abuse
In DUI class, you will learn and better understand the reasons why people abuse alcohol, as well as the triggers that push them to it. More importantly, you’re not only taught how to identify these triggers but also how to avoid them effectively, so as not to cause any harm on yourself and others..
5. Gain Control of Your Addiction and Make Better Life Decisions
As you might expect, DUI education classes will discourage drinking – albeit, in a more realistic sense.
At one point or another, you may have to engage in alcohol use (at a party, on holidays, during special occasions). DUI classes focus on teaching how to drink responsibly. Students are exposed to a variety of circumstances that could possibly lead to a DUI offense and are coached how to make the most responsible choice in each one. The program puts a lot of emphasis on making better life decisions.
Takeaway
DUI school presents itself as an opportunity to address drunk driving and recidivism at its core by holding offenders to a higher level of accountability and providing long-term treatment.
You have a lot to gain and almost nothing to lose by choosing to complete your DUI education program.
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About the Author
Lauren Kunis is the Content Marketing Strategist for Stonewall Institute, an outpatient alcohol and drug treatment center that focuses on holistic, individualized approach to addiction recovery. She loves reading books, travelling, and going on hiking adventures with her dog Max.