If you get a DUI conviction then plan to attend mandatory DUI classes at an approved DUI school. To find a local, approved DUI-DWI school, don’t just search for DUI schools online and call the first one you see. Your highly recommended DUI attorney will know the approved DUI schools in your area. Not all DUI schools are state-approved, so don’t sit through a non-approved DUI class for days and then realize you have to do it all over – and pay again!
Almost always, successful completion of a DUI driving school is required if you have been either convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, a DUI-DWI. Completion of a DUI traffic school is typically a requirement to regain your full driver’s license. In many jurisdictions, even where a reduced plea to another offense other than DUI-DWI is obtained, such as reckless driving, DUI class attendance may be mandatory.
Attending Before TrialIf you attend DUI school at the recommendation of your DUI attorney before your DUI trial or plea of guilty, you may gain several significant benefits. First, if there has been an administrative license suspension (ALS), an immediate driver’s license reinstatement after DUI school completion usually occurs. If you completed DUI classes to secure the return of your license after an ALS/ALR action against you, you usually don’t have to repeat a DUI course after your criminal case has been completed – even if you ultimately plead guilty to DUI-DWI or are found guilty.
Some states allow “advance” completion DUI-DWI school classes but others do not. You may have to wait until your case is over to start the DUI driving school. Furthermore, a so-called “DUI school” in one state may not be accepted by the state where your DUI-DWI charge is pending, so always confirm the acceptability of the DUI school and DUI course you plan to take before enrolling. Consult with a highly successful DUI-DWI attorney before signing up for any DUI class in your area.
Benefits of DUI SchoolYour attendance at DUI school may give your DUI attorney some leverage with the prosecution in obtaining a reduced charge against you. Your DUI traffic school attendance shows the prosecution your acceptance of a possible alcohol problem, and your willingness to accept responsibility for your actions. After all, one of the stated purposes of a DUI course is to help you avoid more trouble.
If you have already completed DUI school, this is one less thing you have to do when your drunk driving case is resolved in court. Successful course completion can sometimes be used by your DUI attorney to negotiate a lesser sentence on your behalf. Your DUI attorney can submit to the prosecutor that you have taken this legal matter seriously, and have taken steps to address any “alcohol dependency” or safety issues.