DUI Blogger

Late last week, police arrested a Tennessee man for his third DUI. While there’s nothing particularly noteworthy about that, what is interesting is that he was driving home from DUI school at the time.

DUI school (otherwise referred to as alcohol and drug education programs) are required when an individual is convicted of DUI charges. It is supposed to educate participants on the dangers of drinking and driving.

In California, these DUI schools range in length from 12 hours to 30 months, depending on:

1. how many DUIs you have suffered within a ten-year period, and


2. whether your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was particularly high (California considers a .20 an “aggravating” factor that increases the length of the DUI program).

Many argue that DUI school is a waste of time…that true alcoholics need more help than DUI school offers and that even first-time offenders don’t always take the classes seriously. If the instructor realizes that you are under the influence during the class, he/she will excuse you from the program and violate your probation.

Posted by Neil Shouse | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: DUI , DUI School

Bookmark:

A court-ordered alcohol/drug education program (otherwise known as California DUI school) is a mandatory condition of a DUI probation sentence.

Depending on whether it is your first, second, or subsequent DUI conviction…or even your first or second California wet reckless conviction…the judge will sentence you to between 12 hours and 30 months of DUI school.

The length of the programs, the curriculum of the programs, and the fees of the programs are all drastically different. However, all DUI programs do share several common characteristics.
First, you must enroll in a California DUI school within 21 days of your DUI sentence.

Second, you must provide proof of enrollment and completion by the dates that the judge orders you to do so. Failure to abide by these terms could result in a California bench warrant and/or a DUI probation violation.

Continue reading "California DUI School" »

Posted by Neil Shouse | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: DUI , DUI Consequences , DUI Probation , DUI School

Bookmark:

Every year, the California legislature introduces new laws that relate to driving. In 2009, several of these new laws directly related to driving under the influence.

One of the newer California DUI laws deals with DUI probation violations. California’s zero-tolerance law states that you will automatically lose your driver’s license if you are on probation for a DUI and are caught driving with any measureable amount of alcohol in your system, or refuse to submit to a chemical blood or breath test to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Another 2009 California DUI law pertains to DUI school. Prior to this year, if you suffered a second wet reckless conviction, there was no requirement that you attend DUI school. However, since 2009, if you find yourself in this situation…or in a situation where you are convicted of a “wet” and have a prior DUI conviction…you must attend a minimum nine-month drug/alcohol education program.

Continue reading "2009 California DUI Laws" »

Posted by Neil Shouse | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Chemical Test Refusal , DUI , DUI Consequences , DUI Legislation , DUI School , News & Information

Bookmark:

The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that Roger Walsh, 57, was sentenced to life in prison for killing a woman in a wheelchair while he was DUI. Neither the fact that the woman was in a wheelchair nor the fact that she was killed is what makes this case remarkable.
What does make this case remarkable is the fact that this was Walsh’s 19th drunk driving conviction.

This is clearly an extreme case, but it begs the question…what are the appropriate methods of punishment and/or rehabilitation for repeat DUI offenders who have an obvious addiction to alcohol?

California DUI school is one component of a DUI sentence, regardless of whether it’s an individual’s first, second, or third drunk driving conviction. For repeat DUI offenders with a true addiction, these classes aren’t the answer.

Continue reading "Canadian Man Receives Life Sentence for DUI" »

Posted by Neil Shouse | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: DUI , DUI Consequences , DUI School , Felony DUI , Multiple DUI , News & Information

Bookmark:

Labor Day 2009 yielded fewer California DUI arrests…and fewer DUI fatalities…compared to last year’s totals. According to the California Highway Patrol, there were about half as many DUI-related fatalities as there were during the 2008 Labor Day weekend, and arrests fell by approximately 11%.

What’s responsible for this trend? It could be the recent increased publicity about drunk driving, the California Highway Patrol’s holiday “crackdown”, the economy, high gas prices driving down traffic in general, or just the simple fact that people are becoming more fearful of increasing California DUI penalties.

Since January 2009, if you’re on probation for driving under the influence, you now face an automatic driver’s license suspension if caught driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in your system.

Similarly, if you’re convicted of a second “wet reckless” (a common DUI reduction), you must now attend a nine-month DUI school…a requirement that didn’t exist prior to this year.

Continue reading "California DUI Arrests Down this Labor Day" »

Posted by Neil Shouse | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Checkpoints , DUI , DUI School , News & Information

Bookmark:

California's System of Mandatory DUI School: Does it Really Work?

Most people know the routine that follows a California DUI conviction: probation, fines, a temporary drivers license suspension, and--of course--the infamous California DUI school.

Indeed, California has developed an elaborate series of alcohol education programs for DUI offenders. These range from a 12-hour class for those convicted of a lesser "wet reckless" offense, to a 30-month alcohol program for 3rd offense DUI offenders. Los Angeles County's 30-month DUI school can entail up to 400 hours of community service, group counseling and education sessions.

The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs licenses private entities to provide this drunk driving programming. Nearly 500 exist throughout the state. One overarching policy goal is at work: dissuading those convicted of DUI from continuing to drink and drive.

Very little data exists to measure the effectiveness of California DUI schools. Probably, as with any type of rehabilitation program, success varies depending on the individual--and in particular whether the student sees herself as having an alcohol problem that needs addressing.

Continue reading "California DUI School" »

Posted by Neil Shouse | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: DUI School

Bookmark: