DUI Alcohol Program
Who Must Enroll In An Alcohol Program
If you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or reckless driving with alcohol in your system (wet reckless), then both the court and the DMV will require you to complete a mandatory state licensed alcohol program pursuant to §11836 of the Health and Safety Code. This program must be completed before your full driving privileges can be restored. Your Newport Beach DUI lawyer can help you enroll in the right program, at the right time.
Length of Alcohol Program
The length of the alcohol program will depend on what you were convicted of, what your blood-alcohol level was,
and whether you have any prior convictions for DUI or wet reckless. Conviction of a first-offense wet reckless will require completion of a 6-week program. Conviction of a first-offense DUI will require completion of a three, six or nine month program. And conviction of a DUI with one or more prior convictions within the past 10 years will require completion of an 18-month program in Orange County. Other counties may require a longer program.
Cost Of The Alcohol Program
The alcohol programs are administered by private contractors and you must bear the cost of the program. The typical costs for each program are listed below.
When To Enroll In The Alcohol Program
You will be required to enroll in a program within three weeks of being sentenced in a court for DUI or wet reckless. However, in Orange County, the DMV usually issues a suspension order long before your case ever goes to court. If your license is suspended because you lost the DMV hearing or failed to request a DMV hearing and your case still hasn’t gone to court, then your Orange County DUI lawyer should help you to enroll in a DUI alcohol program early on a “volunteer” basis so that the DMV will issue you a restricted license. A restricted license allows you to drive to the alcohol program, to school, and any work-related driving. It’s important to coordinate with your Orange County DUI attorney to correctly time your enrollment in the alcohol program.
Proof Of Enrollment And Completion
Once the court orders you to enroll in an alcohol program, the judge will order you to show “proof of enrollment” in 
the alcohol program within three weeks. Usually, the alcohol program will send the court and the DMV a “certificate of enrollment” once you enroll in the program. You will also be given this proof-of-enrollment and you should send a copy to your DUI lawyer. You will need this proof-of-enrollment to get a restricted license from the DMV. Likewise, the court will also order you to show “proof of completion” of the program by a certain date. Again, the alcohol program will sent the court and the DMV a “certificate of completion” once you successfully finish the program.
Excused Absences
Each alcohol program allows a specific number of “excused absences”. (See each program below) This means you can get prior permission from the program to miss a class. However, all excused absences must be made up. If you exceed the specified number of excused absences for your program, you will be dropped from the program and the court will be notified.
Reinstatement In Alcohol Program Without A Restricted License
If you are dropped from a program for whatever reason, your Orange County DUI lawyer can request that you be reinstated. Although a judge will usually allow you to be reinstated, once you have been dropped from the program the DMV, by law, must take away your restricted license and suspend your driving privileges for the remainder of the program. So it is important that you follow all program rules carefully and not get dropped for any reason.
Wet Reckless Program (6 weeks)
If your DUI lawyer can get the DUI charge reduced to a wet reckless, (California Vehicle Code §23103.5), then you will be ordered to attend the 6-week program known as SB1176. This program consists of one class per week. The class lasts for two hours. You will be allowed up to three excused absences but no more than two consecutive absences. If you are convicted of a wet reckless and have a prior wet reckless within 10 years, then you will be ordered to complete the nine-month program discussed below. The typical cost of this program is around $250.00.
First-Offense DUI
Three-Month Alcohol Program
Six-Month Alcohol Program
For a blood-alcohol higher than a 0.15% but lower than a 0.20%, most Orange County judges will order completion of the six-month program, also known as AB762. However, a Newport Beach DUI attorney can sometimes persuade a judge to order the three month program instead. The judge has discretion to order this program for other reasons as well. For example; if there was an accident, if you were uncooperative with the police, or for any other factor in aggravation. The typical cost for this program is around $1,000.00 and you will be allowed 7 excused absences.
Nine-Month Alcohol Program
If your blood-alcohol was a 0.20% or higher the judge must order you to complete the nine-month program. Also, if you are convicted of a wet reckless and you have a prior Wet Reckless within 10 years, you will be ordered to complete this program. The nine-month program, also known as SB-38, is 60 hours in length. The average cost of the program is between $1,300.00 and $1,800.00. You will be allowed 7 excused absences.
One Or More Prior DUI Convictions(18-month Alcohol Program)
This program, also called SB-38 or the “multiple offender program”, has a 12-hour educational component, a 52-hour group counseling component, bi-weekly interviews for the first year, and a transition into self-help meetings. (Such as Alcohol Anonymous) The program costs around $1,600.00 and allows for up to 10 excused absences.
30-Month Alcohol Program
Orange County does not have this program. However, if you are convicted of DUI in Los Angeles County and you have two or more priors within the last 10 years, then you will be ordered to complete this program.
Out-Of-State Residents
If you live in another state an Orange County judge will usually allow you to complete a comparable alcohol program in your own state. However, although completion of a similar program in your home state will satisfy the Orange County court requirement, it will not satisfy the DMV requirement. This is important because under the Interstate Compact your driver’s license in your home state will be affected be the DMV suspension in California.
Free Telephonic Consultation With an Orange County DUI Lawyer
Attorney EJ Stopyro offers a free and confidential telephonic consultation. EJ will explain the charges you face as well as the court and DMV process. If you would like to explore your options with a seasoned Newport Beach DUI lawyer call (949) 278-6353 today.