A Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course provides education to individuals who have been convicted of drunk driving offenses. By successfully completing this course, the attendee may be eligible for a reduction in their driving ban. Our driving solicitors specialize in traffic and driving-related legal matters and will provide you with guidance based on their knowledge and experience in this field.
The legal framework on Drink Drive Rehabilitation Courses
If you are convicted of certain drunk driving offenses and the court imposes a driving ban period of at least twelve months, you can reduce that ban by the drink driver rehabilitation course, according to the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The court can order a reduction in the ban if the offender successfully completes a course approved by the Secretary of State. The reduction can be between three months and 25% of the original ban. For example, if the original ban is twelve months, the reduced ban cannot be less than nine months.
However, some conditions need to be met for this reduction to apply. Our drink drive solicitors can explain the requirements in detail. For example, the offender must be 17 years or older, and the court needs to explain the order to them clearly. The offender must agree to the order and complete the Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course by a date specified in the order, which must be at least two months before the reduced ban period ends.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is a Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course | A Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course is an educational program with the purpose of helping individuals convicted of drink-driving offenses and potentially reduce their driving ban by completing the course. |
|
Laws governing Drink Drive Rehabilitation Courses |
Road Traffic Act 1988 |
|
Reduction on driving ban |
The exact reduction is based on the provisions of the law and the completion of the rehabilitation course. |
| Conditions for reduction |
– the offender must be at least 17 years old; – the court must clearly explain the reduction order to the offender; – the offender must agree to the reduction order; – the offender must successfully complete the course by a specific date. |
| Timeline for course completion |
At least two months before the end of the reduced ban period. |
| Course duration (approx.) |
16 hours |
| Course structure |
– usually divided into three separate sessions, – held on different days over a three-week period. |
| Enrolling in a course |
Once in court due to a drink driving offense, convicted individuals need to make a decision about whether to enroll in a Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course; – For research and assistance, please contact our driving offence solicitors. |
| Certification |
At the end of the course, the individual will receive a certification indicating their completion of the course that must be sent to the court. |
| High-risk offender classification | Might need to reapply for the driving license and undergo a medical assessment in this case. |
| Changing courses |
You can change your drink driver rehabilitation course before you start it; Contact our driving offence solicitors in London if you are interested in this option. |
| DVLA notification |
The court must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about the individual’s completion of the course. |
| Advantages of taking the course |
– you can achieve a significant driving ban reduction; – learn about the dangers of drunk driving; – become a safer driver and avoid penalties in the future, etc. |
| Responsabilities |
The individual who has been convicted of the offense is responsible for enrolling in the selected course and completing it within the specified deadline. |
| How can our driving offence solicitors help |
– legal advice, – case assessment, – representation in court, – researching the best course, – negotiating the sentence, etc. |
The process of taking a drink driver rehabilitation course
It is very important to know that once you are in court, you will need to decide whether you want to enroll in a Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course. You will not have the option to change your mind at a later time.
Before your court appearance, research and select a course you would like to attend. Our drink driving solicitors in London can help you with your research. Once you have been convicted, the court will share your information with the course provider. The course provider will then send you information about the available dates for the course and the deadline by which you must complete it.
The courses are conducted in person and typically take approximately 16 hours in total, which is usually divided into three sessions held on separate days over a span of three weeks. A Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course will also include other individuals who have been convicted of drink-driving offenses.
You are responsible for enrolling in and completing the chosen course by the given deadline.
Completing the course
Once you successfully complete the drink driver rehabilitation course, you will receive a certification that will be sent to the court. The court will later inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about your completion of the course, which will result in a reduction of your driving ban.
If you are classified as a “high-risk offender,” you will need to reapply for your driving license and undergo a medical assessment. If you are unsure whether you fall into this category, you should check with our driving offence solicitors for guidance.
Finally, here are some insights about the participation and utilization of rehabilitation courses by drink driving offenders:
- There were over 8,000 courses taken from April to June 2017 in the UK;
- Over 200 took place in South and Central London;
- The highest number of courses were taken in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk (694).
Contact our driving solicitors for advice regarding your specific circumstances and if you are seeking what is the closest ”drink driving rehabilitation course near me”.