Under state law, you may have an opportunity to participate in alcohol education courses as a component of your sentence if you are convicted of a DUI offense. This opportunity is not automatic, but is more likely if you are represented by an experienced DUI defense attorney.
Christopher L. Jones, a local lawyer who previously served as a prosecutor and municipal judge, represents DUI defendants to reduce the adverse consequences of their charges. Schedule a consultation to learn more about alcohol education courses in Greenville and how such courses could benefit you.
Understanding the Basics of Alcohol Education Courses
DUI offenders are prohibited by the state from using online alcohol education courses. Greenville residents must therefore participate in in-person DUI classes that are approved by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Drug Safety, the fees for which are $350 or more.
Successful completion of an approved alcohol education course is generally required before you can recover your license after a conviction. Therefore, learning about your available options from a seasoned attorney is crucial.
Are Alcohol Education Courses Beneficial for Underage Offenders?
The dismissal of a Greenville underage motorist’s charges may be achieved through the successful completion of an alcohol education class coupled with community service. This option is only available to first-time DUI offenders aged 17-20 years old who do not have significant criminal profiles.
Chris Jones Law could help you avoid a formal conviction, potentially leading to fines, incarceration, ignition interlock requirements, and a lengthy driver’s license suspension. I have the knowledge and experience to secure the best possible outcome for your case.
Alcohol Education Courses Are a Prerequisite for Relicensing After a DUI
The South Carolina Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP) offers certified educational courses that you must complete before your right to drive is restored after a DUI conviction. Depending on the circumstances of your arrest, a skillful defense attorney may be able to challenge the charges and negotiate a plea to less serious charges, such as reckless driving, speeding, or violating red light restrictions. Prosecutors may be more likely to accept a plea to reduced charges if you have no prior DUI convictions or moving violations, if your blood alcohol concentration was below 0.15%, and if you did not refuse to submit to a breath test when stopped.
The sentence for a reduced charge in a Greenville plea arrangement might include a DUI education course or the installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. As your defense lawyer, attorney Christopher L. Jones could determine if an alternative negotiated plea is available and identify the fines and other sentencing requirements that would be part of that plea.
Contact a Greenville Attorney for More Information About DUI Education Classes
Christopher L. Jones cautions all motorists against driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, I understand that drivers have lapses in judgment. The state also understands this, which is why it implemented the ADSAP program to better educate motorists about the potential for severe injury and property damage when they operate vehicles while impaired.
Contact Chris Jones Law to learn more about your plea and sentencing opportunities if you have been charged with a DUI offense, particularly if you are under the age of 20 or have not previously been charged with a DUI offense. I could determine whether a prosecutor would be likely to accept your enrollment in alcohol education courses in Greenville as part of a negotiated plea deal.
