DUI schools are an essential part of Georgia’s campaign to reduce the number of DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) incidents that occur on the roads each year. Any driver who obtains a DUI conviction on his or her driving record is required to undergo a drivers’ “reeducation” program before having his or her driver’s license reinstated.
The idea behind mandating drunk drivers to attend DUI schools is to educate them and rehabilitate them, not to punish or humiliate them. While drunk driving is itself a heinous crime worthy of punishment, far too many people in society today don’t seem to learn their lessons, and wind up earning multiple DUI convictions on their record. Jail time and temporary drivers license suspensions don’t seem to be enough. Therefore, by requiring offenders to enroll in DUI schools before they can have their driving privileges restored, it is hoped that the number of repeat occurrences of DUI offenses on the roads will decrease. (Unfortunately, repeat offenders do account for a significant percentage of overall DUI incidents that occur each year.)
Not only are DUI schools good for the convicted offender, but they are good for the offender’s family. If a person is caught drunk driving, chances are, that individual may have other underlying alcohol and substance abuse problems at home too. That’s why DUI schools also sometimes offer counseling to families who are struggling with alcohol and drug problems at home. By addressing the problem at home, we can reduce the likelihood that the problem will be brought out onto the streets.
In accordance with George state law, not only must convicted drunk driving offenders go through a mandatory 20 hours of education through approved DUI schools, but they must also undergo a mandatory clinical evaluation as well. This clinical evaluation will assess the individual’s needs for further counseling, such as the completion of an additional Substance Abuse Treatment Program.
The idea behind DUI schools is to tackle and fix the problem, not just lock people up and slap them with fines. Once a DUI convict is let loose back in society, the greatest fear is that he or she may have the audacity to commit the same crime again, resulting in even more loss of life and more property damage. So not only are you protecting the offender from wreaking havoc on society again, by requiring attendance through DUI schools, but you are also, in a manner of speaking, protecting the offender “from himself / herself”.
Now, as far as multiple repeat offenders are concerned, state law requires that their vehicles be outfitted with an ignition interlock device. Their driver’s license will be replaced by a limited driving permit that explicitly states on it that the drivers shall not operate a vehicle unless it has this ignition interlock device on it. An ignition interlock device is also known as a “breathalyzer”. It will not allow the engine to start unless you breathe into this device, and the device detects that your blood-alcohol level is below legal limits.
When an offender attends one of Georgia’s state-approved DUI schools, he or she can be expected to be treated with respect. They are not humiliated, harassed, taunted, or ridiculed for their offense. That is not the aim of these DUI schools. The aim of these DUI schools is to provide education, rehabilitation, and counseling. Instruction is provided in a confidential, personal, and professional manner. In fact, attendance at these schools, such as the Athens-Clarke DUI Services in Athens, Georgia, is kept as discreet as possible, through the use of private parking facilities housed in a professional office park. It is hoped that by treating offenders with this level of respect, they will not feel the need to rebel and revert to the same bad behaviors that caused them to earn their DUI convictions in the first place.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. If you wish to exercise the privilege of driving on the road, you must abide by all laws, and you must drive defensively, with the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road as your utmost priority. Imparting this wisdom is the aim of all DUI schools.
