If you are arrested for DWI in Queens or elsewhere in New York, your license will be suspended and the vehicle you were driving at the time of your arrest may be seized by the police. Following your arraignment, you may be eligible to apply for a post-conviction conditional license and depending on the specifics of your case, you might be able to reach an out of court settlement and get your car back. However, you will have to complete a DUI/DWI education program first.
Registering for Drinking Driving Programs
In New York, completion of a DWI education program (called Drinking Driving Programs, or DDP) is required before you can get your license or your vehicle back. The alcohol counseling centers that offer these programs must be certified by the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (O.A.S.A.S.) for your completion of the program to be recognized by the courts. O.A.S.A.S. certified clinical providers will screen and assess those charged with impaired driving, and determine if they need treatment.
The first time you go to the counseling center, you can expect to be interviewed regarding your drinking or drug use patterns and history, and this information may have to be verified by someone close to you, such as your spouse or other family member. You may also have to take a urine test to see if there are drugs or alcohol in your system. Your assessment counselor will need your arrest report or violation ticket and charges and may request that you obtain a copy from the issuing jurisdiction.
If the counselor determines that no drug or alcohol problem exists, no further sessions will be needed. If the counselor believes there is a possibility of a drinking or drug problem, they will refer you for follow-up therapy, which you will be obligated to pay for.
Drinking Driving Programs last for about 7 weeks, with typically one class scheduled per week. The classes are up to three hours long and include lectures, interviews, and tests. If your participation in the program is not satisfactory, if you refuse to participate in follow-up therapy, or if you do not complete the program, the original license suspension or revocation will be reinstated.
Alcohol Assessments
If you vehicle was seized by the police after your arrest, and If you have reached a settlement with the police in which you do not have to have a hearing in order to get your vehicle back, you will probably still have to undergo an alcohol assessment. Be forewarned, the assessment is independent from the alcohol assessment required by the court for the crime of DWI, however the same counselor can do the assessment for both.
Do You Need Help Fighting Your DWI Charges?
If you or someone you love has been arrested in Queens for DWI, call Kerben & Associates now. We know how important DWI programs can be to restoring your license. We know what criteria is used by the DDP clinical providers use to determine if a referral is warranted. Call Kerben & Associates now at 718-575-8433 to schedule an interview with a Queens DWI attorney who can help you increase your chances of successfully completing a DWI education program.
