Learn More About Florida DUI School

Florida DUI School is one unique feature of the state of Florida to reduce occurrence of accidents due to drunken driving. Like all other states in the country, the DUI laws of Florida state that it is illegal for all drivers in the state to operate any motor driven vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 per cent or more. For minors (under 21) the limit is 0.02 per cent or a higher BAC and for commercial drivers it is 0.04 per cent or more.

The penalties for a DUI conviction in Florida are jail, fine, suspension of driver’s license, community service and so on. Depending on whether the offender is convicted for the first time or for a repeat offense and also on the blood alcohol level, the duration of the jail sentence or the suspension period varies.

The Florida DUI School is for offenders who need to undergo a correctional program or who need to kept under monitoring. The Florida DUI School has designed a number of courses such as basic driver improvement course, first time driver course and DUI course. There are different courses for people with one DUI conviction and people with multiple DUI convictions. Often, these courses become mandatory for the offender to attend in order to reinstate his or her driver’s license.

The DUI School courses are offered by the Florida Safety Council. Certified Level 1 and Level 2 professionals who fulfill all the criteria of the Motor Vehicle and the Department of Highway Safety are instructors of these various courses. The DUI courses in the Florida DUI School are

•    Driving Under Influence I
•    Driving Under Influence II
•    Victim Awareness Program
•    DUI Pre-Registration Program
•    SCRAM

Some of the basic driving courses are as follows:

•    Basic Driving Improvement Course [four hours]
•    Basic Driving improvement Course [eight hours]
•    Advanced Driver Course
•    Alternative Transportation Education or ATE
•    Driving While License Suspended or revoked
•    Traffic  Collision Avoidance Course

The DUI classes in Florida DUI School are specially designed for individuals convicted of drunken driving. The DUI level 1 course is for people who are convicted of DUI or reckless driving once. In other words, this course is for first time offenders in the state. The course is designed to identify the offenders who are deeply involved with drugs and alcohol and to educate them about the ill effects of drunken driving.

The course format includes a twelve hour theoretical course. Lectures, live discussions, videos etc. are used in the classes. The students must also undergo a psychosocial evaluation process conducted by trained professionals.

The course is constructed with a view to make the offenders aware of the adverse effects of alcohol and how it can wreck others’ lives. It informs the offender about the specific DUI laws of the state of Florida. Offenders are helped to understand and identify their own distinct drinking patterns. This is very important as different people need different number of drinks to get their abilities impaired.

The classes are offered in English and Spanish. Classes are held in four locations: Osceola, Seminole, Orange and Brevard counties, and are available weekly and also on weekends. To register, the offender needs to show the court order. Other basic requirements that must be fulfilled prior to registration are a copy of the arrest affidavit, Blood Alcohol Level reading, driver’s license number, DUI citations and a recent photograph.

The registration procedure takes one and a half hour and can be done online.

Driving under Influence II

The DUI level II classes are for those offenders who have been convicted of DUI more than once and have attended DUI School before. It has been formed to raise awareness among these group of people about the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs and also the damages it can do to others lives.

The course format consists of a twenty one hour course, an interactive session conducted by instructors at the school, and psychological evaluation of the students. The course material includes videos, handouts, discussions and lectures.

It imparts knowledge about the effects of driving under influence, the laws and the penalties of Florida, the effect DUI has on the offender’s social and professional life and also on his or her family.

Prior to registration, the offender must produce all the documents that are required for registering in the DUI level I course.

If you have been instructed by the court to register yourself in the Florida DUI School, you must first completely fill the pre-registration form and go through the rules of the coursework. You may print the forms from the website of the Florida DUI School. In order to do so, visit http://www.floridasafety.org/coursetext.asp?class=35.After completing the pre-registration program you have to go to the school in person to register yourself for the appropriate course.

Another drunken driving prevention that the school offers is Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor or SCRAM. It helps enforcement agencies to monitor the offenders for a prolonged period of time to make sure they do not drink while driving. The advanced technology used by this device monitors the offender all the time and sends reports as frequently as in every half an hour. Therefore, it is very effective in preventing the offender from drinking and driving. To register for SCRAM, you may call the Florida Safety Council at (407) 897-4422.

The Victim Awareness Program of the DUI School tries to create victim empathy among the DUI offenders. The offenders are introduced to victim families and the harsh realities of how their reckless driving can alter other lives. It tries to modify the habitual traffic offenders of the state. The Victim Awareness Program is for duration of two hours. Other than using audio visual media and educational courses, the program also creates a victim awareness panel. Here the offenders can talk to DUI victims and understand the gravity their offenses. All these are designed to bring about a change in the mindset of the DUI offenders.

The Florida DUI School, by its unique courses and supervision techniques, provides an alternative for jail sentences. It is a cost effective alternative and it also increases general safety by raising awareness and closely monitoring the offenders. It also creates accountability among drunk drivers and encourages them to change their drinking patterns and be more responsible. For more information regarding the courses and other details visit http://www.floridasafety.org/courselist.asp.