I got charged with aggravated DUI. What can I expect from DUI school?

While DUI has serious consequences for anyone convicted of drunk driving, when someone is charged with aggravated DUI, the penalties are more serious. Although the consequences vary by state, most jurisdictions require some form of DUI education or counseling before the offender’s sentence is complete.

Aggravated DUI is a charge that is often levied when the offender has committed an additional offense in conjunction with their DUI. Those crimes can include:

• Prior DUI offenses within a specified period of time, often 3 to 12 years

• When someone is injured or killed in a DUI accident

• Prior convictions for reckless homicide

• DUI in a school zone

• DUI in a school bus or in any vehicle with minor passengers

• Driving without a valid license, such as a suspended or revoked license

• Driving without valid insurance

While all the penalties are heightened when the DUI become aggravated DUI, DUI school is often mandatory in these cases, though the offender must pay for the classes. The offender will undergo an alcohol assessment to determine their dependence on alcohol, learn methods of controlling their alcohol use, and learn strategies for avoiding any future DUI arrests.

Someone convicted on DUI charges can face life-long consequences, which is why it can be helpful to obtain the expertise of a DUI attorney who knows their state laws and the most effective defenses in their court system.