Drink driving rehabilitation and treatment
If you are convicted of drink driving in the UK, the sentencing authority (usually the magistrates’ court in England and Wales or the sheriff in Scotland) may give you the opportunity to attend a rehabilitation course. You will have to pay for the course, but ordinarily the court will reduce the duration of your driving ban if you complete the course.
Course content
The rehabilitation courses usually take place in several sessions over a number of days – for example, two full-day sessions plus two evening sessions. The course is designed, among other things, to heighten the attendee’s awareness of drink driving issues. The course will cover matters such as the effect of alcohol on the body, how it affects your driving skills, the law relating to drink driving, and case studies illustrating the effects of drink driving (and probably with some fairly grim examples).
There are several course providers throughout the country. If you are convicted of drink driving, and the court offers you the opportunity to attend a rehabilitation course, the court will generally give your details to the nearest course provider.
Reducing the duration of your driving ban
A drink driving conviction carries an automatic driving ban. The duration of the ban depends on various factors, including your breath, blood and/or urine alcohol levels leading to the conviction and any past drink driving offences. The court can reduce the duration of your ban by 25% if you attend and complete the drink driving rehabilitation course (provided the court offers you the course, which is in its discretion).
Getting help with a drink driving charge
A drink driving charge is serious. If convicted you will be facing a significant fine and a driving ban. You will also get a criminal record (which could affect your employment prospects) and will likely see a significant increase in your motoring insurance premiums when you start driving again. In some circumstances, you could even get a custodial sentence.
If you are charged with drink driving, an experienced motoring law solicitor will be able to help. You can find solicitors by searching online, checking with sources such as the Law Society, or using a matching service like Contact Law. Contact Law will collect details from you and introduce you to a solicitor in your area who has the relevant skills and experience – and Contact Law will not charge you for that service.
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