Why Georgia Uses DUI Instead of Other Labels
Paperwork in Georgia names the charge DUI, even when it involves alcohol use only. Many other states use the terms driving under the influence, DWI, and OWI.
Georgia court and DDS paperwork say DUI (driving under the influence) instead of DWI (driving while intoxicated).
Georgia statute and court paperwork use the term Driving Under the Influence (DUI) rather than other labels. Other states label this same offense as DWI - Driving While Intoxicated, OUIL - Operating Under the Influence of Liquor, or DUI - Driving under the Influence.
DDS and court forms in Georgia keep saying DUI instead of DWI.
Court-Ordered Assessment and Education
People convicted of DUI, drug possession, and related offenses will be required to complete a court-ordered risk reduction program in Georgia.
Courts can order Risk Reduction after conviction, if you meet certain conditions. You will attend classes to learn more about how substance abuse affects driving.
After completing the assessment process, offenders must attend a Risk Reduction Class. The course covers issues related to alcohol and drug use, including:
- Understanding the effects on self and society
- The legal consequences of impaired driving
- Strategies for avoiding risk-taking behaviors
- Personal change strategies
The program is intended for people who want to change their behavior and avoid future problems.
The course helps participants learn more about alcohol use, how it affects them, and ways to reduce their risk.
The purpose of the program is to increase awareness of the risks associated with alcohol and drug use, including driving while impaired.
The program is designed for people who have been convicted of a DUI.
There are several locations around Georgia where you can complete your DUI Education.
A qualifying conviction can bring a court order for risk reduction education in Georgia. You'll have to complete two steps:
- Needs assessment. This involves filling out a questionnaire with 130 questions about your behavior and alcohol use patterns.
- Intervention course. The second part of the program consists of a 20-hour group intervention course.
A certificate of completion is available upon successful completion of both parts of the program.
The Risk Reduction Program aims to educate people about the dangers associated with impaired driving and how it affects them personally.
Conviction for DUI, illegal-drug possession, or Boating Under the Influence requires a court-ordered assessment and intervention.
The court orders the NEEDS Assessment first.
Intervention includes a series of education sessions with other people in the same situation as the defendant.
What a DUI Risk Reduction Program Is
You may be required to participate in a risk reduction program (RRP) by order of the judge when you're found guilty of a DUI charge.
The RRP will provide a standardized screening assessment and an approved therapeutic education course focused on alcohol use, drug use, and driving.
The Risk Reduction Program must meet requirements set by the Department of Driver Services (DDS). The purpose is to assess your risk level for problems related to alcohol or drug use that may lead to driving under the influence.
These courses aim to educate individuals about the dangers of drinking and driving so they can make responsible choices in the future.
The intervention component educates students about alcohol and drug-related issues, including:
- Understanding and avoiding risky behaviors
- Knowing when it is time to stop using substances
- Avoiding situations where you can be pressured to use substances
- Avoiding drinking and driving
- The consequences for DUI in Georgia
This program aims to reduce the risks associated with drunk driving and other substance-related offenses by requiring individuals convicted of these crimes to complete a standardized screening assessment followed by a DDS-approved educational course.
The risk reduction course will provide participants with information about the consequences of drinking and driving laws and how to prevent a DUI arrest from happening again in the future.
Risk Reduction itself is built as screening plus an educational course.
A DUI risk reduction course teaches students the risks associated with using alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both while operating a vehicle on public roads. The program helps participants understand the negative consequences of driving under the influence.
The next step in the process is the therapeutic education course.
Participants will also learn strategies for avoiding situations where they could be tempted into making poor decisions when it comes time for drinking and driving again.
Assessment Component and Intervention Component
Students complete the NEEDS Assessment first, then the Risk Reduction Course. The Assessment has 130 questions. The Intervention Component is a twenty-hour course which consists of several sessions.
Assessment uses a 130-question screening instrument to evaluate an individual's alcohol and/or other drug use.
The course offers therapeutic education and peer group counseling to students. They will learn about alcohol, drugs and their effects on driving.
NEEDS comes first, then the 20-hour course (intervention component).
To receive a certificate of completion, students must complete both components.
Students complete the NEEDS Assessment first, followed by the Intervention Component. It evaluates an individual's level of alcohol/drug consumption and its impact on driving.
The Intervention Course is a 20-hour course made up of several sessions. The course covers many different areas such as the effects of alcohol/drug use on the body and how alcohol/drug use affects driving.
Intervention is a therapeutic educational course consisting of several sessions. They take place in a group environment.
In the Intervention Component, peer group counseling provides an opportunity to discuss problems related to alcohol or other drugs in a safe environment. It also teaches students about alcohol, other drugs, and their effects on driving.
The assessment component consists of a series of questions designed to evaluate an individual's alcohol/drug use and its impact on driving. This is done before beginning the intervention component.
In order for a person to receive the certificate of completion they must complete both components.
Peer group counseling happens during the Intervention Component.
The assessment component must be completed before the Intervention Component.
When Clinical Evaluation Enters the Picture
Clinical evaluation is separate from Risk Reduction school.
An alcohol clinical evaluation is required when you have had two or more DUI convictions within 10 years. If this is the case for you, you will be required to provide proof of having completed the state-approved alcohol clinical evaluation before getting your driver's license reinstated.
DBHDD administers clinical-evaluation rules and regulations related to substance abuse treatment.
Clinical evaluation is a separate track from Risk Reduction. A clinical evaluation is necessary when an individual wants to reinstate a driver's license or driving privileges after two or more DUI convictions in ten years.
The DBHDD is responsible for administering the evaluation requirements.
Clinical evaluation enters for reinstatement after two or more DUIs.
Clinical evaluation is separate from the DUI Risk Reduction course.
When clinical assessment is required, it must be state-approved and completed before license reinstatement can occur.
DBHDD handles clinical-evaluation rules, and documented proof of clinical evaluation may be needed for a DUI offender who has been convicted of two or more DUIs in the last ten years.
Finding a DDS-Certified Risk Reduction Program
DDS-certified Driving Schools are approved to conduct Driver Education, Defensive Driving, and DUI Risk Reduction programs. Before enrolling in any of these courses, you must confirm that the school is certified by the DDS.
Only DDS-certified driving schools may offer Driver Education, Defensive Driving, or DUI programs. Before enrolling, ensure the school is certified. Any classes taken at an uncertified school will not be approved for licensing, reinstatement, or court requirements.
Before enrolling, verify DDS certification for driving schools offering the Driver Education course, Defensive Driving, or DUI programs. Classes at uncertified schools are not accepted for licensing, reinstatement, or court requirements.
DDS-certified schools may offer classroom instruction for DUI programs.
A DUI Risk Reduction Program consists of an initial assessment followed by a series of group sessions. The program is designed to help individuals identify their personal risks associated with alcohol use, learn effective strategies for reducing those risks, and develop skills needed to maintain safe driving behaviors.
Uncertified school classes will not be accepted by the DDS and are not court-approved for DUIs.
Certification has to be checked with DDS before you register.
A class only counts when the driving school is certified by DDS. Any courses taken elsewhere will not count towards your requirements, no matter how many hours you attended.
Uncertified Risk Reduction classes will not count for license reinstatement.
Enrollment only counts at a DDS-certified school. Before enrolling, verify that the school you want is certified by the Department of Driver Services.
License Suspension and Reinstatement After Repeat DUI
Two or more DUI convictions in ten years requires you to have a Clinical Evaluation completed as a condition for reinstating your driving privileges.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) requires individuals convicted of two or more DUI offenses within ten years to complete a clinical evaluation and provide proof of such completion before their driving privileges can be reinstated.
A clinical evaluation must be completed before reinstating a license that was suspended due to two or more DUI convictions within ten years.
When a Georgia license was suspended for two or more DUI convictions within the past ten years, drivers must provide documents verifying completion of the state-approved clinical evaluation.
The clinical evaluation is separate from the Risk Reduction course.