One of the first requirements after being convicted of your DUI is to report to ASAP for your initial intake registration. ASAP is a state supported program designed to monitor and provide alcohol and drug education to DUI offenders. The purpose of the program is to rehabilitate those convicted of a DUI in an effort to prevent them from repeat offenses of drunk driving.You will have a given time frame to report to ASAP in your court papers. Make sure to put this date in your calendar and definitely do not miss the appointment. The first thing you will do before you start your paper work is blow into a breathalyzer. It is amazing how many offenders walk into ASAP after they have been drinking alcohol and blow a positive reading into the breathalyzer. This is not a good way to start your rehabilitation. ASAP will send you back to court and you will probably have to serve the jail time that was suspended and/or pay any fines that were suspended during your initial trial.
During your intake you will fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask you about your drinking habits and your history of drinking. After you complete the questionnaire you will meet with a ASAP representative who will inform you of what will be required of you during your 1 year probation period. Depending on the review of your questionnaire and your BAC at the time of your arrest, the ASAP representative may refer you to a treatment center that specializes in alcohol and drug abuse. The ASAP representative will give you a form with the name and phone number of the treatment center you will be referred to. You will have a certain time frame to contact them and make an appointment. I forgot to mention that before you leave ASAP, you will have to write a $400 check for your registration fee.
When you arrive for your appointment at the treatment center you will be given a urine drug test. This urine test can detect alcohol in your system for up to 80 hours of your last drink and they will bust you if it comes back positive. After your drug test you will complete another questionnaire and then you will be interviewed by a counselor. Most people are defensive and angry during this interview because they all think they don't need this treatment. This approach will only make matters worse for you. The counselor will tell you during the interview whether or not you will be required to go through the treatment program. I was required to go through the program. I was informed that I had to attend 2 two hour sessions per week for 16 weeks. Also during that 16 week period I was required to attend 2 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week. The cost of the treatment program was $80 per session or $160 per week! Your health insurance may pay portion of this cost.
From my experience, my advice is to leave your anger at the door and try to see this as a positive experience. This will be the first time most of you have ever had to express your inner most feelings in a group setting. You will find, as I did, that the people in the group are just like you. If you participate and are honest during the group discussion you will feel an immediate support system from the group. I actually got to the point where I looked forward to going to the sessions. It is amazing to see people go from bitter and angry to totally opening up and even becoming emotional when talking about their drinking and DUI. The 16 weeks will fly by and when it's time for you to leave, I promise you will feel good about the experience.
After you complete your treatment center sessions, your next step is to attend the 10 week, 2 hours per week ASAP classes. In these classes you will be educated on how alcohol affects your body and how it impairs your driving. You will also be asked to come up with a plan of action that will prevent you from ever making the decision to drink and drive again. ASAP is very strict on your attendance to the classes. The doors will be locked when the class starts and late arrivers will be marked absent from the class. Couple missed classes will get you kicked out of the program and you will be forced to start all over. Again I have found if you have a good attitude and participate in class discussions, this will be be a positive experience for you.
After your 10 weeks of classes, you are done with the exception of ASAP having the option to call you in for random drug testing. I have heard stories of people testing positive on a drug test during the period after they have completed all their course work and the end of their probation. These people were sent back to court and were forced to start the entire process all over again. Don't be one of these people.
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