California Mandatory DUI Classes

In nearly all Los Angeles DUI convictions, one of the requirements imposed by the court is the completion of an approved DUI class. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the conviction, the judge may sentence you to attend one of 7 types of DUI courses. The classes are generally referred to by an alphanumeric code, which can be confusing to people unfamiliar with the DUI process.

Courts require that the DUI class be held at one the court-approved providers. There are providers located throughout the state of California and many are language, ethnic and sexual orientation specific. The prices and schedule for each DUI class provider may vary, so it is important to select one that is suitable. If you live outside the state of California, courts are often willing to except comparable DUI classes offered in your home state as long as the hours and subjects covered can be independently verified. In some cases judges in Los Angeles DUI cases will accept an online DUI program if the person lives out of state. However, this will not satisfy the requirements of California DMV and the result could be a suspension of your driving privileges in a person’s home state.

The shortest class is the 12-hour SB1176 course. This class is only available to individuals convicted of “wet reckless” for the first time in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 23103.5. This class consists of six weekly two-hour sessions. Additionally there is a 12-hour class specifically designed for DUI offenders under 21 years old. This class is referred to as the AB803 course. Judges rarely sentence minors to this class, preferring to send them to a more intensive course.

The DUI program most commonly assigned to first time DUI offenders is the AB541. This is the “three-month class” which consists of 30 hours of instruction. Typically, the AB541 meets weekly and consists of lectures, video presentations and group discussions.

The six-month class, or AB762, is available if the judge feels that the three-month course is too short, but the nine-month course is too long. Typically, these are popular for DUI offenders with moderately high (0.15-0.19) blood alcohol contents or people who were in a minor accident while driving under the influence.

The nine-month course (AB1353) is generally imposed when a first-time DUI offender has a blood alcohol concentration in excess of 0.20% and/or has a previous wet reckless conviction. Additionally, the AB1353 may be required when the offender was involved in a more serious traffic accident.

For second-time DUI offenders, the 18-month SB38 course is typically imposed. This course consists of 52 hours of group sessions, 12 hours of alcohol education, 6 hours of community reentry monitoring (i.e. Alcoholics Anonymous sessions) and personal interview appointments every other week to check progress over the first year of the program.

Recently, Los Angeles County have adopted the SB1365 (30-month) program for second-time DUI offenders with high blood alcohol contents and people facing their third or subsequent DUI conviction. This course is highly intensive and involves a significant community service aspect that its participants must complete.

Courts require individuals sentenced to complete a DUI course as a condition of probation to provide proof of enrollment in that program within 21 days of the sentencing date. This is important to keep in mind because if the proof of enrollment is not submitted to the court, a bench warrant may be issued for your arrest regardless of whether or not you have enrolled.

Completion of a DUI class is one of the many requirements that you may face if charged with DUI. Because of the serious consequences of a conviction of a Los Angeles DUI, it is important to seek out a top rated Los Angeles DUI lawyer. Michael Kraut knows how to attack the prosecution’s case and give a person arrested the best opportunity to beat their DUI case and win the DMV hearing so that the person does not have to take a DUI program. Michael Kraut was educated at Harvard Law School and then worked for over 14 years as a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Kraut will aggressively defend your case by exploring every angle and argument to ensure you have the best defense possible. Contact Los Angeles DUI attorney Michael Kraut 24/7 at (323) 464-6453 today to set up a free consultation.