Alcohol Education and Treatment Before a Trial or Plea May Be Worth Your While
If Colorado Springs police pull you over and arrest you for drunk driving, DUI alcohol classes are probably the last thing on your mind. But maybe there are good reasons why you should consider them.
Mandatory alcohol education is almost always part of the many consequences of a DUI you can face if you are convicted of driving under the influence in Colorado. But, voluntarily taking alcohol education or seeking treatment before you head to trial or enter into plea negotiations with El Paso County prosecutors may help your DUI defense. How?
After a DUI Arrest, The Law Thinks You Have An Alcohol Problem
Even though not every person arrested and charged with drunk driving has a drinking problem, they do in the eyes of the law.
Colorado Springs police and prosecutors, and even family, friends and employers may suspect you have an issue with drinking if you are charged with a DUI. That is one of the intangible impacts of being charged with driving under the influence.
DUI alcohol education and treatment are valuable and important tools for individuals struggling with a drinking or drug addiction. If your drunk driving arrest was the wake-up call you needed to admit that you actually do have a drinking problem, then education and treatment should be part of your efforts towards recovery, regardless of any impact on your DUI defense.
But even if you don’t have a drinking problem and just used poor judgment one night, taking alcohol classes and/or seeking treatment still may be worth your while. Here’s why.
Showing The Judge That You Take Your DUI Seriously
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest, your DUI defense attorney may suggest that you undergo an alcohol and drug assessment, attend classes, and undergo possible treatment if appropriate.
Your defense attorney may make this recommendation for two reasons. First, despite media portrayals to the contrary, your lawyer cares about your well-being. If you do have a drinking or drug problem, the sooner you face the issue, the sooner you will be on the road to recovery and getting your life back. Second, your defense lawyer may suggest taking classes or getting treatment because doing so will help them defend you against the serious charges before you.
Voluntarily attending alcohol education can help you win a DUI case in three main ways:
- This may convince your trial judge that you take your alleged transgression seriously and are committed to rectifying the situation.
- If an alcohol assessment determines that you do not have a drinking or addiction issue, this might support your defense lawyer’s argument that any punishment upon conviction should be on the lower end of the scale.
- Voluntarily attending alcohol classes before trial may strengthen your criminal defense attorney’s hand when negotiating a plea bargain in your case. Your attendance shows the prosecution your acceptance of a possible problem and your willingness to accept responsibility for your actions.
Approved DUI Alcohol Classes and Programs Available In El Paso County
If you do seek help or enroll in alcohol classes before trial, you should seek out programs authorized by the state of Colorado to provide mandatory Level I and Level II Alcohol Education and Therapy courses for those convicted of DUI. These programs are available almost everywhere throughout the state, and you can get information about education and programs online or with your defense lawyer’s help.
In El Paso and Teller Counties, there are 16 approved providers for Level I and Level II alcohol classes and treatment, with close to 30 locations. The cost for education varies depending on the provider, but upon completion, all providers will issue a Discharge or DUI/DWAI Referral Summary, which can be a powerful aid to your defense.
Facing A DUI? Speak with Criminal Defense Attorney
Alcohol classes are just part of the available defenses available to you if you have been charged with a DUI in Colorado Springs. An experienced and tenacious criminal defense attorney will fight for your rights and freedoms, whether it is your first, second, or subsequent offense. The best criminal defense lawyers in Colorado Springs will attack every part of the prosecution’s case to put you in the best position to obtain a favorable outcome.
Contact us to speak with a criminal attorney in Colorado Springs.
