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Driving under the influence is a big problem in the United States. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Centers for Statistics and Analysis found that alcohol-impaired driving caused 13,524 deaths in 2022. This equates to one person dying every 39 minutes. Alcohol-related crashes are also expensive, costing about $123.3 billion in 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Many people who’ve found themselves facing charges for driving under the influence recognize the importance of getting help. Most people who have a drink and get into a car never set out to harm another person. But once it happens, enrolling in a drug and alcohol treatment program may be the right move. In some cases, an individual can go to rehab instead of jail for a DUI.
Could this be the right decision for you? At FHE Health, we encourage anyone who’s been charged with a DUI to seek alcohol treatment, even if you don’t think you have a drinking problem. Doing so could save your life or someone else’s.
If you need more reasons, consider the benefits of enrolling in an alcohol program, such as the one available to you at FHE Health.
1. You May Avoid Jail Time
Laws across the country continue to become more significant and harsh for those who drive while intoxicated. There’s no shortage of advancing penalties, including larger fines, the loss of driving privileges and even jail time for DUIs. Under Florida law, someone with a first-time DUI offense may receive jail time. A second DUI charge receives a mandatory minimum of 10 days in jail, which jumps to 30 days in jail for a third offense.
Those faced with jail time, even on a first offense, may want to think about what could happen when they walk into a courtroom. While there’s no guarantee that entering alcohol treatment will help you avoid jail time, most judges look more favorably on those who do.
The court sees entering into a treatment program as a good thing because those who have DUI charges (especially multiple charges) generally display symptoms of alcoholism. To be clear, people who are dependent on alcohol may not be able to simply stop drinking. Through a treatment program, though, it may be possible to become and remain sober. Spending time in jail doesn’t cure or improve alcoholism for most people.
2. Active Participation in an Alcohol Treatment Program May Help You Keep Your License Long-Term
It’s important to recognize that other penalties come with a DUI charge. While most people focus on jail time, other consequences can play a role in your day-to-day life and limit your ability to go to work, for example.
Under Florida law, a first-time DUI offense can also lead to other penalties, including:
- Fines from $500 to $1,000 for detected blood alcohol levels of 0.15 or higher or when a minor is in the vehicle
- License revocation — minimum of 180 days
- Community service of 50 hours
- DUI school for 12 hours
- Probation for no longer than a year
As you can see, just facing a single charge of DUI can be life-changing, but you may be able to get help if you enter alcohol treatment instead. Again, there’s no guarantee a judge will put aside any of these penalties, but enrolling in and completing your alcohol treatment could be helpful. It tends to be better to do this now before you head to court.
3. Your DUI Treatment Center Works with Parole Officers
Most of the time, your treatment center works directly with your parole officer. This means that if you’re working through the program and meeting the goals set for you by your counselor, this information is communicated directly to the court system. This can show your judge that you’re actively participating in treatment.
Many times, those who enter alcohol treatment will have penalties waived for a short time until they prove themselves in a treatment program. And because organizations like FHE Health work directly with your parole officer and the courts, you have someone on your side throughout this difficult time.
4. You Can Restore Your Life by Getting Sober
Take into consideration what alcohol recovery may mean to you. Right now, all you can think about is avoiding a DUI, but consider other benefits of enrolling in a treatment program like this.
- Are you struggling at work?
- Are your relationships with the people you love strained?
- Are you struggling financially due to poor decisions?
- Are you finding it hard to maintain other responsibilities?
- Are you ashamed of the example you’re setting for others in your life?
When you enter a treatment program, you begin to find the new you. You can learn how to stop using alcohol to hide complications and stressors, and you can overcome traumatic events in your past. You can also begin to rebuild a healthy, sober life. That’s easier to do if you can avoid the worst of a DUI conviction.
5. You May Save Someone’s Life
DUI charges are necessary. The penalties are strict because alcohol impairment kills people. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 5,121 crashes linked to impaired driving in 2023, as well as 356 fatalities and 3,089 injuries.
With so many people on the road with you each day, do you want to end up facing charges for causing an alcohol-impaired accident that kills another person? That’s yet another reason to enter treatment.
Going to Rehab Diversion Programs Instead of Jail for a DUI
DUI rehab diversion programs require that the individual complete DUI outpatient treatment before their case goes to trial. These programs offer an alternative to traditional criminal prosecution, potentially letting the individual avoid a criminal conviction and go to rehab instead of jail for a DUI. Some benefits these programs provide include:
- Dismissal of DUI charges. Completing a DUI rehab program can result in a dismissal of criminal charges, letting the individual avoid a conviction on their record.
- Alcohol counseling for DUI. Rehab diversion programs typically involve substance abuse treatment, which can help the individual overcome their addiction to alcohol.
- Increased awareness of the impact of alcohol use. These programs have elements such as victim impact panels, highway cleanup projects, and public speaking opportunities on the dangers of drunk driving. This can make the individual more aware of the price of driving under the influence.
- Random testing. To ensure compliance with the program, rehab diversion programs typically include random testing. This offers a layer of accountability and can encourage sobriety.
- Reduced penalties. By completing a rehab diversion program, individuals may see a reduction in penalties, including smaller fines, fewer community service hours, less jail time,e and the ability to keep their driver’s license.
Rather than only seeking to punish those who drive under the influence of alcohol, rehab diversion programs aim to address the root causes of the problem and reduce the risk of another DUI arrest.
Get Help Now and Begin to Put Your DUI Behind You
At FHE Health, we’re committed to helping people get the support and care they need to recover. This starts with enrolling in an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. Meet with our team to discuss your situation. Find out how much support you can get for your DUI as well as for your future. Contact our team today.
