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Courses for Drink Drive Offenders (C D D O)


What are the courses about?
Drink Driving is one of the main causes of road traffic casualties in Northern Ireland. The course for Drink Drive Offenders has the potential to change the attitudes and behaviours of drivers convicted of drinking and driving, help to prevent reoffending and make a valuable contribution to reducing the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.
Opportunity:
Referred drink drivers who successfully complete a course are eligible for a reduction in their disqualification of up to 25%.
Who provides the courses?
TTC 2000, the largest provider of the courses in the UK, provides the courses on behalf of DOE.
Course details:
The courses are designed to be educational; covering alcohol education, impact on health, responsible driving, the law, sentencing and victims. Most courses are run over three days in a two/ three-week period and are available on weekdays, evenings and weekends.  Courses are available in Belfast, Londonderry, Ballymena, Armagh, and Omagh.
Fee:
The fee is £155 with a reduced fee of £110 for unemployed, full-time students and pensioners.
Referral :
The magistrate may offer an offender the opportunity to attend a course if convicted of any of the following offences:
  • driving or being in charge of a vehicle when unfit to drive through drink or drugs; or
  • driving or being in charge of a vehicle having consumed excess alcohol; or
  • failing to provide a specimen (of breath, blood or urine) for analysis.
Referral to the course is at the discretion of the Courts. It is up to the offender, or legal representative, to ensure that the District Judge has all the relevant facts to enable an informed decision on referral to be made.  The offender decides whether or not to accept an offer of referral.
Qualifying Conditions:
  • The period of disqualification from driving must not be less than 12 months
  • The offender must be aged 17 or over
  • A place on a programme must be available
  • The offender must agree to take part.