If you have been convicted of driving while intoxicated in Minnesota, you will likely face a number of different consequences including fines, driver’s license restrictions, probation and even the possibility of jail time. Another likely consequence after a DWI is the required completion of an alcohol education course. Can you take this course online, or will you have to attend the course in person? We answer that question in today’s blog.
Online Alcohol Education Course
Are you allowed to complete your alcohol education course through an online platform, or will you have to go to a session in person? While the answer to that question may be clarified by the judge overseeing your case, in most instances, it is completely fine to take your alcohol education course online. If you’re wondering if online alcohol education courses are available in your county, conduct a simple google search or check out this list to see if your city or county is listed.
Which type of course you take will be dictated by your situation. For most first-offense DWI convictions, you’ll need to complete a level one course. For subsequent convictions, you may need to complete a level two or above course. The more serious your conviction, the longer the course you’ll have to complete. Most level one courses are eight hours, and they go up from there to 36- or 48-hour courses depending on need.
However, know that you’re not just going to be able to listen to an online webinar while you’re doing other tasks or click through a PowerPoint as fast as you can just because you signed up for an online course. You’ll need an internet connection and a device with video capabilities, because class will be conducted Zoom-style, meaning you’ll be seen by your instructor on screen along with other attendees, and you’ll have to do some speaking along the way. Outside of being able to complete the course from the comfort of your home, it will essentially be the exact same session you’d receive if you attended an in-person class.
These courses can help you get a better understanding of how alcohol affects your decision making and how to develop a healthy relationship with alcohol, so take the class seriously. The completion form may be required to complete some aspect of your DWI probation, but what you learn in this class will help you make positive choices in your life going forward, even if you don’t believe you have a problem with alcohol.
If you need help finding an alcohol education course in your area, or you want to talk to a lawyer about your options if you are facing a DWI charge, reach out to the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277 for a free case review.
