hat is an alcohol assessment, and should I get one?

An alcohol assessment is a standardized evaluation to determine whether or not you have a substance abuse handicap, according to state guidelines. It also involves a clinical interview with a substance abuse counselor. At the conclusion of the assessment, depending on a number of legislatively mandated factors, the counselor will recommend some type of alcohol class or treatment, which you will be ordered to complete if you are convicted of a D.W.I.

You must take your D.W.I. citation and your alcohol concentration testing results (breath or blood test results) to your assessment. The assessment costs between $100 and $135, depending upon the counselor that you choose to use. 

If you have been charged with D.W.I., you should obtain an alcohol assessment before your court date. Obtaining the assessment and voluntarily participating in any recommended classes or treatment qualifies as a “mitigating factor” for sentencing purposes and may help reduce your punishment if you are convicted of D.W.I.