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Alcohol Education Program
The Alcohol Education Program (AEP) is a diversionary program that results in the criminal drunk driving charge being dismissed provided you qualify for the program and complete the course you are offered. The court, if you qualify, will order you to take either 10 or 15 sessions of this educational program.
 Qualifying for the AEP Program
You make the application to the court. You will be placed under oath, by the Clerk, and the Judge will ask you several questions. If you answer that you have never been convicted of the crime of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, in Connecticut, or any other state, and you have not had the AEP in Connecticut or any other state within the past 10 years, you are qualified. Then the Adult Probation Department will check your criminal and driver history to verify the accuracy of your answers. Remember, when you respond to the Judge's questions you are answering under the penalty of perjury.
Cost of AEP
You pay the $150.00 when you make the application. The rest of the monies are due when you come back to Court and are placed in the program. However, if you don't have the money because you are poor, you may not have to pay the monies. However, many Courts will ask you to do some form of community service, instead. If you are not poor, but need additional time to come up with the money, most Courts are willing to work with you and give you a reasonable amount of time. However, it all depends on the Judge.
Added Cost:
- 10 session program is $325.00
- 15 session program is $500.00
After Completing the AEP
The case is considered dismissed one year after the Judge granted your application for the program and provided you completed it. You have no drunk driving conviction on your record, but your Driver History at the DMV will reflect the AEP program.
If the program is not completed, you will be brought back into Court, and at that point, the Judge can order you treated as a First Offender, which means that you are facing jail, fine and probation, along with a lost of license for 1 year. It is your responsibility to complete the course. However, in some instances and for good cause shown, the Court may re-instate you into the AEP and give you a certain amount of time to complete it.
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