If you are ordered by the court to attend a first offender program in San Mateo County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, San Francisco County or Marin County, you can expect to receive a referral to either a 12 hour program (6 weeks), 30 hour program (3 months), 45 hour program (6 months) or 60 hour program (9 months).   The type of first offender program that you are sent to depends upon factors such as your blood alcohol concentration at the time of your arrest, as well as, whether you refused to submit a blood, breath or urine test pursuant to the implied consent law. 

Generally, if your blood alcohol concentration (B.A.C.) was above .08% and below.15% at the time of your arrest, the court will order a defendant to participate in a 3 month program.   If the defendant’s B.A.C. was between .15% - .20%, the court can order the defendant into a 6 month program.  Finally, if the defendant’s B.A.C. was .20% or higher at the time of the driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) arrest, or if the defendant refused to submit to a blood, breath or urine test, the court will order the defendant into the 9 month program.

A plea deal that the District Attorney might offer a DUI defendant with a B.A.C. around a .08% at the time of the DUI arrest is a “wet-reckless” offer.  In response to this wet-reckless offer, the court would impose a 12 hour first offender program requirement.  However, the defendant may not wish to choose to enroll in the 12 hour first offender program if he or she wishes to obtain a restricted license that permits him or her to drive to and from work and during the scope of employment.  It is important to consult an experienced Bay Area DUI lawyer who can guide you through the maze of laws governing license suspensions for DUI otherwise you may not obtain the license outcome that you desire. 

Wet Reckless

• Twelve (12) hour program
• Six (6) weeks long
• Class once a week for two (2) hours per class
• Intake meeting that doesn’t count towards twelve (12) hours
• Classes start within two weeks of orientation
• Approximately $280

3 Month Program

• Thirty (30) hour program
• Twelve (12) consecutive weeks
• During the first six weeks the classes are approximately 3 ½ hours
• During the next six weeks classes are approximately 1 ½ hours
• 3 appointments with individual sessions with a facilitator

6 or 9 Month Program

• 45 hours or 60 hours
• Two hour orientation that do not count toward the 45 or 60 hours
• The first six weeks the classes are approximately 3 ½ hours long
• The remaining weeks classes are approximately 1 ½ hours
• Five (5) individual sessions with your facilitator
• $900 for the 6 month program
• $1,100 for the 9 month program

First Offender Program Locations

Santa Clara County