If you are convicted of any type of DWI in Fairfax County, the judge will order you to complete the Fairfax Alcohol Safety Action Program, also called ASAP. After a DWI conviction, the court clerk will give you a date for your initial ASAP evaluation. This date can be moved if it is inconvenient, but if you have a restricted license,meaning you can only drive with certain restrictions, someone from ASAP will need to endorse your license within 15 days. The endorsement indicates that you have signed up for the program and met with a counselor. Failure to get that endorsement done in a timely manner makes the restricted license invalid. You may be able to get your restricted license reinstated, but it is a nuisance. If you drive on an invalid license you will be in violation of your probation. For participants who live outside Fairfax, the program can be transferred to their home county or state. However, the initial evaluation will still need to be done in Fairfax.
The Fairfax ASAP program begins with an initial evaluation at the program offices, which are close to the courthouse. During this lengthy interview, the workers at ASAP will determine what level of alcohol education is appropriate for each person. The most commonly prescribed program calls for the individual to attend 10 two-hour classes. The classes are held once a week for 10 weeks. Missing classes is typically not allowed. Failure to comply with ASAP rules can result in ASAP requesting a hearing in front of the judge who sentenced you on your DWI. If the judge believes that you have been non-compliant, he or she can require you to serve some or all of the suspended jail time.
The ASAP program directs students to examine the decisions they’ve made which led them to get convicted of DWI. The course also requires participants to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The course usually costs about $400, although other fees may apply.
