Hillsborough County’s RIDR DUI diversion Program launched in March 2018. This program and could be a good option for people charged with their first DUI; however, not everyone qualifies for RIDR. An experienced DUI attorney at Stechschulte Nell Law can help you decide if the program is right for you and the best way to complete the various conditions. See answers to frequently asked questions and then call our top-rated attorney to talk about the specifics of your case.
What are the requirements for RIDR?
How Do I Enroll in DUI School?
How Do I Complete the Victim Impact Panel?
How Do I Install the IID or SCRAM?
How Do I Complete the Community Service Hours?
Who to Call to see if I’m eligible for the RIDR program?
What are the requirements for RIDR? Do I have to do everything?
You are responsible for completing all the requirements and providing the proof of completion to your lawyer. You are also responsible for any costs associated for participation in DUI classes or installing the interlock system.
If you complete ALL of these requirements before your disposition hearing, the Florida SAO will offer the RIDR diversion program as a resolution of your criminal DUI case:
Requirements of Hillsborough County’s RIDR Program
1. Have no new law violations or arrests.
2. Provide proof to the States Attorney’s Office (SAO) via your attorney that you have completed DUI School.
3. Attend the Victim Impact Panel. You’ll need to provide proof of attendance to your DUI lawyer.
4. Install an ignition interlock alcohol-monitoring device or provide proof of a SCRAM continuous alcohol-monitoring device. Monitoring reports must be submitted to the SAO one week before your court date.
5. Complete 10 unpaid, community service hours after the date of your charge. These volunteer hours must be turned in on the agency’s letterhead, signed by a supervisor, and include the date and number of hours.
After an arrest for a first DUI offense, call Stechschulte Nell based in Tampa, Florida to speak with an attorney about the potential benefits of entering the RIDR DUI diversion program.
How Do I Enroll in DUI School?
To enter RIDR, you must provide proof to your criminal defense attorney that you have completed DUI School so that your attorney can present that information to the State Attorney’s Office. You must complete a Florida-licensed DUI school.
If you had a driver’s license out of state at the time of the arrest and you are not a Florida resident, talk with an attorney about this requirement. The Florida-licensed DUI school in Hillsborough County is DUI Counterattack.
To register for DUI school, you can go to http://www.duicounterattack.org or contact them at (813)875-6201 (Tampa location- 4711 N. Hubert Ave.) or (813)875-6201 (Brandon location-1063 E. Brandon Blvd.).
For licensed DUI schools in other counties, go to https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/educationcourses/dui-and-iid/licensed-dui-programs-florida. You are permitted to register for DUI school in the county in which you work or reside.
How Do I Complete the Victim Impact Panel?
To enter RIDR, you must provide proof to your DUI defense attorney that you attended the Victim Impact Panel so that this information can be provided to the State Attorney’s office. You must complete one session of the Victim Impact Panel.
You can register for a Victim Impact Panel at https://maddvip.org/listing/hillsborough-county-sherriffs-office/ or contact MADD at (813)273-6233 ext. 7296.
The Victim Impact Panel begins at 6 p.m. and is located at the Road Jail Assembly Room on the north end of the building at 520 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, FL 33619.
How Do I Install the IID or SCRAM?
To enter RIDR, you must provide proof to your lawyer that you have installed an ignition interlock alcohol monitoring device or that you have a SCRAM continuous alcohol monitoring device so that this information can be provided to the State Attorney’s Office.
In Hillsborough County, not all judges have pledged to go along with RIDR, and they reserve the right to decline any offer that contains a withhold of adjudication.
Several of the judges have voiced concerns that installing an ignition interlock device (IID) before trial is pointless because the person can just drive another vehicle that doesn’t have an IID. Instead, some judges have indicated that they want to see the install of the SCRAM device before they will agree to a withhold of adjudication.
Whether you should install the IID or SCRAM is an important decision. Our DUI attorney can help you decide on a course of action.
To install an ignition interlock device, contact an approved vendor:
- Alcolock Interlock Systems of https://alcolockusa.com/compliance/florida 1-866-837-8646
- Florida Draeger www.draeger.com 1-800-332-6858
- Guardian Interlock www.guardianinterlock.com 1-800-499-0994
- Intoxalock www.intoxalock.com/florida 1-877-777-5020
- Smart Start www.smartstartinc.com 1-800-880-3394
Obtain a SCRAM continuous alcohol monitoring device at one of the following locations:
- Roche Monitoring Services at https://www.rochemonitoringservices.com/ or call 813-490-1427; or
- Tampa Bay Monitoring at https://tampabaymonitoring.com/ or call 727-535-6506.
How Do I Complete the Community Service Hours?
You must also provide proof of the successful completion of ten (10) community service hours to your DUI attorney. Community service hours are volunteer hours that you complete through a community organization of your choice.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, these organizations may include a charity, a house of worship, or a school. Proof of community service hours must be turned in on the agency’s letterhead, signed by the person supervising the hours, and include the date and number of hours of service.
You may not receive pay or compensation for the hours. You also cannot pay for or “buyout” your community service hours or donate money in exchange for hours. Hours must be completed after the date of the offense for your charge.
Call our Experienced DUI Attorney
At Stechschulte Nell Law, we see you as a person, not a criminal, and we strive to mitigate the consequences of an all-too-human lapse in judgment. Let us help you stop a bad situation from derailing your future.
To learn if the RIDR DUI diversion program is a fit for your unique situation, please contact our criminal defense attorneys. Our South Tampa law firm is available 24/7 to help you – call 813-280-1244 now.
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