ASAP stands for Alcohol Safety Action Program. There are 24 ASAPs located throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. These programs provide probationary oversight to offenders who have been referred from a court, typically for a conviction of driving under the influence (DUI). The Code of Virginia requires that persons convicted of DUI enroll in, and successfully complete, an Alcohol Safety Action Program.
The majority of persons coming to ASAP are sent by the court due to a recent conviction for DUI or an alcohol-related reckless driving charge. Other persons may have older convictions on their driving record and enroll in ASAP in order to meet outstanding requirements to obtain their driver’s license. The requirement to attend an ASAP is usually listed on the person’s DMV compliance summary.
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The primary service offered by the ASAP is the probationary oversight of persons convicted of DUI. The ASAP monitors offenders and serves as the liaison with the court. Other services provided by ASAPs include intervention interviews, habitual/multiple offender restoration evaluations, driver improvement classes, reckless/aggressive driver classes, young offender programs, and many others.
If you have been convicted of driving while suspended or revoked for a second time, you may be required to report to an ASAP for an Intervention Interview. The purpose of this meeting is to review your driving record in order to assist you in getting licensed again and to ensure you fully understand the applicable laws and consequences of violating the law in the future.
If your driving privileges were revoked indefinitely due to being declared a habitual or multiple offender, you may be able to obtain restricted driving privileges after three years, or full driving privileges after five years. To accomplish this, you must first petition a circuit court for restoration. The Code of Virginia requires that an ASAP complete a habitual offender evaluation report for the court with a recommendation as to whether your driving privileges should be restored. An ASAP case manager will interview you, check your driving and criminal history, consult with references, etc. in order to make a recommendation to the court. The ASAP report is just a recommendation. The court will determine whether your license will be restored.
You may be ordered to attend a Driver Improvement Program by the court, or voluntarily attend, in order to remove demerit points from your license or to obtain better insurance rates. Some ASAPs offer a Driver Improvement Program as well as many private companies in the state. Check with your local ASAP for program availability.
Some courts may refer you to an ASAP for a specialized course of instruction if you have been convicted of reckless or aggressive driving. This one-day program is only offered by some ASAPs and may be presented in conjunction with a Driver Improvement Program. Information regarding how to prevent reckless and aggressive driving, applicable laws, and anger management is included.
Yes, this is permitted since it will enable an offender to possibly begin classes prior to adjudication by the court; however, the full ASAP fee must be paid at the time of pre-enrollment. Since this pre-enrollment fee is non-refundable, even if your case is subsequently dismissed, you should carefully consider your situation prior to pre-enrolling.
No, the period of probation begins on the date the court order is signed, usually the date of conviction. You will, however, receive credit for any classes attended to date.
You should report to the ASAP within 15 days of the court order/conviction date.
The Code of Virginia requires that you enroll in the ASAP within 15 days of conviction. If you attempt to enroll after 15 days, the ASAP may deny your enrollment and notify the court. The exact consequences of failing to enroll promptly vary from court to court.
The probationary period typically corresponds to the time of license suspension which is usually one year for first offenders and three years for second and subsequent offenders. Even after all ASAP education and/or treatment intervention is completed, you will still be monitored and on probation until the period of license suspension ends.
You will initially report to the ASAP that serves the jurisdiction in which the offense and conviction occurred.
Once you enroll in the ASAP where the offense occurred, arrangements can be made to transfer your case to an ASAP in the area where you live, work, or attend school.
The ASAP will monitor your case throughout the supervision period. You will be given an out-of-state enrollment package with instructions and requirements. Other communication will occur via telephone and e-mail. Once the type of intervention services required is determined, the case manager will assist you in identifying comparable services in your home state that will satisfy Virginia requirements. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to find acceptable education or treatment providers where you live. Always enroll in the ASAP and get prior approval before attending any out-of-state program. The out-of-state service provider will need to be willing to submit progress reports to the ASAP.
Most ASAPs are open Monday through Friday during standard business hours; however, each ASAP maintains its own schedule and may be closed during lunch hours and at other times for periodic training. Be sure to verify the office hours of your ASAP. Most ASAPs observe, and are closed, during recognized Commonwealth of Virginia holidays.
Any conditions of operation will be listed on your restricted driver’s license issued by the court. You may have no restrictions other than installation of an ignition interlock or there may be other restrictions such as travel only to and from work.
Typically, you will complete a number of enrollment documents to include an offender questionnaire, consent forms, and a participation agreement. You may have an orientation meeting or watch an orientation video. During enrollment, you will be assigned a case manager and an intake appointment will be scheduled. In some cases, the intake appointment may occur on the same day as enrollment.
You should bring a copy of any paperwork given to you by the court, the police, and your attorney to include summonses, court orders, restricted driver’s license, accident reports, etc. You should also bring some form of identification, preferably a photo ID, and your vehicle registration.
You will attend an intake appointment with your case manager.
The standard ASAP fee is $300 plus a $100 intervention fee. Additional fees may be charged for rescheduling appointments, returned checks, etc. The local ASAP can provide you with a list of approved fees. Offenders requiring a treatment assessment and treatment will contract with the treatment provider and will be responsible for paying the treatment costs directly to the provider.
Payment is due when enrolling. If this is not possible, the ASAP will work with you to establish a payment plan.
The case manager will review your case in detail and go over your questionnaire information with you. The case manager will use screening criteria to classify you for the most appropriate level and type of intervention to ensure your success. Based on your classification, you will either be scheduled for ASAP intensive education classes or you will be directed to select a treatment provider from an approved directory who will assess your case to determine if there is a need for substance abuse treatment. The case manager will also review the conditions of your participation agreement and probation requirements and assist you with other requirements such as ignition interlock installation.
You will be assigned to the first available class session. Classes commence within 60 days of your intake session.
Classes are 10 hours long, conducted at two-hour intervals with meetings occurring once per week for 5 weeks.
The number of classes offered is limited in some areas of the state; other ASAPs provide more options. Your case manager will work with you to schedule your class times and locations to maximize your chances of being able to attend all required meetings. Please recognize that you will be required to attend all class sessions to which you are assigned and this may necessitate coordination with your employer and other impacted individuals for you to comply with your probation.
No
Yes, substance abuse education is a critical intervention component of the probation process.
Check with your local ASAP for their inclement weather policy.
Attendance is mandatory except for bona fide emergencies. Consult with your case manager regarding the ASAP’s missed class policy.
No
No. Due to confidentiality regulations, only offenders enrolled in the class may attend.
Some ASAPs may offer classes in other languages. Check with your ASAP case manager for availability.
Yes, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requires sign language interpreters to be permitted in the classroom. The interpreter will be required to sign a nondisclosure agreement to protect the confidentiality of class participants.
Service animals are permitted to accompany persons with disabilities, except when doing so will fundamentally alter the activity or safe operation of the program. You may be asked if the animal’s presence is required due to a disability and what functions the animal is trained to perform.
If you are classified as treatment assessment, you will be required to select a qualified treatment service provider who will conduct a treatment assessment to determine if treatment is necessary.
No, you are responsible for paying all costs for the treatment assessment and any required treatment directly to the provider.
The treatment provider will develop a treatment regimen/plan that you must follow. The treatment provider will keep the ASAP case manager informed regarding your progress. Treatment must be successfully completed in order to meet all ASAP probationary requirements. In addition, you will be required to complete a four-session, ASAP treatment education class.
You may undergo a subsequent assessment provided the assessment can be conducted within the required 60-day intervention commencement time frame. You will be responsible for paying for each treatment assessment.
If you encounter problems, contact your case manager first. If the situation cannot be resolved, then you should speak to the local ASAP director. Complaints regarding unethical or illegal behavior of a service provider should be directed to the Commission on VASAP state office. If you believe your service provider has violated a law or regulation, you may also file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Health Professions or the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
Complaints about the behavior or performance of any case manager or other ASAP staff member should first be made to the local ASAP director. Problems that cannot be resolved at the local ASAP may be directed to the Commission on VASAP state office.
Yes; this means that you cannot simply attend the class. You are expected to interact with other class members, complete all in-class and homework assignments, and bring your book to each session. You will not be required to reveal personal information or participate in activities unrelated to your intervention; however, arriving late or leaving class early, failing to engage in required class activities, sleeping in class, not completing assignments, etc. may be grounds for non-compliance resulting in removal from the class and a return to court.
The treatment provider assesses treatment fees. You will need to contact the treatment provider directly regarding their fees for services.
Yes; this is possible if the provider meets all the requirements as those listed in the VASAP directory. At a minimum, the service provider must be licensed by either the Virginia Department of Health Professions or the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The provider must be ASAM trained or have someone on their staff who is licensed by one of the aforementioned agencies and is ASAM trained. The provider will also be required to meet all ASAP reporting requirements. Be sure to check with your case manager prior to using someone not on the VASAP directory.
It is recognized that operational commitments often make it difficult or impossible for active duty military to meet ASAP intensive education attendance requirements. Accordingly, active duty military members, who are classified by the ASAP for intensive education intervention, will be permitted to attend the SARP IMPACT, PRIME FOR LIFE, or other comparable military substance abuse education program that fulfills ASAM Level 0.5 (early intervention) requirements in lieu of the ASAP intensive education classes. Persons who have already successfully completed such program shall be given credit towards their ASAP intervention requirement, provided the intervention occurred within one year of the ASAP enrollment and subsequent to the referral offense.
Persons classified for treatment assessment by the ASAP shall be permitted to receive services in a military program comparable to outpatient treatment (ASAM Level 1) or higher. This will suffice to meet ASAP treatment intervention requirements; however, as is standard practice with all treatment cases, these probationers will still be required to attend the ASAP four-week treatment education classes. The ASAP shall contact the Commission on VASAP for guidance when persons are unable to attend the four-week ASAP treatment education classes within the probationary period due to military orders.
No, weapons of any kind are not permitted on ASAP premises. DUI is a disqualifying offense for obtaining or maintaining a concealed weapons permit. If you have a concealed weapons permit, and were convicted of DUI, you must immediately surrender your permit to the issuing circuit court.
Possibly. If the court has issued an abstinence order, you are not permitted to drink at any time, and doing so may result in you being returned to court for non-compliance. If an abstinence order has not been issued, you may consume alcohol, but you may not report to ASAP offices, meetings or classes with any measurable blood alcohol concentration. Doing so will result in a violation of your probation. You will be subject to breath testing during any ASAP appointment or class.
Be sure to provide a copy of your prescription to your case manager. If you have a valid prescription, the presence of THC in your blood will not be considered by ASAP as a violation of your probation; however, recognize that marijuana is illegal in Virginia, so use may still violate the law.
The ASAP will not administer drug tests unless ordered by the court. If a court order authorizes the ASAP to administer drug tests, you will be required to submit to testing upon request and be responsible for any associated costs of testing.
If the service provider’s treatment regimen calls for random, or scheduled drug testing, you may be drug tested. No court order is required for this, and the ASAP and court will be notified of any positive results for illegal substances. Positive drug tests may result in a modification of the length and type of treatment you receive as well as impact your probationary status with ASAP and the court.
If you are under the supervision of the court, a transfer to another ASAP can be arranged. Do not plan a move to occur during the middle of your classes since doing so might result in having to start classes over.
Immediately notify your ASAP of any changes to your contact information.
Immediately notify the ASAP, DMV, applicable court and the post office of this change.
ASAP staff are required to protect the confidentiality of your information in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. You will be asked to complete various consents for release of your information so that the ASAP is authorized to confer with law enforcement, the court, DMV, treatment providers, etc. in order to properly supervise the case.
Yes, you are entitled to a copy of your file. The ASAP may charge for second and subsequent requests for file information and for requests made after probation has ended.
Yes. Upon request, the ASAP can issue you a completion certificate or letter of completion. You should keep any documentation of your program completion indefinitely.
The ASAP will communicate your successful completion to the DMV electronically.
Yes, the ASAP will not report successful completion until all outstanding balances have been paid.
At the enrollment appointment you will be required to complete a consent form and an intake questionnaire in addition to other paperwork. If you are also subject to an ignition interlock requirement, it is important to bring a copy of your vehicle registration. If you would like to complete some of this paperwork beforehand, and bring it to your enrollment appointment, please click, print, and complete the appropriate documents below:
- Consent Form (Individual) – a form that permits you to authorize release of information to selected individuals.
- Consent Form (Out of Program) – this form permits persons formally under ASAP supervision to authorize release of their existing records to individuals and entities of their choice.
An ignition interlock is a device that is installed in a motor vehicle to prevent alcohol-impaired individuals from driving. Before starting the vehicle, you will be required to blow into the ignition interlock’s mouthpiece to provide a breath sample for analysis. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the pre-set limit of 0.02%, the vehicle will not start. Once the vehicle is started, you may be required to submit additional breath samples at random times while the engine is running. Failing, or not submitting a breath sample for one of these “rolling re-tests”, will cause your vehicle lights and horn to sound. Keep in mind, the ignition interlock contains a data logger that records all vehicle activity, test results, and violations.
Section 18.2-270.1 of the Virginia Code states that an offender, convicted of driving under the influence in Virginia, shall be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his or her vehicle as a condition of a restricted license or license restoration. It is important to note that individuals subject to a DUI 2nd or subsequent conviction are required to have an interlock device installed in all vehicles registered or titled to them, in whole or in part, in addition to any vehicle(s) they operate.
The short answer is yes! Per Virginia Code 18.2-270.1, individuals who fail to abide by all licensing requirements will receive no credit for interlock installation time from the expiration date of the 60-day allotted time in their restricted license order to the date they come into licensing compliance through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Please check with your local ASAP and DMV for any other licensing requirements for which you may need to comply.
Current Virginia law requires that for a first driving under the influence conviction, an ignition interlock shall be installed on any motor vehicle operated by the offender. If convicted of a 2nd DUI, or subsequent driving under the influence conviction, an ignition interlock shall be installed on all motor vehicles owned by or registered to the offender, in whole or in part. If you register or title a second vehicle in your name, and you are subject to an ignition interlock requirement for a 2nd or subsequent driving impaired conviction, it is imperative that you contact the ASAP immediately to have an interlock device installed in the new vehicle. Failure to do so will result in an extension of the interlock requirement for all vehicles registered or titled in your name.
You are required to contact your servicing ASAP office to provide pertinent information, to include your independent choice of an interlock vendor and vehicle information, in order to initiate an interlock installation authorization. Once the ASAP verifies the interlock requirement, and authorizes the interlock installation, it is your responsibility to contact the interlock vendor to schedule the installation appointment.
Any person who enters into the Alcohol Safety Action Program prior to trial may pre-qualify with the program to schedule installation of an interlock device. You must contact the ASAP in the jurisdiction of your offense to enroll and pay any applicable fees. Please keep in mind, that although you can schedule the installation of the interlock device, no actual installation of the interlock device can occur until a court issues you a restricted license with the ignition interlock restriction. You may select from one of the following state-approved interlock service providers:
- Smart Start, Inc (800) 880-3394, www.smartstartinc.com
- Road Guard Interlock (800) 332-6858, https://roadguardinterlock.com/
- LifeSafer (866) 202-3381, www.lifesafer.com
When you first report for your installation appointment, the vendor will provide you with detailed instructions and training regarding the proper operation and care of the ignition interlock device. It is important that you bring a valid picture ID and the vehicle registration card to your installation appointment. If other family members will be driving the vehicle, they should come with you to the appointment for training.
After installation of the interlock device, you are required to report to the vendor’s service center at least every 30 days to have your interlock device calibrated and data downloaded. You carry the responsibility of making these monthly monitoring appointments with the interlock vendor. It is very important to note that state law requires that your interlock device be calibrated at least every 30 days, and failure to abide by this requirement, will result in your interlock device entering a permanent lock-out resulting in additional costs and non-compliance with the program.
Interlock vendors may charge up to $65 for normal interlock installations and up to $130 for more complex vehicles. The monthly calibration cost is $95 and there is no charge for removal of the interlock device. You may also purchase optional insurance to cover certain causes of loss to the interlock device. The prices mentioned here do not include applicable taxes or fees for returned checks. Please keep in mind that if you fail to keep up with your payments with the interlock service provider, services may be discontinued.
If someone provides a breath test into an interlock device in order to provide an operable vehicle to a person subject to a Virginia interlock requirement, the consequences for both can be severe. At a minimum, both individuals can be charged with a separate class 1 misdemeanor for EACH breath test. Individuals who participate in this type of behavior will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
By default, the ignition interlock device requires 1.5 liters of breath volume. If an individual is unable to adequately provide this volume of air, they can submit a physician’s statement to their ASAP case manager indicating the maximum liter of breath volume they are able to provide. Once received, the ASAP case manager will forward the documentation to the Commission on VASAP for approval. It is imperative that you sign the VASAP Breath Reduction Form and take it to your physician as this provides the physician with important information related to the nature of your appointment.
Yes, a person, subject to a Virginia ignition interlock requirement, can have an interlock installed in a friend or family member’s vehicle but it is imperative that any operators of the vehicle are in attendance at the interlock installation appointment so that they can be trained on proper use of the interlock device. It is important to note that the interlock vendor will not install the interlock in a non-owned vehicle unless they receive a signed and notarized copy of the VASAP Consent to Install Form or the owner of the vehicle signs this document in the presence of the interlock technician at the installation appointment. For a Spanish version of this form, please click here.
Yes, a person can purchase an additional vehicle after installation of an interlock device in the original vehicle or vehicles. If the interlock requirement is related to a DUI 2nd or subsequent conviction, it is imperative that the person notify their ASAP case manager immediately upon purchase if not before. The reason this is important is because an interlock must be installed in the new vehicle within 10 calendar days or the person’s license will be placed in suspended status. If this occurs, the time period for which the interlock device must be installed starts over for all vehicles registered or titled to that person.
Yes, in order to ensure that the owner of the business is aware of the situation, and to ensure that the person subject to the interlock requirement is not in control or ownership of the business, in whole or in part, they must ensure the employer provides a notarized signature on the Employer Vehicle Verification Form. Individuals who fail to have this form properly executed and returned within 10-calendar days are subject to non-compliance with the program.
Once you have selected an interlock vendor, you will generally be required to use the same vendor for at least six months. Authorization to change interlock vendors will only be granted if it can be shown that there was a problem with the services provided by the original vendor. If you experience any problems related to your interlock device, or service, you should first advise the interlock vendor or your ASAP case manager. If your problem is still not resolved, you may contact the director of your assigned ASAP. The Commission on VASAP is available for you at (804) 786-5895 if your problem is not resolved after communication with your ASAP case manager and director.
You may select from one of the following state-approved RAMD service providers:
- Smart Start, Inc (800) 880-3394, www.smartstartinc.com
- SCRAM Systems, Inc. – Service providers include Mid-Atlantic Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc (757-744-4007), Knight’s Armor Security Training, LLC (540-550-3268 Winchester and 571-261-0538 Manassas) and Virginia Electronic Monitoring Systems, LLC (757-513-0942)
- LifeSafer (866) 202-3381, www.lifesafer.com
In order to view the Ignition Interlock Process & Procedure Manual, please click here.
In order to view the list of certified ignition interlock and remote alcohol monitoring devices, please click here.