Regarding the Pretrial Intervention Program for DUI/DWI in East Baton Rouge Parish, this is as complete a description as I can give. This is my experience and is posted only to provide information and suggestions. Obviously, your case may be different.

Firstly, I was charged with DUI and Reckless Operation in April 2014. I blew over .017. No property damage or injury involved. I spent about 10 hours in lock up and was released after posting a $3,500 bail.

I was absolutely freaked out and couldn't find much in the way of useable information on what to expect, so I thought I'd share my experience.

Immediately after getting out, I spoke to a lawyer that a friend knew. He was honest and knew what the penalty was if convicted. In my case it was a fine, 2-10 days in jail and license suspension for up to 12 mos. He charged me $250 to go to the initial court hearing and I did not have to be present for that. I would recommend that you take some time before talking to an attorney (couple of days), so that you can clear your head and not get into an overpriced agreement. From what I can tell, unless you're innocent or have some good circumstance in your case, there is little to no chance of getting a DUI reduced or dismissed and most first offense DUI cases will go down the same way wether you pay $500 or $5,000 for an attorney. In my case, I was sunk having blown.

Since I don't have a "doin' time type disposition", I had read about the Pretrial Intervention Program for those with no prior contact with law enforcement, which fit my history. I spoke to my lawyer about it and he said he would call the DA's Office and request they send him the details and scope of the program. I received the invitation to the program about 2 weeks before my first court date. I've now been enrolled in it for a few months.

Here is what you can probably expect:

1. Initial meeting with program coordinator is scheduled between you and her. Generally, this meeting is on Mondays of Thursday's. You will NOT be drug tested at this meeting and the coordinator will give you a list of requirements. You will need to bring your enrollment fee of $1,000. The program is for 1 year and you'll be required to do at least one of the following things each month. Once enrolled, they provide you a document to take to the DA's office that shows the court you're in PTI.

2. You will be required to install an ignition interlock device with a camera in your vehicle within 15 days post enrollment and for the duration of the program. You do not need to install this device in all household vehicles (i.e. Spouses vehicle). I used Draeger and the technician came to my house to install it and service it monthly. This will cost you $200 for the install and $95 per month. It's a pain, but you will get used to it.

3. You will meet with the PTI Program coordinator monthly (you choose the day each month). At these meetings, you pay your fees (I'll list everything below) and you are drug tested. You will be charged for 8 total tests. YOU ARE TESTED VIA 10 PANEL AND ETG TESTED FOR ALCOHOL. I failed one for alcohol and was sent to an additional class. There is also mention of random drug tests, but that hasn't happened to me yet. As I understand it, the ETG Test is capable of detecting alcohol up to 80 hours after BAC reaches 0, but do your own research. I can tell you from experience that if you do drink, you will be incredibly nervous for weeks, so if you can avoid it...do. I do not know the penalty for failing more than one and don't plan on finding out.

4. You will be required to do 32 hours community service. 16 hours of your choice of charities, 16 hours of picking up trash.

5. You will be required to take a ASI/ASSI evaluation to determine your level of addiction.

6. You will be required to enroll in a "rehab" type program. Depending on what you blew, this will be one of two programs. The standard is the O'Brien House 6 week program which is once a week for 6 weeks with 1 drug test. For those who blew higher (I don't know the BAC criteria), there is the PRISM Program which is more expensive and is once a week for 8 weeks and 2 drug tests. The drug tests are separate and additive to the 8 drug tests required by the PTI Program office.

7. You'll be required to sit in on 1 MADD Class.

8. You'll be required to do an Anglewood Driving Class online.

Here is what this will cost you:
1. Interlock w/ Camera - Install $200 / $95 per month.

2. Drug Tests (8): $280

3. Admin Fee: $240

4. Arresting Agency Fee: $75

5. Court Cost Fee: $300

6. MADD Class: $40

7. Anglewood Driving Class: $100

8. ASI/ASSI Evaluation: $370

9. O'Brien House: $325 or PRISM: $800

10. License suspension / Hardship License Fees: $150

11. Sudden Impact Class (this was required after testing positive for alcohol): $200

12. Lawyer: I paid $500 total.

So, for me, the DUI will cost a little over $4,400 including PTI and the Attorney (the lawyer did my paperwork for the OMV hearing as well). This thing is a year long and over $4K. You do not need all the money up front as the fees are staggered throughout the year, however a cab that night would have been about 20 minutes and $20. Get a damn cab.

Oh, regarding license suspension. You will be required to request a DMV hearing within 15 days of arrest to delay the suspension of your license. This phone hearing for me took place about 60 days after my arrest. My lawyer represented me and of course, I lost...but this does allow you time to enroll in the PTI Program, get the interlock installed and then apply for your hardship license at the DMV (which is surprisingly easy to do) which allows you to keep driving. I did not require an SR22 filing. Do not skip this step. The compounding issues you will face for driving while suspended are TOTALLY not worth it (more jail time, guaranteed SR22 requirement, name in the paper again, etc.).

BTW - an SR22 is just a fancy name for a document the state requires from your insurance company that you are insured, but in reality, it's the way your insurer will learn about your DUI arrest. If this happens, you will probably be dropped by your insurer and placed into a high-risk pool. This will be extremely expensive for many years. The other way they learn of it is conviction, which PTI helps avoid.

Lastly, if you're reading this after recently getting your first DUI, I'll give you this, it may seem that it's the end of the world, but it's far from it. Call a lawyer, but don't pay a lot for one (unless you're innocent), so he/she can help with the paperwork. Accept enrollment into PTI if offered (I figure it's far less expensive than the insurance premiums you'll pay if convicted), do your requirements and move on. If you're like me, you will NEVER do it again. Hope this helps.