If a driver has been convicted of an alcohol or drug related traffic or boating offense in New Jersey, then he must satisfy the requirements of the Intoxicated Driving Program (IDP) and the Intoxicated Driver Center (IDRC).
The Intoxicated Driving Program is a unit of the Division of Addiction Services of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The IDRC’s are units of, or contractors to, the 21 counties. IDP schedules you for the 12- or 48- Hour IDRC program and notifies Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) when you have completed or failed to comply.
If a driver is sentenced as a first offender, he will be detained, educated, and evaluated for at least six hours each day on two consecutive days — a total of 12 hours – in the county IDRC facility. If the driver is sentenced as a second offender and he is not sentenced to jail or inpatient treatment, he will be detained, educated and evaluated during a period of 48 consecutive hours in a regional facility.
If a driver is sentenced as a third offender, then the municipal court may sentence the driver to jail or to an inpatient alcoholism treatment program or both. Nonetheless, the IDP will schedule the driver to appear at the 12 hour IDRC for a follow-up evaluation. The driver may also be required to participate in additional treatment or self help. In all cases you must satisfy the program, fee and treatment requirements of IDP/IDRC before any type of driver’s license is restored.
The Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will also send the driver a notice confirming your license suspension, and they will also bill the driver $200 for the MVC restoration fee ($100) and the IDP administrative fee ($100). The IDP fee is required for each alcohol-related conviction. The combined fee of $200 is payable immediately to the DMV upon confirmation of the suspension at a 12-hour IDRC or $200 at a 48 hour IDRC. If the driver is referred to a treatment program then they are also responsible for these costs.
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