Alive at 25® Courses
Some prosecutors, when offering a charge reduction to a driver under 25 years of age, will make the plea deal strictly contingent on the driver completing the National Safety Council's Alive at 25 course.
Course Details: These interactive courses are specifically designed for younger drivers to address peer pressure, distractions, and driver inexperience. The class requires 4 hours to complete, is given in a classroom setting, and typically costs around $60.
Note: This is an educational program, not a DMV point-reduction course.
Currently, the classes are scheduled in several upstate regions, including Onondaga, Oswego, Montgomery, and Rensselaer counties.
New York Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP)
The courses associated with this state program are the standard DMV-approved "defensive driving classes". These classes can be taken online or in a classroom, take a little over 5 hours (typically 320 minutes) to complete, and generally cost between $25 and $40.
Two Major Benefits of PIRP:
- Insurance Discount: Once completed, the principal operator of the vehicle receives a mandatory 10% discount on the base rate of their auto liability and collision insurance premiums for 3 years.
- Point Reduction: The driver's active DMV point total is effectively reduced by up to 4 points. Note: The points do not physically disappear from your record; rather, up to 4 points are "ignored" by the DMV for the purposes of calculating license suspensions. It does not eliminate the requirement to pay Driver Responsibility Assessments.
Looking to Protect Your Driving Record?
Before pleading guilty or enrolling in a course, contact Azria Law Office. We can help you understand which programs will actually benefit your specific case and negotiate reductions that protect your record.
Learn More About PIRP Classes