If you are convicted of an alcohol or drug-related driving violation, your license or privilege to drive in New York State will be revoked or suspended. However, you may be eligible for a conditional license or a conditional driving privilege if you participate in New York State’s Impaired Driver Program (IDP) (previously known as the Drinking Driving Program or DDP) or an approved out-of-state program. 

Your Order of Suspension or Revocation will indicate a nearby state or county motor vehicle office where you may enroll in the Impaired Driver Program and apply for a conditional license/privilege, if applicable.

Your license suspension or revocation officially begins at your hearing or sentencing in court, unless the court gives you a Continuation of Driving Privileges (MV-1192). Your credit for serving the suspension or revocation begins on the effective date of the order.  If you receive a “continuation,” your suspension or revocation will begin 20 days after sentencing.

Participants in the IDP will receive an in-depth education regarding high-risk alcohol and other drug choices to assist them in identifying and changing high-risk behaviors. Multimedia presentations and guided discussions increase participants’ motivation to change behavior to protect what they value most in life.  Individual and group activities are completed using participant workbooks. Participants also complete a preliminary screening designed to identify risk factors for a substance abuse disorder. Individuals found to be at risk for a substance abuse disorder will be referred for a comprehensive clinical assessment and referral to treatment if warranted.

Participation in the IDP is available on a voluntary basis if you have been convicted of an alcohol or drug related driving violation, unless you have participated in the program within the last 5 years, or have been convicted of another alcohol or drug violation within 5 years of the current alcohol or drug violation. However, these limitations do not restrict the ability of the court to mandate participation, even if you have already attended an IDP within the previous 5 years. In such situations, participation will be required, yet you will not be eligible for a conditional license or privilege. 

When you enroll in the Impaired Driver Program, you must pay a non-refundable fee of $75. Additional fees may apply. Cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, or money orders (made payable to the “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles”) are acceptable.

After enrollment, you also must pay a fee directly to the program that will conduct your IDP classes. The maximum IDP enrollment fee is $233, payable to the program you attend. Payment is expected when you attend the first class. There will be additional fees if you transfer to another IDP or apply to re-enter a program you have been dropped from.

As an IDP participant, you must attend all seven weekly classroom sessions. Each session takes 2 to 3 hours for 16 hours in total. When you complete the classroom sessions satisfactorily, your involvement in the IDP will end unless the program refers you for formal assessment and any resulting treatment.

You may be referred for a formal substance abuse assessment by a NY State court, the Department of Probation, or the IDP. IDP referrals can result from

• the results of a written self-inventory
• two or more alcohol or drug-related driving convictions within 10 years
• an arrest for an alcohol or drug-related driving violation while enrolled in the IDP
• attending class under the influence of alcohol or drugs or reasonable suspicion thereof
• a written request by the participant for help with a substance abuse problem

If you are not satisfied with the results of the assessment, you may ask the IDP course provider for a second assessment.  However, you must accept the findings of the second assessment.

After the assessment, you may be required to complete a formal substance abuse treatment program.  If you fail to complete the required assessment or treatment, you will be dropped from the IDP and your conditional license will be revoked.

In some instances, you may be referred for assessment by a New Y State court or probation office prior to enrolling in the IDP. If the assessment determines that treatment is required, you must complete the treatment before the IDP will provide a completion certificate. Regardless of the referral source, if the assessment determines that treatment is required, you must complete the treatment in order to complete the IDP.

The IDP will provide you with a “Notice of Completion” when all program requirements have been met. This information will also be electronically transmitted to DMV. Depending on your license status and driving record, your license may be restored or you may become eligible to apply for a new license.  Your eligibility will be affected if

• you have two or more alcohol/drug related driving violations on your driving record
• your conditional license is under revocation
• you were under 21 when the alcohol or drug-related driving violation occurred
• you refused alcohol or drug testing on the date of the violation
• you committed the alcohol or drug-related violation while operating a commercial motor vehicle

You will be dropped from the IDP and lose your conditional license if you

• do not attend class, any required assessment or treatment, or
• do not otherwise satisfactorily participate in the program, or
• do not pay the program fees

If you are dropped from the IDP, you must obtain consent from the IDP director before re-entering. A re-entry fee of $50 is required, payable to the IDP. Drops reported to the DMV will result in the revocation of your conditional license/driving privilege.  Participants can only be re-issued a conditional license one time.

If you are dropped from the IDP for more than 90 days and want to re-enter to obtain a conditional license and complete the course, you must start the entire seven-week course over and pay the course fees again.  

At the time of sentencing, the court may issue you a conditional discharge (CD) that requires IDP completion.  The DMV will notify the court if you do not enroll in the program or are dropped from it. The court then may call you in for re-sentencing.

For more information, please contact Driver Training Programs at (518) 473-7174. If you have concerns or would like to submit a complaint, please use the Driving Training Programs Complaint Form (PDF) (DTP-201).