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Driver Defense Program
About the Program
The purpose of the Driver Safety Program (DSP) is to offer an educational experience for individuals who have been charged with minor traffic violations within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois. The DSP will improve traffic skills, decrease the possibility of future traffic violations, and reduce the possibility of serious or fatal collisions. The DSP will serve as a sentencing alternative for individuals who plead guilty or who are adjudicated guilty.
To Register for a Class
Students must be pre-registered and prepaid to receive specific class information and confirmation. Please fill out the Driver Safety Program Registration Form (English) (PDF) / Driver Safety Program Registration Form (Spanish) (PDF) and mail it along with your payment for the specific course. You will be notified by mail of your exact class assignment. If paying by card, you may also call to register via the phone (847) 543-2185, via fax (847) 543-3185, or you may also email your completed form to JudicialServices@clcillinois.edu
Available Courses
I. Defensive Driving Course (DDC-4)
This National Safety Council© 4-hour program presents defensive driving techniques in an interactive format. The course content emphasizes the dangers of speed, illustrates the DDC Collision Prevention Formula, proper following distance, and explains the effects of alcohol and drugs. DDC-4 includes the most recent research on preventing deaths and injuries, and uses techniques that reinforce every point. New safe-driving issues addressed include airbags, anti-lock brakes, safety belt and child restraints. Complex concepts are made interesting and easy to understand.
This course is designed for first-time offenders and or those with minor traffic violations. Corporate and government agencies may use this course to improve driving habits of employees and increase productivity. Concerned citizens who want to be more effective defensive drivers may also attend.
Fees
Course fee is $65
Internet Course fee is $80 (Must be 18 or older to enroll)
II. Defensive Driving Course (DDC-8)
This National Safety Council© 8-hour course covers defensive techniques, driver attitude, the effects of alcohol/drugs and driving, the DDC Collision Prevention Formula, head-on collisions, collision avoidance techniques, following distance, the conditions of driving and more. More emphasis is placed on rules of road and driver skills analysis. Includes a pretest and post-test so participants can see how much they have learned.
This course is designed for offenders who have already completed DDC-4, offenders with multiple violations, and/or offenders with major traffic violations. Corporate, government agencies and concerned citizens are also welcome to attend.
Fee
Course fee is $85
III. Defensive Driving Course-Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving (DDC-ADD)
This National Safety Council eight-hour course is designed to work exclusively on changing negligent behavior and the attitude of the person behind the wheel. It challenges drivers to accept responsibility for their actions. The program approaches behavior changes by applying principles from Reality Therapy and Choice Theory. Participants also review defensive driving principles and local driving regulations. The course then suggests how each participant can develop their action plan to practice proper driving behavior.
This course is designed for offenders with obvious attitude problems, offenders with multiple offenses, offenders who have completed other driving programs, and offenders who know the laws, but choose not to follow them.
Fees
Course fee is $100.
IV. Defense Driving Course-Alive At 25 (DDC-AA25)
This National Safety Council© 4-hour course is designed to help reduce the number of injuries and collisions incurred by drivers most at risk, the 16-24 year old age group. Built on interactive learning activities, instructors guide participants to form their own conclusions about the consequences of risky driving behavior. It challenges them to take responsibility for their behavior in driving situations and to adopt safer driving practices. Includes a review of statistics and discussion as to why this age group is at risk, review of defensive driving principles, techniques to maintain control and manage peer pressure and a review of state and local driving regulations.
This course is designed for drivers in the 16-24 year old age group, with first-time or minor traffic violations.
Fees
Course fee is $65 per person.
V. Substance Abuse Module (CLC-SAM)
This 4-hour course addresses the attitudes and behaviors of those offenders with drug and substance abuse violations. This course will address issues of facts and myths of marijuana and other drugs, reasons teenagers and young adults want to experiment with drugs, physiological and psychological effects of marijuana and other drugs of choice, including inhalants.
Participants will use interactive exercises and discussions to explore how the behaviors they choose may keep them from getting what they want from life. Facilitators will use Reality Therapy and Choice Theory principles to help participants determine the action plan needed to adopt the behaviors necessary to change.
This course is designed for juvenile offenders with marijuana and other minor drug and alcohol-related offenses.
Fees
Course fee is $60
VI. Behavioral Choice Module CLC-BCM Juvenile/Adult Defensive Driving Course (DDC-4)
This four-hour course is designed to provide juveniles and adults with ordinance violations strategies to look at their behavior and how to make better choices in the future. This course is based on the concept of restorative justice philosophy addressing thinking errors using the COG (Thinking for a Change) model. The core components of COG are public safety, accountability, and competency development.
Fees
Course fee is $60