ARD is the best outcome many first-time offenders can get. It's not free—you'll pay fines, take classes, and spend 6-12 months under supervision. But compared to a DUI conviction? It's a gift.
What ARD Actually Means
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. That's a mouthful. Here's the plain English version: instead of going through a criminal trial, you agree to complete a program. If you finish it successfully, the charges get dismissed. Eventually, you can expunge the whole thing from your record.
This is huge. A DUI conviction stays on your criminal record. An ARD completion? It can disappear entirely.
Who Qualifies?
Not everyone gets ARD. You generally need to check these boxes:
- First-time DUI offender (no prior DUI or ARD within 10 years)
- No serious accident with injury
- BAC within limits your county accepts (this varies)
- No passenger under 14 in the car
- Not driving a commercial vehicle
Even if you check all those boxes, ARD isn't guaranteed. The District Attorney can still say no. Some prosecutors are tough on certain types of cases—high BAC, prescription drug cases, certain accident scenarios.
The Real ARD Requirements
Let's talk about what ARD actually involves, because "completing a program" sounds easier than it is:
You Will Have To:
- • Pay all court costs and fines (often $1,500-$2,500 total)
- • Complete Alcohol Highway Safety School (usually 12.5 hours)
- • Undergo drug/alcohol evaluation (and treatment if recommended)
- • Perform community service (varies by county)
- • Report to a probation officer regularly
- • Possibly submit to random drug/alcohol testing
- • Stay out of trouble (any new arrest can get you kicked out)
- • Complete all of this within 6-12 months
The License Question
Here's where ARD gets tricky: you may still face a license suspension, even with ARD.
General Impairment (.08-.099): no suspension.
High BAC (.10-.159): 30 days. Highest BAC (.16+) or drugs: 60 days. Both are much shorter than the 12 months you would face with a conviction.
What Happens If You Fail ARD?
This is critical: ARD is not forgiving. Miss a deadline? Fail to complete community service? Get arrested for something else? You're out. And once you're out, you're back to square one—facing the original DUI charges with no ARD safety net.
After ARD: Expungement
Once you complete ARD, you're eligible to petition for expungement. This removes the arrest and charges from your record. But expungement isn't automatic. You have to file for it. Don't assume it just happens on its own.
Is ARD Worth It?
For most first-time offenders? Absolutely. You avoid a criminal conviction, you keep more of your freedom, and you get a clean record eventually.
But ARD isn't the right choice for everyone. If the prosecution's case against you is weak, you might be better off fighting the charges. The decision comes down to your specific case: the evidence, the county, your BAC, and whether you have a commercial license.