I just enrolled with this program. Enrollment process was fair and easy. Calling, having to schedule an appointment for intake and filling out paperwork....it wasn't much of a hassle. I've seen negative reviews mostly on this business and funny yet it wasn't my first pick. But since I had no other option I had to enroll (given courts timeframe demand although I could've extended it). I was very iffy on the location since it's right next to AmTrak and the location seemed very desolate. They are very stern on scheduling and enrollment (most of the reviews are because of rudeness and poor customer service) so missing an appointment set them and YOU back. A spot that's reserved and drops out affect the other person that needs that spot to meet requirements. As serious as they are, you have a responsibility to uphold your requirements when enrolling with them. They take it just as seriously. Intake is very straightforward, evaluations are done, welfare is considered on personal situations and most importantly meeting the person's court mandated deadline. Aside from payment plans, deposits and flexible ways to pay... you must follow the conditions set. When I started my first lesson it was a very valuable experience to remember. They care about you but if you waste your time let alone theirs well consider it "touché. read more

It's unfortunate to need to take classes here but I've learned a lot. I recommend asking to have Annette as your instructor! She literally is so knowledgeable and has the focus of keeping a person from making the same mistake twice. I appreciate the class and the work Annette gives to her students. They have an assortment of classes to hopefully fit most peoples schedules. No judgment zone too, which is important. All walks of life can find themselves in a bad predicament but to learn and grow from it is the main objective here! read more

I was apprehensive about signing up for a class after reading the reviews, but DPI was convenient if I needed to attend in-person, the person who answered the phone was very pleasant, and the classes were all on Zoom. Yes they are strict about attendance, participating, rescheduling fees, etc. but, hey, you sign a contract with all the rules stated and if you don't follow them it's not their fault. Grow up! I showed up every week from 6-9 PM for ten weeks and it wasn't always easy to get home on time for the meeting or to sit for three hours on a zoom meeting. Overall I found everyone at DPI to be genuine and truly interested in helping people be more responsible drivers. The class was never punishing or shaming. My facilitator was Karen. She was fun, kind, and had good boundaries but was not super strict. I found the discussions and videos interesting. Let's just say I expected a bad experience and was planning to learn to meditate with my eyes open to get through it! The other students were interesting and fun. Thanks, DPI, for a good learning experience! read more

If you must take DUI classes, this is probably the easiest place to do so. They are friendlier than other DUI programs in the area and only require you to go once a week, instead of twice a week. So that's all a plus. If you are doing them over zoom during a pandemic, then it's even easier because you don't have to actually go in. However, they are super unprofessional. The main secretary sends the amount of money you owe the school via zoom messenger, rather than email the way a professional business would. She acts like it's too much work to send out invoices, when in fact most secretaries the world-over send out invoices....This is in fact, what a secretary job looks like most of the time. The first time I was going in for intake interview I was running late because of traffic. I called to notify them I was going to be 10 mins late, and the woman on the phone flipped out on me. I had to reason with her, and she calmed down thinking I was already a student. That should have tipped me off; but being that I had already had a worse experience calling OHS in Richmond, I brushed it off. I will say to just keep your expectations VERY low....with all DUI schools. These places are used to getting money from people who are in bad situations, and they are used to not having to use customer service skills. It's a cash cow for them, so keep your expectations LOW. They're not the most on the ball people in the world. When I brought up how unprofessional it was to send an invoice via zoom, the owner got defensive and said, "Well, if people actually paid..." and I said, "No, regardless of someone paying, you should send an emailed invoice so people can review what they owe." People might want this for their own records. I have never paid a bill that I don't have some kind of record of what I owe. I don't send money out on good faith. I don't care if we're stuck here; it's still a symbiotic relationship. They need my money, I need the damn paper at the end. The classes are dumb; expect that. The counselors sometimes spend over 15 minutes just checking people in. The first counselor I had would personally talk to everyone to check them in; versus getting us checked and getting the class going. We have three fucking hours to chit chat about our lives, so lets just get people signed in. The second counselor would stupidly say, "Say something!" over and over and over, because she was technologically inept and couldn't seem to understand that zoom issues can be worked out while the class is going, on an as needed basis and that zoom tests your microphone for you when you sign in. Both counselors used class time to talk, sometimes for up to an hour with no break about their own issues and opinions. One time a counselor went on for an hour about her own issues, while one student who was clearly spun left the zoom meeting for most of the class. The counselor was so engrossed in her own story, that she didn't even notice. I'm going to guess one counselor has about five years sober and decided she wanted to save everyone from themselves because she has her own issues. The other has a son who died from alcoholism and liked to talk about it FOREVER. Both used the groups as their own personal form of therapy. So let me be clear; your $200 a month and state ordered DUI classes are so these folks can use you as a sounding board for their own issues. I also had a counselor use our one on one meeting to try to pry into my personal life; what I did for work and what I would do with my future. As though she assumed without ever asking me, that somehow I was a total burn out and didn't work my ass off. I asked her if that was somehow relevant to my DUI. She tried to cobble together some reason why it was, and I basically had to tell her that my personal life and what I do for work and outside of DUI class, wasn't her business. Nor was it her job to try to "save me" when she clearly wasn't even as on the ball or quick minded as me. The first counselor I had, quoted Eckhart Tolle who is closely tied to Abraham Hicks and the whole Power Of Positive Thinking cult...Yes, I said cult. Please take your time to research it; thanks to people like Abraham Hicks, Eckhart Tolle and others involved in that kind of "toxic positivity" mindset, people have lost parents, kids, and other family members to this kind of cult practice. Abraham Hicks actually believes that a group of entities called Abraham speak to her and only her, and followers come up and ask her questions to which she gives the most convoluted responses to the most simple minded, easily lead people. So...in short, no actual counselor should ever be referencing these people, who aren't even founded in actual science or counseling, in a DUI class. Anyway, go here for the relative simplicity and ease of the program; don't expect professionalism, and be careful what you take to heart here. Don't expect actual counselors. But since you are court ordered, this is probably your easiest bet. read more

Good people. They make what could be an unpleasant experience as good as it can be. Go. Complete your class. Just don't come back for another class. :) read more

Good experience here so far and the staff makes it alot more pleasant. Anette is awesome

Teachers were rock solid and friendly. Solid people and service - now i can drive legally in NH again!!! Thank guys - big props!

If you have to unfortunately use one of these services, it is one step away from jail so you can't expect much fun-having. It's like going to the dentist. You are locked into a given schedule and treated punitively if you are late or need to reschedule, this includes events out of your control. Advisable to arrive early and budget for extra fees for any rescheduling (reportedly the fees are required by state of CA). The classes are tolerable if you get the right instructor - some of them are drill sergeants - just ask to change if you are unhappy, there are nice ones. The office is pretty nice but they are rigid about fees and schedule. At best it is a friendly chit chat group. Reportedly, this org is much friendlier than the Marin version. Suck it up and do your time and don't piss off the teacher. read more