MASEP, Mississippi's First-Offense DUI Class: Who Has to Take It, Enrolling and Getting Your License Back

Quick answer: MASEP, the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program, is required for anyone convicted or non-adjudicated on a first DUI. The class fee is $225. You cannot enroll until after your conviction or the start of non-adjudication, and your court order gives your location and dates. The statute has the court order completion within six months. If you skip it, the court may hold you in contempt, and your license will not be eligible for reinstatement until you complete it.

What is MASEP?

MASEP describes itself as Mississippi’s statewide, statutorily mandated, evidence-based DUI intervention program. Its stated goal is to reduce DUI recidivism by first-time offenders, and it has been running since 1972. It lists class locations around the state, including Columbus and Starkville, on its locations page.

Who has to take it?

According to MASEP, an individual who is convicted or non-adjudicated of a first-offense DUI is required to attend and complete the program. That covers a few situations people often ask about:

• You were told you did not need it. MASEP says that under Mississippi law a first-offense conviction or non-adjudication requires it. The court may find you in contempt for not attending.
• You have no license. It still applies. A person who has never had a license has to complete MASEP to obtain a Mississippi license.
• You are under 21. The statute’s Zero Tolerance for Minors provision has the court order the same class on a first conviction. Read the fine, jail exposure and the class.

The class is also part of non-adjudication on a first DUI, where the court orders it within six months of the order.

When can I enroll?

Not yet, if your case is still open. MASEP’s home page says, in capitals, that you will not be allowed to enroll until after your conviction or the start of the non-adjudication process. After that, you should have a court order that gives the location of your class and the dates you need to attend. If the court did not assign a date, MASEP expects you at the next scheduled set of classes.

Section 63-11-30 has the court order completion within six months of sentencing. MASEP’s FAQ adds that once you enroll, you have a year to complete and all sessions must be taken in order. Go by your court order, and if the two seem to conflict, ask your lawyer or the court.

What does it cost, and what do I bring?

MASEP says to bring your court order and a credit or debit card or a money order for $225, payable to MASEP, and to arrive 15 minutes early for registration. Other fees show up on its FAQ page.

Item	Amount	When it applies
Class fee	$225	Everyone who enrolls
Replacement homework booklet	$20	You lost the booklet
Replacement certificate	$25	You need another copy of your certificate
Out-of-state processing	$50	You got the DUI in another state and take MASEP in Mississippi

Completed homework is required for each session. Guests are not allowed in the classroom. MASEP has its handouts translated into Spanish, and a certified interpreter can be arranged for a hearing impaired person if someone contacts the MASEP office.

What if I cannot make it to a session?

There are different answers depending on where you are in the process.

• You cannot attend when first scheduled. Contact the court that ordered you to attend and verify that it is okay to attend at a later date.
• You missed a session after enrolling. You can wait until the next time that session is offered. Sessions must be taken in order.
• You want a different location. You can enroll elsewhere. Contact the MASEP office for the address and time, and take your court order with you. Once you enroll, all sessions must be completed at the same location.
• You lost your court order. Contact the court that ordered you to attend. You must bring it to the first session.
• You got a letter saying you failed to enroll. MASEP calls it more of a reminder, and it gives the next available dates. Contact your court about your plans, since the court may hold you in contempt.

How do I get my license back after MASEP?

MASEP tells participants to contact the Mississippi Department of Public Safety about reinstatement. Finishing the class does not by itself restore a license. If a suspension related to the implied consent law has been served, the Department of Public Safety lists a $175 fee to reinstate a regular license. It also says a first-offense conviction requires proof of insurance for three years.

A separate route for staying on the road during the suspension period is the ignition-interlock restricted license.

What if my license or my DUI is from another state?

• Licensed in another state and ordered to MASEP: contact the licensing agency in your state to verify what is needed to reinstate your license.
• Mississippi DUI, living in another state: if you live, work or go to school elsewhere, contact MASEP and request approval to take an out-of-state class. If you live in Mississippi, you must complete MASEP here.
• Another state’s DUI, living in Mississippi: you can take MASEP by sending a letter of request with supporting documents, and you must verify that state’s requirements.

When should I talk to a lawyer?

Before the class, not after. By the time you can enroll, the conviction or non-adjudication has already happened. Attorney Mark A. Cliett has over 30 years of experience and has served as a prosecutor and judge. Read about first-offense DUI defense and the 30-day temporary permit, then call (662) 494-4999 or contact the office for a free consultation, by appointment. Local pages cover Columbus and Starkville.