FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY – February 16, 2026 – Lebedin Kofman LLP has published a comprehensive guide titled “Understanding the Impaired Driver Program (IDP) in New York” on its website, offering drivers in New York City and Long Island a detailed, step-by-step explanation of one of the most consequential post-conviction requirements following a DWI or DWAI arrest in New York State.
The article examines the Impaired Driver Program — formerly known as the Drinking Driver Program — administered by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1196. The guide explains that the IDP consists of seven weekly in-person classroom sessions totaling approximately 16 hours of instruction, and covers all alcohol and drug-related driving offenses, including DWAI, DWI, Aggravated DWI, DWAI-Drug, and DWAI-Combination charges. The publication details why the IDP is effectively mandatory for most convicted drivers, as enrollment is required to obtain a conditional license during a suspension or revocation period and to have full driving privileges restored upon completion.
The guide also breaks down IDP eligibility restrictions, including the five-year look-back rule, limitations for commercial drivers, and additional requirements for drivers under 21. It outlines the full cost of IDP participation — including the $75 DMV enrollment fee, up to $233 in course fees, and a $75 conditional license fee — and places those costs in the broader context of the total financial impact of a DWI conviction, which can include mandatory surcharges, Driver Responsibility Assessments, court-imposed fines, and significantly increased insurance premiums. Additional topics covered include the substance abuse assessment and treatment referral process, the permitted uses and limitations of a conditional license, consequences for failing to complete the program, and how to locate IDP providers across New York City and Long Island.
Written for drivers recently convicted of an impaired driving offense, individuals currently under investigation, and anyone seeking to understand their post-conviction obligations under New York law, the guide is designed to serve as a thorough and accessible resource on a program that directly affects drivers’ ability to maintain their livelihoods following a DWI-related conviction.
About Lebedin Kofman LLP: Lebedin Kofman LLP is a boutique criminal defense law firm serving clients throughout New York City and Long Island, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. The firm’s attorneys have decades of combined experience defending clients against a full range of criminal and traffic charges, including DWI, DWAI, aggravated DWI, drug-related driving offenses, vehicular crimes, sex offenses, and federal matters. Lebedin Kofman LLP also handles civil rights litigation and is committed to providing individualized, aggressive representation to every client.
For more information about Lebedin Kofman LLP and its services, please contact:
Russ Kofman, Esq.
Founding Partner
Lebedin Kofman LLP
26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10004
Phone: 646-663-4430
Email: info@lebedinkofmanlaw.com
Website: https://www.lebedinkofman.com
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