Mississippi State University is leading the way in educating Mississippians about the dangers of drinking and driving.
The Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program touts itself as being a “DUI intervention for first-time offenders.”
With more than 52 locations in the state, more than 10,000 Mississippians participate in the court-mandated program each year.
When a first-time offender is convicted for Driving Under the Influence, their driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days. After 30 days, they can apply for a hardship driver’s license through Circuit Court. If a person does not attend a MASEP class, the driver’s license is suspended indefinitely.
Founded in 1972, the program is a four-week, 12-hour program that meets one day a week at various locations. The classes discuss not only the consequences of drinking and driving but preventative measures to ensure that the driver does not become a repeat offender. In addition to addressing alcohol abuse, the program also focuses on substance abuse. Students are provided an in class assessment and homework. The cost of the class is $150.
MASEP Program Coordinator Bill Henderson said that in a college town such as Starkville, drinking and driving for underage students is more likely than other towns across the state. Henderson encourages those students who do consume alcohol to take advantage of shuttle buses so they won’t end up intoxicated behind the wheel;
“We don’t want to have to see them,” Henderson said.
However, if a student does end up with a DUI, Henderson believes MASEP will educate them on the dangers of drinking and encourage them to think before they drink and drive so they don’t end up as a repeat offender.
“Over the years, the repeat offender rate has gone down for those who attended MASEP as opposed to those who didn’t,” Henderson said.
In the Golden Triangle area, classes are offered in Starkville and Columbus.
In Starkville, MASEP meets at the Millsaps Career and Technology Center behind Starkville High School at 803 Lousiville St.
In Columbus, MASEP meets at The Salvation Army at 2219 Main St.
Classes are offered Monday through Thursday from 6:50 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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