A Victim Impact Panel (VIP) class sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and other advocacy groups generally lasts two hours, whether it’s the online or in-person version. However, you might end up spending more time participating in the in-person class due to the need to arrive early, and travel to and from the class site.

Understanding MADD Classes

MADD’s VIP sessions help people convicted of drunk driving understand how drunk driving affects victims. And the number of victims is staggering.

In 2022 alone, more than 13,500 people died in drunk driving accidents in the U.S. Each year, about one-third of all deaths in car crashes involve drunk drivers.

According to MADD, the five states with the biggest increases in deaths due to drunk driving from 2019 to 2022 were:

• Vermont (189%)
• Utah (89%)
• Arizona (74%)
• South Carolina (72%)
• Colorado (63%)

“We are losing children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and people we love to tragic and avoidable crashes,” says Stacey Stewart, CEO of MADD.

“MADD is committed to collaborating with victims and survivors, and our partners in government, industry and the traffic safety community to educate about the dangers of impaired driving and the urgent need for technology on all new cars that prevents this crime.”

During an in-person or online VIP session, victims, survivors and others affected by DWI incidents share their experiences. The goal: Remind DWI offenders of the consequences of drunk driving. VIP sessions complement, but do not replace, punishment such as jail sentences and fines.

“The classes seek to create an empathy and understanding of the tragedy, [leaving] a permanent impression that leads to changes in thinking and behavior and prevents future offenses,” says MADD.

MADD, which adopted the VIP model in 1989, stresses that participants in VIP classes don’t blame or judge.

“They simply tell their stories, describing how their lives and the lives of their families and friends were affected by the crash,” says MADD.

MADD Classes: Options and Costs

The cost of a MADD class differs from place to place, with an in-person class costing less than an online class. For example, it might cost $25 to attend an in-person class but $65 to take an online class.

Why the cost difference? It could be due to internet-related expenses for an online class. In addition, the cost of an online class might be lower to encourage offenders to attend an in-person class, which might have more of an impact than the online version.

It’s worth noting that MADD doesn’t issue refunds for online VIP sign-ups, and that not all courts will accept certificates from online classes. You should consult your DWI attorney to ensure that the online course is acceptable in your particular jurisdiction.

Online vs. In-Person MADD Class: Choosing the Right Format

If you’re looking for a convenient VIP option, the online class might be the best choice. It takes about two hours to complete the online class, and you can pause the course at any time and continue it later. Although the online class costs more, it’s more flexible than the in-person class.

However, the online class is recorded rather than live, meaning it could lose some of its effectiveness compared with the in-person version. And you must have a credit or debit card to pay the fee.

But as the Resource Training Center notes, all of the participants in the classes are real people telling real stories. “No one was paid and none of the presenters are actors,” the center says.

In every state but Arkansas and Oklahoma, someone can take an online class if they aren’t able to attend an in-person class.

For some DWI offenders, the in-person option might be preferable. For one thing, you’re likely to have fewer distractions than you would with the online class because victims, survivors and others affected by drunk driving are in the same room with you. Also, the in-person class costs less than the online version.

But an in-person class might gobble up more time. Because an in-person class requires pre-registration, you typically need to arrive 30 to 60 minutes before the class begins and you must travel to and from the class site, the entire in-person experience might last 2½ hours or more.

Despite their differences, in-person and online MADD classes teach roughly the same lessons.

MADD Online Class Experience: Duration, Attention, and Verification

The online MADD class generally takes two hours to complete. You can pause and restart the class at any time.

To find an online VIP session in your area, visit maddvip.org.

Duration and Attention Requirements for MADD Classes

During the roughly two hours it’ll take to finish the online class, you’ll need to pay close attention. Why? Because at the end of the class, you’ll need to complete three quizzes based on what you saw and earn at least the minimum score required.

For the online class, you’ll need a webcam or smartphone camera to participate. While you can use a smartphone to take the class, you might be better off viewing the course on a computer with a bigger screen.

If you’re an online participant, facial recognition software will be used to verify your identity.

Identity Verification for MADD Classes

For the online class, your identity is verified through facial recognition software along with randomized questions. In addition, your photo appears on the certificate that recognizes completion of the online course.

Tips for Participating in an Online MADD Class

To successfully complete the online MADD class:

• Pay attention, since you’ll be quizzed at the end of the class. Some participants say the quiz questions aren’t easy to answer, as they’re based on what you saw and heard in the VIP video. You may need to take a quiz several times (but not retake the class) until you’ve earned the required score.
• Take notes to improve your chances of absorbing knowledge and passing the quizzes.
• Get ready for the emotional impact. Comments from victims, survivors, and others affected by DWI might be more difficult to handle than you thought they’d be.
• Complete the class in a quiet space. This will help cut down on distractions.
• Turn off your phone and other electronic devices so you can better focus on the video.
• Watch the video when you’re alert. If you’re sleepy, it may be harder to concentrate.

Certificate Delivery and Accessibility

Right after you’ve paid for and successfully completed the online VIP class, you can get a certificate of completion. This certificate should be given to the person who required your participation, such as the judge who handed down your sentence.

Your MADD VIP certificate is valid for up to 365 days after you finish the online class. You can get your certificate by logging onto your MADD account at online.maddvip.org/login and downloading a PDF of the document, or by emailing VIPsupport@madd.org and receiving a PDF copy of the certificate in your inbox. If the 365-day period ends, you must take the course again to obtain a valid certificate.

Legal Representation and Its Implications in MADD Classes

One of the critical roles that a DWI attorney plays in a client’s participation in a MADD class is making sure they complete the class and then ensuring the certificate is delivered to the proper person or agency. MADD will not deliver the certificate on behalf of an offender.

Because not all courts accept certificates from online MADD classes, a lawyer can advise you on whether taking the online course will satisfy court-ordered requirements.

FAQs About MADD Classes

How Long Is a Typical MADD Class?

The online MADD class and in-person class might last roughly two hours. However, that period doesn’t include the amount of time required to arrive before the in-person class starts as well as the time it takes to get to and from the class site.

What Happens if I Miss a MADD Class?

If you notify MADD via vipsupport@madd.org before an in-person class starts, you can ask that your class be rescheduled or request that your in-person fee count toward an online class (but you must pay the difference). You might be charged a rescheduling fee of $15 to $25.

“Missing” an online MADD class isn’t an issue, as you can start and stop the class as much as you’d like.

Do MADD Classes Affect Insurance Rates?

Completion of a MADD class does not affect your car insurance rates. But the DWI itself could cause your insurance rates to skyrocket.

A 2022 study by the QuoteWizard insurance marketplace found that if an attorney succeeds in getting a first-time DWI charge reduced or dropped, it might save the offender as much as $3,000 in car insurance costs.

How Difficult Are the Quiz Questions, and Can I Use Common Sense to Answer Them?

You might find that quiz questions in the online MADD class are difficult. Why? Because the answers may not necessarily be common-sense responses. In other words, you’ll need to pay close attention to ensure you’ll correctly answer the quiz questions.

To get a sense of what the MADD quiz looks like, visit the ProProfs website.

Do I Need to Take Notes During a MADD Class?

You don’t need to take notes during an online MADD class, but you can. However, focusing on the video and the participants without taking notes might help you absorb more information. In turn, this may lead to better results on the quiz.