Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

MADD is often a mandatory part of the legal process after a DUI conviction in Minnesota. However, they are not a driving school—they do not teach you how to drive or provide the “hours of practice” required for a license.

Instead, they provide the Victim Impact Panel (VIP), which is a court-ordered requirement for most DUI offenders.

The purpose of the Victim Impact Panel (VIP) program is to help drunk and drugged driving offenders to recognize and internalize the lasting and long-term effects of substance-impaired driving. The classes seek to create an empathy and understanding of the tragedy, leave a permanent impression that leads to changes in thinking and behavior and prevents future offenses.

At a VIP, victims, survivors and others impacted by substance-impaired driving crashes speak briefly about the crash in which they were injured and/or a loved one was killed or injured. They share a first-person account of how the crash impacts their lives.

They do not 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.

MADD’s Role in a DUI Case

If you have been charged with or convicted of a DUI, the court will likely require you to complete the following through MADD:

• The Victim Impact Panel (VIP): This is a 2-hour session where you listen to victims and survivors share how impaired driving has impacted their lives.

• Proof of Attendance: You must pay a fee (usually around $50) and attend the full session to receive a certificate. You then give this certificate to your probation officer or the court to prove you completed this part of your sentence.

• Format: In Minnesota, you can often attend these panels online at maddvip.org or in person at various locations (like the one in St. Paul or Bloomington).