DUI – Laws
DUI – Penalties
DUI - Refusal to Submit to Testing
DUI – Defenses
DUI – Automatic License Suspension
DUI - Reinstatement of License
DUI – Field Sobriety Exercises (“tests”)
DUI – Breath Tests and Breathalyzer
DUI – Blood and Urine Tests
DUI - How to Calculate Blood Alcohol Content
DUI Penalties
In Florida the penalties for a DUI depend on the way the DUI is charged by the State Attorney/Prosecutor. This charging decision is based on several factors including previous DUI convictions, or whether there was injury, death, or property damage involved. These factors can either increase or decrease the penalties associated with your DUI charge.
Florida Statute 316.193 sets forth the many DUI penalties. Below is a general listing of these penalties. Please see DUI other penalties for penalties related to other DUI crimes including: refusing a breath, urine or blood test, DUI manslaughter and DUI causing serious bodily injury.
THIRD OFFENSE/CONVICTION OUTSIDE 10 YEARS
THIRD OFFENSE/CONVICTION WITHIN 10 YEARS
FOUR OR MORE OFFENSES/CONVICTIONS
-
Fine
Not less
than $250 or more than $500. But if, Blood/Breath Alcohol
Level (BAL) is .20 or higher or there is a minor in the
vehicle: Not less than $500, or more than $1,000;
-
Community Service: Mandatory 50
hours of community service or additional fine of $10 for
each hour of community service required;
-
Probation:
Not more than 1 year (total period of probation and
incarceration may not exceed 1 year);
-
Imprisonment: not more than 6 months; But if BAL is .20 or higher or there
is a minor in the vehicle, not more than 9 months;
-
License Revocation: Minimum 180
days revocation, maximum 1 year;
-
DUI/Driving School: 12 hours DUI School Requirement Evaluation conducted to
determine need for treatment. (Must complete DUI school before hardship reinstatement.
Those who wait out revocation period before reinstatement
need only show proof of enrollment or completion to
become re-licensed. If one enrolls and is reinstated after
revocation period expires, failure to complete the
DUI school within 90 days after reinstatement will result in
license cancellation; the driver cannot then be re-licensed
until DUI school is completed);
-
Ignition Interlock Device: Normally, NO interlock, but
if Blood/Breath Alcohol level (BAL) is.20 or higher or there is a
minor in the vehicle: then up to 6 months
at defendant’s expense;
-
Vehicle Impoundment: Unless the family of the defendant has no other transportation:
First conviction = 10 days;
-
Deportation:
for non-us citizens.
-
SECOND OFFENSE/CONVICTION:
-
Fine:
Not less
than $500 or more than $1,000. But if Blood/Breath Alcohol
level (BAL) is.20 or higher or there is a minor in the
vehicle then not less than $1,000, or more than $2,000;
-
Imprisonment:
Not more
than 9 months. But if BAL is .20 or higher or there is a
minor in the vehicle: Not more than 12 months (if
second conviction is
within 5 years then mandatory imprisonment of at least 10
days. (At least 48 hours of confinement must be
consecutive);
-
License Revocation: Second Conviction
Within 5
Years: Minimum 5
years revocation.
May be eligible for
hardship reinstatement after 1 year. Other 2nd offenders,
same as first offense: Minimum 180 days revocation, maximum
1 year;
-
DUI/Driving School: 21 hours DUI School Requirement Evaluation conducted to
determine need for treatment, must complete DUI school following conviction;
-
Ignition Interlock Device: Minimum of 1 year;
-
Vehicle Impoundment: Unless the family of the defendant has no other transportation:
second conviction within 5 years = 30 days;
-
Deportation:
for non-us citizens.
-
Fine: Not less
than $1,000, or more than $2,500. But if Blood/Breath
Alcohol level (BAL) is .20 or higher or if there is a minor
in the vehicle then not less than $2,000.
-
Probation:
Not more than 1 year (total period of probation and
incarceration may not exceed 1 year);
-
Imprisonment:
Not more than 12 months;
-
License Revocation: Minimum 180
days revocation, maximum 1 year;
-
Ignition Interlock Device: Minimum of 2 years;
-
Vehicle Impoundment: Unless the family of the defendant has no other transportation:
outside 10 years = 10 days (same as first offense);
-
Deportation:
for non-us citizens.
-
Fine: Not more
than $5,000. If BAL is .20 or higher or if there is a minor
in the vehicle then not less than $2,000;
-
Imprisonment:
If third conviction is
within 10 years then imprisonment for not more than 5 years, but
mandatory imprisonment for at least 30 days with at least 48
consecutive hours of confinement;
-
Vehicle Impoundment: Unless the family of the defendant has no other transportation:
third conviction within 10 years = 90 days;
-
License Revocation: Minimum 10 years revocation. (May be eligible for hardship
reinstatement after 2 years)(Other 3rd offenders same as
first offense: Minimum 180 revocation, maximum 1 year; one
conviction more than 10 years prior and one within 5 years:
Minimum 5 years revocation. May be eligible for hardship
reinstatement after 1 year);
-
Ignition Interlock Device: Minimum of 2 years;
-
DUI/Driving School:
21 hours DUI School Requirement Evaluation conducted to
determine need for treatment; must complete DUI school following conviction;
-
Deportation:
for non-us citizens.
- FOUR OR MORE
OFFENSES/CONVICTIONS
-
Fine: Not less
than $1,000, but if Blood/Breath Alcohol level (BAL) is .20
or higher or if there is a minor in the vehicle then not
less than $2,000;
-
Probation:
Not more
than 5 years or as provided in s.775.084, Florida Statutes,
as habitual offender;
-
Imprisonment: Not more than
5 years or as provided in s.775.084, Florida Statutes, as
habitual offender, but 30 days in jail are mandatory of
which 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive;
-
Vehicle Impoundment: Unless the
family of the defendant has no other transportation: 90
days;
-
License Revocation: Fourth Conviction, regardless of when prior convictions occurred) and murder with motor
vehicle:
Mandatory permanent
revocation and No
hardship reinstatement;
-
Ignition Interlock: no provision in 322.2715
-
Deportation:
for non-us citizens.
Note: A person who is convicted of DUI manslaughter shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 4 years
Note: At court's discretion, sentencing terms may be served in a
residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment program, credited
toward term of imprisonment.
Note:
Impoundment or
immobilization must not occur concurrently with incarceration. The
court may dismiss the order of impoundment of any vehicles that are
owned by the defendant if they are operated solely by the employees
of the defendant or any business owned by the defendant.
Note: Those Who Wait Until Revocation Period Expires: Must enroll in DUI school and pass the driver license
examinations to be re-licensed. Failure to complete the
school within 90 days after such reinstatement will result in
cancellation of the license until the school is completed.
Note: Treatment:
Treatment resulting
from a psychosocial evaluation may not be waived without a
supporting psychosocial evaluation by a court appointed agency with
access to the original evaluation.
**The material on this page is not intended to be legal advice.
Florida criminal law is continually changing therefore some of the
provisions contained here may be out of date. It is always best to
consult a Florida criminal defense lawyer about your legal rights
and responsibilities regarding your particular case**
A complete listing of all Florida
Statutes can be found at:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/
Consult With an Experienced Orlando and Kissimmee DUI
Attorney
The facts
of every DUI case are different and if convicted you could face jail
or prison time. Because of this and other complexities in handling
these types of cases it is vitally important that you obtain
representation from a lawyer experienced in
defending, not
prosecuting these types of crimes.
If you have
been arrested and charged with a DUI or other criminal offense
contact Orlando DUI attorney
Will Corzo or
Sam Kohrs. Call toll free
877-99CK-LAW for a free consultation and explanation of your rights.
The Central Florida DUI defense law firm of
Corzo and Kohrs
exclusively limits their practice to defending clients charged with
criminal offenses including DUI and other crimes throughout central
Florida, including clients from Orange County, Osceola County,
Seminole County, Polk County, and Pinellas County and in cities such
as Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Poinciana, Celebration, Hunter’s
Creek, Ocoee, Oviedo, Avalon Park, Windermere, Altamonte Springs,
Baldwin Park, Clermont, Winter Park, St. Petersburg, Seminole,
Clearwater, including clients from schools such as University of
Central Florida UCF, University of South Florida USF, Valencia
Community College, Full Sail, and other Central Florida schools.
Florida DUI Attorney Will Corzo and Sam Kohrs are available 24 hours
a day and on weekends and holidays.

