Even though Florida is known as The Sunshine State, the officer pulling you over for DUI will be less than sunshiny when they arrest you if you are driving under the influence in their state. They have very strict laws regarding driving under the influence and if you have a BAL or blood alcohol level of .08% or above, you will see their strictness in person. If you are under 21, you can be arrested for a BAL of .02%.
First DUI Conviction
If you are convicted of a DUI, you will be facing some very dire consequences. Depending upon your BAL, your punishment can vary. A BAL of .08 to less than .15 will mean you can face jail time of up to 6 months and a fine of $500 to $1000. A higher BAL can result in jail time of up to 9 months and double the fines. While there is no mandatory jail time period for a first offense, you do need to realize that it is dependent upon the aggravating factors, as well as your judge to determine what your sentence will be. A first offense DUI will mean that you will lose your license for at least 180 days and up to 1 year and you can be mandated to do some community service as well.
Second DUI Conviction
If you have a second DUI in five years, you will be looking at losing your license for at least 6 months and for as long as 18 months. A fine will be assessed in the amount of $500 to $1000 and if you have a minor in your car while you have a BAL your fines will double. A jail term of anywhere from ten days to up to 9 months can be assessed as well. You may be required to undergo an alcohol treatment program or DUI School and you can have your car impounded for up to 30 days.
Third DUI Conviction
A third DUI within ten years will result in a felony charge against you. Your driver’s license will be suspended for ten years, but you can reapply for a hardship reinstatement to allow you to drive to work or school after a period of two years. If you have a third DUI in more than ten years, you can lose your license for anywhere from 180 days to 1 year. As far as fines, they will range from $2000 to $5000 and this amount can be increased when you have to pay for DUI School or an alcohol treatment program. A mandatory jail sentence of 30 days is also required.
Getting legal representation is the key to being able to make it through the maze of legal issues to allow you to face your punishment and get back to your life. The best thing is to just make the decision to not drink and drive to make sure that you will not have any legal repercussions at all. Driving under the influence is serious in Florida.