DUI (Driving Under the Influence of Alcoholic
Beverages, Chemical Substances or Controlled Substances).
s. 316.193, F.S.
Under Florida law, DUI is one offense, proved by impairment
of normal faculties or unlawful blood alcohol or breath
alcohol level of .08 or above. The penalties upon conviction
are the same, regardless of the manner in which the offense
is proven.
Fine Schedule s.
316.193(2)(a)-(b), F.S.
- First Conviction: Not less than $250, or
more than $500. With Blood/Breath Alcohol Level (BAL)
of .20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less
than $500, or more than $1,000.
- Second Conviction: Not less than $500, or
more than $1,000. With BAL of .20 or higher or minor
in the vehicle: Not less than $1,000, or more than
$2,000.
Third Conviction More than 10 years: Not
less than $1,000, or more than $2,500. With BAL of
.20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less than
$2,000.
- Third Conviction Within 10 years: Not
more than $5,000. With BAL of .20 or higher or minor
in the vehicle. Not less than $2,000.
- Fourth or Subsequent Conviction: Not less
than $1,000. With BAL of .20 or higher or minor in
the vehicle. Not less than $2,000.
Community Service
- s. 316.193 (6)(a), F.S.
First Conviction: Mandatory 50 hours of community
service or additional fine of $10 for each hour of
community service required.
Probation - s.
316.193 (5)(6), F.S.
First conviction, total period of probation and incarceration
may not exceed 1 year.
Imprisonment- s. 316.193 (2)(a) 2, 4(b),
(6)(j), F.S.
At court's discretion, sentencing terms may be served
in a residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment program,
credited toward term of imprisonment.
- First Conviction: Not more than 6 months.
With BAL of .20 or higher or minor in the vehicle:
Not more than 9 months.
- Second Conviction: Not more than 9 months.
With BAL of .20 or higher or minor in the vehicle:
Not more than 12 months. If second conviction within
5 years, mandatory imprisonment of at least 10 days.
At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.
- Third Conviction: If third conviction within
10 years, mandatory imprisonment of at least 30 days.
At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.
If third conviction more than 10 years, imprisonment
for not more than 12 months.
- Fourth or Subsequent Conviction: Not more
than 5 years or as provided in s.775.084, Florida Statutues,
as habitual/violent offender.
Impoundment of
Immobilization of Vehicle - s. 316.193 (6), F.S.
Unless the family of the defendant has no other transportation:
First conviction = 10 days; second conviction within
5 years = 30 days; third conviction within 10 years =
90 days. 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.
Conditions for
Release of Persons Arrested for DUI-s. 316.193 (9),
F.S.
- The person is no longer under the influence and;
- The person's normal faculties are no longer impaired
- The person's blood/breath alcohol level is lower
than 0.05; or
- Eight hours have elapsed from the time the person
was arrested.
DUI Misdemeanor
Conviction: (Accident Involving Property Damage or
Personal Injury)-s. 316.193 (3), F.S.
Any person who causes property damage or personal injury
to another while driving under the influence is guilty
of a First Degree Misdemeanor (not more than $1,000 fine
or 1-year imprisonment).
DUI Felony Conviction:
(Repeat Offenders or Accidents Involving Serious Bodily
Injury)-s. 316.193 (2),(3) F.S.
- Any person convicted of a third DUI within 10 years
or a fourth or subsequent DUI commits a Third Degree
Felony (not more than $5,000 fine and/or 5 years imprisonment).
- Any person who causes serious bodily injury while
driving under the influence is guilty of a Third Degree
Felony (not more than $5,000 fine and/or 5 years imprisonment)
or if habitual/violent felony offender as provided
in s. 775.084, F.S.
Manslaughter
and Vehicular Homicide-s. 316.193 (3), F.S.
- DUI/Manslaughter: Second Degree Felony (not
more than $10,000 fine and/or 15 years imprisonment).
- DUI Manslaughter/Leaving the Scene: A driver
convicted of DUI Manslaughter who knew/should have
known accident occurred; and failed to give information
or render aid is guilty of a First Degree Felony (not
more than $10,000 fine and/or 30 years imprisonment).
- Vehicular Homicide: Second Degree Felony
(not more than $10,000 fine and/or 15 years imprisonment).
- Vehicular Homicide/Leaving the Scene: A
driver convicted of vehicular homicide who left the
scene of an accident is guilty of a First Degree Felony
(nor more than $10,000 fine and/or 30 years imprisonment).
Driver License
Revocation Periods for DUI-s. 322.271, F.S. and s.
322.28,F.S.
A. First Conviction: Minimum 180 days revocation,
maximum 1 year.
B. Second Conviction Within 5 Years: Minimum
5 years revocation. May be eligible for hardship reinstatement
after 1 year. Other 2nd offenders same as "A" above.
C. Third Conviction Within 10 Years: Minimum
10 years revocation. May be eligible for hardship reinstatement
after 2 years. Other 3rd offenders same as "A" above;
one conviction more than 10 years prior and one within
5 years, same as "B" above.
D. Fourth Conviction, Regardless of When Prior Convictions
Occurred) and Murder with Motor Vehicle: Mandatory
permanent revocation. No hardship reinstatement.
E. DUI Manslaughter: Mandatory permanent revocation.
If no prior DUI related convictions, may be eligible
for hardship reinstatement after 5 years.
F. Manslaughter, DUI Serious Bodily Injury, or Vehicular
Homicide Convictions: Minimum 3-year revocation.
DUI Serious Bodily Injury having prior DUI conviction
is same as "B-D" above.
Commercial Motor
Vehicles (CMV) – Alcohol-Related Convictions/Disqualifications-s.
322.61, F.S.
- Persons convicted of driving a commercial motor vehicle
with a blood alcohol level of .04 or above or refusing
to submit to a test to determine the alcohol concentration
while driving a commercial motor vehicle, driving a
commercial motor vehicle while under the influence
of alcohol or controlled substance, or driving a commercial
motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled substance
shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor
vehicle for a period of 1 year. This is in addition
to any provisions of s. 316.193 for DUI convictions.
- Second or subsequent conviction of any of the above
offenses arising out of separate incidents will result
in a permanent disqualification from operating a commercial
motor vehicle.
- There are no provisions for persons disqualified
from operating a commercial motor vehicle to obtain
a hardship (business or employment) license to operate
a commercial motor vehicle.
Business Purposes
Only/Employment Purposes Only Reinstatements-s. 322.271,
F.S. and s. 322.28, F.S.
- First Conviction: Must complete DUI school,
apply to department for hearing for possible hardship
reinstatement. Mandatory ignition interlock device
for up to six months for BAL of .20 or higher, or for
two years if BAL is greater than .20.
- Second Convictions (or more): No hardship
license except as provided below. Mandatory ignition
interlock device for one year, effective 07/03.
- Second Conviction Within 5 Years: (5-Year
Revocation) May apply for hardship reinstatement hearing
after one year. Must complete DUI school and
remain in the DUI supervision program for the remainder
of the revocation period (failure to report for counseling
or treatment shall result in cancellation of the hardship
license). Applicant may not have consumed any alcoholic
beverage or controlled substance or driven a motor
vehicle for 12 months prior to reinstatement. Mandatory
ignition interlock device for one year or for two years
if BAL is greater than .20.
- Third Conviction Within 10 Years: (10-Year
Revocation) May apply for hardship reinstatement hearing
after two years. Must complete DUI school and remain
in the DUI supervision program for the remainder of
the revocation period (failure to report for counseling
or treatment shall result in the cancellation of the
hardship license). Applicant may not have consumed
any alcoholic beverage or controlled substance or driven
a motor vehicle for 12 months prior to reinstatement. Mandatory
ignition interlock device for two years.
- DUI Manslaughter With No Prior DUI Related Conviction: (Permanent
Revocation): May be eligible for hardship reinstatement
after 5 years have expired from date of revocation
or expired from date of term of incarceration provided
the following requirements have been met:
1. Has not been arrested for a drug-related offense
for at least 5 years prior to the hearing;
2. Has not driven a motor vehicle without a license for
at least 5 years prior to the hearing;
3. Has been alcohol and drug-free for at least 5 years
prior to the hearing; and
4. Must complete a DUI school and must be supervised
under the DUI program for the remainder of the revocation
period (failure to report for counseling or treatment
shall result in cancellation of the hardship license).
5. Ignition interlock device required for two years.
- Manslaughter, DUI Serious Bodily Injury, or Vehicular
Homicide Convictions: (3 Year Revocation): May
immediately apply for hardship reinstatement hearing.
- Must complete DUI school or advanced driver
improvement course.
DUI School Requirements
- s. 316.193 F.S., s. 322.271, F.S., s. 322.291, F.S.
- First Conviction: Must complete DUI
school before hardship reinstatement. Customers who
wait out revocation period before reinstatement need
only show proof of enrollment or completion
to become re-licensed. If customer 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.
- Second Conviction in 5 Years (5-Year Revocation)
or Third Conviction in 10 Years (10-Year Revocation): Customer
must complete DUI school following conviction.
See requirements in 13C and 13D respectively.
- DUI Manslaughter With No Prior DUI Related Conviction:
(Permanent Revocation): Must complete DUI school
before hardship reinstatement.
- Manslaughter, DUI Serious Bodily Injury, or Vehicular
Homicide: (Minimum 3 year Revocation): See 13F
- Customers 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.
- Reckless Driving: If the court has reasonable
cause to believe that the use of alcohol, chemical
or controlled substances contributed to a violation
of reckless driving, the person convicted of reckless
driving must complete DUI school if ordered
by the court.
- 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.
Chemical or Physical
Test Provisions (Implied Consent Law)-s. 316.1932,
F.S., s. 316.1933, F.S., s. 316.1934, F.S, s. 316.1939,
F.S
- Refusal: Refusal to submit to a breath,
urine, or blood test is admissible as evidence in DUI
criminal proceedings. Second or subsequent refusal
is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
- Driver License Suspension Periods: First
refusal, suspended for 1 year. Second or subsequent
refusals, suspended for 18 months.
- Commercial Driver License Disqualification Periods: First
refusal in a commercial motor vehicle, disqualified
for 1 year. Second or subsequent refusals in a commercial
motor vehicle, disqualified permanently. No hardship
reinstatement permitted.
- Forceful Withdrawal of Blood: If necessary,
blood may be withdrawn in DUI cases involving serious
bodily injury or death by authorized medical personnel
with the use of reasonable force by the arresting officer,
even if the driver refuses.
- Unconscious: Any person who is incapable
of refusal by reason of unconsciousness or other mental
or physical condition shall be deemed not to have withdrawn
his consent to such test. A blood test may be administered
whether or not such person is told that his failure
to submit to such a blood test will result in the suspension
of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle.
- Portable Alcohol Breath Testing Devices: Authorized
by s.322.2616, F.S., for persons under
the age of 21. Reading is admissible as evidence in
any administrative hearing conducted under s.
322.2616, F.S.
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