Florida DUI Laws

When you sign your driver’s license in the state of Florida, you are consenting to take a blood, urine, or breath test upon request. Under Florida’s “Implied Consent Law,” if you refuse to take a chemical test, your license will be suspended immediately for up to one year. Florida also has a zero tolerance law for drivers under 21 years of age. If you are under 21 and you get caught driving after having only one drink (i.e. blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02%) or higher, your license will be suspended automatically for 6 months. There are no exceptions to this rule.

What is the blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) limit in the state of Florida?

In the state of Florida, it is a crime to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Sentence enhancements exist for cases involving a BAC of 0.15% or higher.

In the state of Florida what is the administrative license suspension period for a first offense?

In the state of Florida, if you get arrested for DUI, the administrative license suspension time for a first offense is 6 months. Under administrative license suspension, the drivers’ license will be taken before conviction when he either fails or refuses to be tested for alcohol or drugs. The driver may obtain a limited license after 30 days, but not in cases where the driver refused to take a chemical test.

In the state of Florida, what are the penalties for a first DUI offense? Second offense?

In the state of Florida, a first DUI offense carries a fine of $250-$500, up to 6 months in jail, a minimum license suspension of six months, no more than one year probation, 50 hours of community service, and 12 hours in a DUI program. If your second offense occurs within 5 years, your license will be suspended for up to 5 years (with temporary hardship eligibility after one year), 250-$500, up to 6 months in jail, no more than one year probation, 50 hours of community service, and 12 hours in a DUI program. Depending on the circumstances of each offense, the conviction may or may not include interlock.

In the state of Florida, DUI convictions will remain on your driving record for 75 years.