What to Do When Charged With a DUI in Florida
What to do when Charged with a DUI in Florida
Hire an experienced Florida DUI Lawyer or a competent drunk driving defense attorney who is experienced in the Florida DUI laws.
Understanding the Florida DUI laws and courtroom proceedings that accompany it can be a major challenge. Hiring a qualified Florida DUI attorney whose legal practice concentrates on drunk driving cases can make a difference in the outcome of your drunk driving charge.
Florida DUI Education – First-time Offenders
Florida DUI Information:
Driving with an illegal alcohol level (DUBAL) (.08) results in an immediate License Suspension.
According to Florida DUI statutes, your license will be suspended as of the arrest date for 6 months for the first offense and one year for any other offense of DUBAL. You will be given a 10-day permit on the date of the arrest. Once the permit has expired, then 30 days of the suspension must be served before the driver is eligible to apply for a hardship license.
Eligibility for a Hardship License in the state of Florida
You will be eligible for a hardship license on the first and any consecutive suspension, unless you have been convicted of a DUI in Florida two or more times. Under the Florida DUI law, you must provide proof of enrollment in a driving under the influence school to the Administrative Reviews Office in order to be considered for a hardship license.
If given approval to reinstate early for hardship, you must present this approval to the driver’s license office. At the time of reinstatement, whether for a hardship license or a full license, you must take the required examination, and pay 5 administrative fee and reinstatement fee and any license fee required. Proof of liability insurance on the arrest date will be required or proof of liability coverage and a reinstatement fee will be required.
Conditions for DUI Test Refusals
If you refuse to submit either to a breath or urine test, Florida DUI statutes require that your license be suspended as of the arrest date for a minimum of one year for the first offense and 18 months for any consecutive offenses. You will be given a 10-day permit on the date of arrest and when the permit expires, you must serve 90 days of the suspension before the driver is eligible to apply for a hardship license on the first suspension. No hardship license is permitted if you have refused to submit two or more times. You must provide proof of enrollment in a DUI school to the Administrative Reviews Office for consideration for a hardship license. If given approval to reinstate early for hardship, you must present this approval to the driver license office. At the time of reinstatement, whether for a hardship license or a full license, you must take the required examination, pay a 5 administrative fee, a reinstatement fee and any license fees required. Under Florida DUI law, proof of liability insurance on the arrest date will be required or proof of liability coverage and a reinstatement fee will be required.
Penalties for a DUI in Florida
First DUI – 180 day to 1 year revocation effective on conviction date.
Before the expiration of the revocation period, you may apply for a hardship license in the county where you live. DUI School completion and treatment, if referred, is required. You then can apply for a hardship license in any Administrative Reviews Office.
If you wait to reinstate your license until your revocation period ends, proof of enrollment or completion of DUI School and treatment, if referred, is required.
At the time of reinstatement, whether for a hardship license or a full license, you must take the required examination, and pay 5 administrative fee and reinstatement fee and any license fee required. Proof of liability insurance on the arrest date will be required or proof of liability coverage and a reinstatement fee will be required.
A second DUI conviction in more than 5 years will result in a 180 day to 1 year revocation. You cannot reinstate early for hardship. The full revocation period must be served before you may request a driver license reinstatement. The second DUI conviction within a five-year period will result in a five-year revocation. You may apply for a hardship license at the Administrative Reviews Office after serving one year from the effective date of revocation. DUI School, and treatment, if referred, must be completed and you must have a favorable recommendation from the Special Supervision Services Program to be eligible for a hardship license. If given approval to reinstate early for hardship, you must present this approval to the driver license office. You must remain in the Special Supervision Services Program for the duration of the revocation period to retain your hardship license. If you wait to reinstate until after your revocation period ends, proof of enrollment or completion of DUI