Florida takes its drunk drivers seriously. There are really enormous consequences to driving drunk in Florida. If you drink alcohol you increase your probability of getting in an accident and hurting yourself or someone else. In 2006 alone Florida had 34,638 DUI convictions. That is a huge amount. There are severe consequences to Florida drunk driving.
When getting stopped by a police officer Florida has the "Implied Consent Law" which means that since you signed your driver's license you agree to take blood, urine or breath test. If you refuse to take one of these tests you will have your license suspended for one year. If you reject a second time then your license will be suspended for 18 months.
When a driver gets convicted for a second time there is an ignition interlock device that is installed in the vehicle. Sometimes a judge will order this device for the first DUI. This is a huge pain.
Under age drivers will get severe punishment. Since they shouldn't have any alcohol in their system at all, there is really no limit that is alright. Any limit will be punished with the driver's license being suspended for 6 months.
On your first conviction the judge will order a fine of close to $300 or more. You will receive fifty hours of community service and be on probation for one year. You could also be sentence to 6 months in jail. When the blood alcohol level is found to be more than. 08% or you had a minor in the car while driving drunk then you will get even more jail time and a heftier fine. You license will also be suspended for 6 months and you have to take a DUI course that is 12 hours long. All of this for you FIRST conviction.
If you did not learn the first time and end up with a second DUI conviction the penalties are even more more harsh. The jail time is accumulated to nine months and if there was a minor in the car with you then jail time is 12 calendar months. Your car will also be impounded unless you can testify that your family can't live without it.
Driving drunk in Florida is not a pleasant matter. It is a very difficult offense that can give you a lot of problems to try to work out. It isn't worth it and it is very risky. If you don't want to have these penalties then just don't drive drunk. It's that easy.
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