Florida has the third most drunk-driving fatalities in the United States behind California and North Carolina. In the year 2021, Florida saw more than 43,700 DUI tickets issued. Drunk driving is a serious issue in the state of Florida, and it puts every single driver on the road, pedestrians, and cyclists at risk.
What Is Florida’s Legal BAC Limit?
Each state has a legal BAC limit, and in Florida the blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08%. For drivers under the age of 21, Florida has a zero-tolerance policy – so any amount of alcohol detected, even well below 0.08%, is considered a DUI. If the driver is operating a commercial vehicle of any kind, the BAC limit drops to 0.04%.
DUI doesn’t only mean driving under the influence of alcohol, but any harmful or illegal substance that alters or hinders ones judgement or ability to operate a vehicle.
What Is The Penalty For A DUI In Florida?
The penalties issued for a DUI in Florida largely depends on past offenses. The penalties may include:
• First time DUI – Up to 6 months in jail, fines of between $500 and $1,000, license revocation of 180 days to 1 year, potential 6 months with ignition interlock device.
• Second offense – Up to 9 months in jail, $1,000-2,000 fine, 180 days to 1 year license revocation, 2 years with ignition interlock device.
• Misdemeanor 3rd offense – If a driver has no prior offenses for 10 years, but then are charged with a third DUI offense, it’s considered a misdemeanor third offense. This offense comes with a jail sentence of up to 12 months, a $2,000 to $5,000 fine, 180 days to 1 year license revocation, and 2 years with an ignition interlock device.
• Felony 3rd offense – When a motorist has a second DUI offense, and obtains a third within 10 years it is considered a felony 3rd offense. This may come along with 30 days to 5 years in jail, a $2,000 to $5,000 fine, 10 year minimum license revocation, and the installation of an ignition interlock device for 2 years.
DUI offenses that involve accidents carry with them steeper penalties in Florida. A first-degree misdemeanor DUI offense with property damage will have an additional fine of up to $1,000. A DUI crash that causes serious injury is considered a third-degree felony with 4 to 5 years in prison as well as a fine of up to $5,000 and a minimum 3-year license revocation. A DUI crash that results in fatality is a second-degree felony, which comes along with 4 to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, and permanent drivers license revocation. DUI accidents resulting in fatality are referred to as DUI manslaughter.
Impaired Driving Fatalities In Florida
Impaired driving accidents are often deadly, and in the year 2021 there were just under 800 Floridians who had fallen victim to fatal DUI accidents. In all, 2021 saw more than 15,000 DUI related accidents in total throughout the state of Florida. Each time a motorist consumes alcohol and takes to the road, they put themselves and all other motorists at immediate risk.
No motorist expects to run into a drunk driver when they take to the road in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, or any part of Florida. Unfortunately, these surprises do occur and the consequences are often devastating. If you’ve been in an accident with an intoxicated driver in Florida, it’s important to know that you’re not going to have to face this process alone. To learn more, contact us at JusticePays.com.