DUI & Traffic Crimes
DUI in Florida: Penalties, License Suspension & What to Expect
What Florida law says about DUI: the legal limit, the penalties for a first and a repeat conviction, the administrative license suspension,…
Topic
DUI & Traffic Crimes
Florida DUI law, license suspensions, breath-test rules, and serious traffic offenses.
Florida’s DUI law is section 316.193, Florida Statutes. A person commits DUI by driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while their normal faculties are impaired, or with a blood- or breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher. A DUI arrest also triggers an administrative license suspension with a 10-day deadline to request review. This topic also covers other criminal traffic offenses, including reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene of a crash.
Guides
Florida statutes on this topic
Plain-language summaries, each linked to the official text.
- F.S. §316.027 — Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death or Injury Requires a driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death to stop and remain at the scene, and makes leaving a felony.
- F.S. §316.192 — Reckless Driving Defines reckless driving as driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, and sets its penalties.
- F.S. §316.193 — Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Defines DUI in Florida and sets the fines, jail terms, and other penalties for a first and for repeat convictions.
- F.S. §322.34 — Driving While License Suspended, Revoked, Canceled, or Disqualified Sets the consequences for driving on a suspended or revoked license, which depend on whether the driver knew of the suspension and on prior convictions.
Key terms
- Hardship License
- A restricted driving privilege allowing travel for work, school, medical, and church purposes during a suspension.
- Implied Consent
- The Florida rule that anyone who drives in the state is deemed to have agreed to an approved breath or urine test after a lawful DUI arrest. Refusing…
Official resources
Government and bar sources for checking the current law and procedures.
- Florida StatutesThe Florida Senate (opens in a new tab)
- Florida Rules of Criminal ProcedureThe Florida Bar (opens in a new tab)
- Florida CourtsFlorida State Courts System (opens in a new tab)
- Seal and Expunge ProcessFlorida Department of Law Enforcement (opens in a new tab)
- Driver licenses and suspensionsFlorida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (opens in a new tab)
- Lawyer Referral ServiceThe Florida Bar (opens in a new tab)