First Florida DUI am I going to jail?
Recently on our legal forum a user asked, I had my 21st birthday celebration two days ago. I got wasted and drove home. Unfortunately, I also got stopped and arrested for my first Florida DUI. I am wondering what penalties I might face and whether I might have to spend time in jail. This is not the way I wanted to start out my life. Can you help me?
Overview of penalties for first DUI in Florida
Like all states, Florida has severe penalties, even for a first-time DUIs. In Florida if you are arrested and charged with DUI and the state can prove impairment of normal faculties or unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of .08 or above its like you will be convicted of DUI. What penalties are you likely to face for your first Florida DUI?- Fines of not less than $500, or more than $1,000. With Blood/Breath Alcohol Level (BAL) of .15 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less than $1,000, or more than $2,000.
- Mandatory 50 hours of community service or additional fines of $10 for each hour of community service required.
- Total period of probation and incarceration up to 1 year but jail time of no more than 6 months. With BAL of .15 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not more than 9 months. Although the court may decide that jail time can be deferred or credited towards a residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment program.
- The court will also require you to complete a DUI alcohol education course before they will reinstate your hardship license.
- License suspension from six months to one year. This criminal license suspension is separate from the administrative license suspension discussed below, but sometimes the suspension can be served consecutively.