Sarasota DUI FAQ

In Florida, a DUI can occur when your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is:

• All drivers: 0.08% or higher
• Underage drivers: 0.02% or higher
• Commercial drivers: 0.04% or higher

It is not just alcohol that counts. Driving while impaired by drugs, even prescription medications, can land you with a DUI.

Florida law outlines the penalties. They can vary, depending on whether it’s your first time or you’re a repeat offender. Here’s what you’re looking at:

• First offense: You might pay $500 to $1,000 in fines, spend up to six months in jail, lose your license for up to a year, and be required to take DUI school.
• Second offense: Fines jump from $1,000 to $2,000, and you could be in jail for up to nine months.
• Third offense (within 10 years): Now, this is considered a felony, with up to five years in prison and a revoked license.

The penalties get worse if someone is hurt or killed in a DUI accident.

If you’re under 21, Florida has a zero-tolerance policy. That means even a small amount of alcohol (BAC of 0.02%) can result in:

• Six months of license suspension for a first offense.
• One year of suspension for a second offense.

Underage drivers with a BAC of 0.08% or higher are treated the same as adults, facing fines, probation, and possibly jail time. You might also have to attend a substance abuse course.

Sarasota’s beaches and sunsets attract people from all over, but Florida does not go easy on out-of-state drivers. If you’re arrested for DUI while visiting, Florida shares that information with your home state through the Driver License Compact (DLC) and Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC).

This can mean your Florida license suspension can carry over to your home state. Even if you leave Florida, you will still need to handle Florida’s penalties, like DUI school or probation.

Working with an experienced Sarasota attorney can make this process a little less stressful.

If you work as a commercial driver, there is more at stake. A BAC of just 0.04% can lead to serious consequences, such as:

• First offense: You can lose your commercial driver’s license (CDL) for a year.
• Second offense: You could face a permanent revocation of your CDL.

If you’re hauling hazardous materials, the penalties are even stricter.

Most DUIs are misdemeanors, but some situations bump them up to felony status. This can include:

• Three DUIs within 10 years of each other.
• Four or more DUIs, no matter whether someone was injured or not.
• DUI causing serious injury to someone else.

Felony DUIs come with steep fines, up to five years in prison, and permanent loss of your license. Along with that, you will have a felony record. In turn, that can affect job prospects and other parts of your life.

This is the worst-case scenario. DUI manslaughter happens when someone dies because of your impaired driving. In Florida, that is a second-degree felony, and the penalties are life-altering. This can include:

• Up to 15 years in prison (or 30 if you flee the scene)
• Fines up to $10,000
• Permanent license revocation

First, you will want to stay calm and cooperate with law enforcement. If you argue or refuse to follow instructions, it will only make things worse. After that, you will want to:

• Call a DUI attorney When you have someone who knows the system, they can help you avoid common pitfalls.
• Request a formal review hearing within 10 days to fight your license suspension.

Your attorney can guide you through the process, explain your options, and possibly reduce the charges or penalties.

Technically, yes. However, it comes with consequences. Florida has an implied consent law. With your driving privileges, you have already agreed to take a breath, blood, or urine test if you’re arrested for DUI. Refusing the test means:

• First refusal: Your license is suspended for one year.
• Second refusal: Your license is suspended for 18 months, and you’re charged with a misdemeanor.

State prosecutors can use it as evidence that you were impaired.

After a DUI, your car insurance will skyrocket. Florida requires you to carry FR-44 insurance. This comes with higher coverage limits and costs. Some insurers might even cancel your policy.

Yes, with the right legal help. An attorney can challenge:

• Whether the traffic stop was legal
• The accuracy of the breathalyzer or sobriety tests
• Whether police followed proper procedures

Sometimes, DUI charges can be reduced to reckless driving. This offense has lighter penalties. In rare cases, charges may even be dismissed if the state’s evidence is weak.

The best way to avoid a DUI is easy: don’t drink and drive. Sarasota has plenty of options to help you stay safe, such as:

• Use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft
• Assign a designated driver before heading out
• If you’ve had a drink, wait it out or stay overnight

Planning ahead can save you from the legal, financial, and emotional toll of a DUI.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t help after you have been charged with an offense. If you have another Sarasota DUI FAQ, reach out to Titan Law.