Tampa Criminal Attorney Helps Individuals Understand Florida DUI Laws
Tampa DUI attorneys know the Florida laws can help clients with their first driving under the influence offense or their third or fourth DUI arrest.
The Florida DUI laws are pretty straightforward and are in line with several other states in the amount of a person’s BAL – blood alcohol level – the amount of alcohol they can have in their system before they are pronounced legally drunk and unable to operate a motor vehicle – which includes motorcycles and motorboats on all waterways. The BAL for a first offense in Florida is 0.08 or above with the convictions and penalties the same despite of the manner in which the offense was confirmed.
The fee schedule for a DUI in Florida is broken down by convictions with the first conviction being not less than $500 or more than $1,000 with a blood alcohol level – BAL of .15 or higher or the driver could have a minor in the vehicle and still be charged: not less than $1,000 or more than $2,000. For a second conviction the fee is not less than $1,000 or more than $2,000 with a BAL .15 or higher or a minor in the vehicle: not less than $2,000 or more than $4,000. The third conviction has to be more than 10 years from the second conviction and will be charged not less than $2,000 or more than $5,000 with a BAL of .15 or higher or a minor in the vehicle: not less than $4,000.
A Tampa criminal attorney explains that someone charged with a DUI also receives mandatory community service – on the first offense there is 50 hours of community service or an additional fine of $10 foeach hour of community service not performed.
Probation could be offered on a first conviction with the total period of incarceration and probation not to exceed one year.
Imprisonment is at the court’s discretion and sentencing may be served at a residential drug or alcoholism treatment program which would be credited toward the term of imprisonment. On the first conviction, someone would receive not more than six months, with a BAL of .15 or higher or minor in the vehicle: not more than nine months. On the second conviction, not more than nine months, with a BAL of .15 or higher or minor in the vehicle: not more than 12 months.