Car Drivers and Motorcycle Riders Face Progressive DUI Penalties

Getting arrested for impaired driving or driving under the influence (DUI) in Florida frequently comes with three significant penalties. You will have to pay a fine if you get convicted. You could potentially face jail time, and you will also have to deal with the suspension of your license because of the DUI charges.

In addition to the criminal penalties, there will also be a criminal offense on your record which can influence your life in more ways than one. The penalties even for a first-time impaired driving offense can be inconvenient and frustrating, but the penalties you face will increase with each subsequent charge that you face.

The More Previous Charges You Have, the Steeper the Penalties

While even first-time DUI charges will result in significant penalties, second and third offenses are more serious than first offenses. Those facing impaired driving charges for the first time they have to deal with consequences that include a fine of between $500 and $1,000. They could lose their license for between six months and a year and face up to six months in jail.

For a second offense within five years of the prior DUI charge, the fine increases to as much as $2,000, the license suspension increases to five years and the possible incarceration could last up to nine months. Third offenses within 10 years can result in a 10-year license revocation, at least 30 days in jail but up to a year and up to $5,000 in fines.

Obviously, the more previous charges you have on your record, the more serious the situation is. However, given the escalating penalties involved, fighting back by defending yourself after even a first-time charge can be a good decision.