Florida DUI Law Overview

Florida drivers should be aware of the state's DUI laws and the potential penalties they face for a first DUI conviction.

2012-07-11

July 11, 2012 (Press-News.org) Over the years lawmakers have focused their attention on laws governing drinking and driving, and Florida's driving under the influence laws have grown increasingly severe. Acceptable blood alcohol contents have decreased while fines and jail sentences have increased. Florida drivers should be aware of the state's DUI laws and the potential penalties they face for a first DUI conviction.

Driving Under the Influence

A driver can violate Florida's DUI laws by driving or being "in actual physical control" of a vehicle while either:
-Having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent of higher, also known as "DUI per se," or
-Having his or her "normal faculties" impaired by alcohol or any chemical substance

Potential Penalties

The potential penalties that a person faces for a first DUI conviction in Florida can be severe:
-Jail: A person convicted of a first DUI offense in Florida faces up to six months in jail. The potential jail time increases to nine months if the driver's B.A.C. was higher than 0.15 or if a minor was in the vehicle at the time of the offense. However, a judge may order the person to serve the time in a residential alcohol or drug treatment facility rather than in jail.
-Probation: In addition to possible jail time, a person can receive a probation term. The total jail and probation period for a first offense cannot exceed one year.
-Fines: The fines for a first DUI conviction range from $500 to $1,000. If the driver had a BAC higher than 0.15 percent or there was a minor in the vehicle at the time of the offense, the potential fines increase from $1,000 to $2,000.
-Community service: Those convicted of DUI must serve 50 hours of community service, or pay an additional fine of $10 per hour of community service ordered.
-Driver's license revocation: A person convicted of a DUI loses his or her driver's license for at least 180 days and possibly for as long as a year.
-Vehicle impounding: The police will impound a driver's vehicle for 10 days if the driver is convicted of DUI.

Consult an Attorney

Authorities in Florida take drinking and driving offenses very seriously. They vigorously prosecute such cases to the fullest extent possible. If you are facing DUI charges, do not hesitate to talk to a seasoned criminal defense attorney who can advocate for your rights just as diligently as the state is trying to prosecute.

Article provided by Law Office of Casey Bryant, P.A.
Visit us at http://www.bryantlegal.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

"Call of Duty" Gaming Lawsuit Seeks $400 Million in Damages

2012-07-11

Article provided by Klein & Wilson Visit us at http://www.kleinandwilson.com When Activision launched the record-setting "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" to a $400 million dollar opening-day release in the U.S. and U.K. on Nov. 8, 2011, it was already embroiled in a $400 million lawsuit with rival Electronic Arts. The lawsuit, filed in March of 2010, alleges that EA aided and abetted two top executives for the Infinity Ward development studio in breaching their fiduciary duty to Activision. Infinity Ward is the game developer which created several of the ...

SSA Reviewing Benefit Criteria for Neurological Disorders

2012-07-11

In May 2012, the Social Security Administration announced that it would review the criteria it uses to determine whether applicants with neurological disorders qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. The SSA plans to solicit public comments on the proposed changes to its Listing of Impairments after it publishes a Notice of Proposed Rule Making. The review is part of the SSA's Annual Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2013. Changes to the SSA's Listing of Impairments for neurological disorders could have a large impact on people ...

Avoid These Common Workplace Injuries

2012-07-11

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 3.1 million employees reported a nonfatal on-the-job injury or illness in 2010. Over half of these injuries resulted in missed days from work, job transfers or work restrictions. Employees should be aware of some of the more common types of workplace injuries and what steps they can take to prevent them. Falls, Slips and Trips Many workplaces have slippery surfaces or multiple levels. Employees can slip and fall on the same level or can fall from one level to the next, resulting in serious injuries such as sprains, broken ...

New Jersey DUI Basics: Blood Alcohol Testing

2012-07-11

In New Jersey, a person is considered legally intoxicated and can be charged with Driving Under the Influence if his or her blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent or above while operating a motor vehicle. Prosecutors can use evidence of a person's BAC, obtained through a blood test, breath test or Alcotest, to prove in court that a person is guilty of DUI. How BAC Testing Works When a person consumes alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the mouth and digestive system. However, the chemical structure of the alcohol is not changed by the absorption process, ...

Important Things to Know About Living Trusts

2012-07-11

Most people know that they should have wills to distribute their assets and provide for their families after they are gone. However, a will is not the only way that people can accomplish that goal. A popular estate planning tool is a living trust. A living trust can offer people some advantages over a will, and people should understand what a trust is and how it may help them. What Is a Living Trust? A living trust is a legal arrangement that governs a person's property while the creator is still alive. The trust document names three parties: -The grantor: the person ...

Estate Planning Without a Lawyer Is Risky

2012-07-11

With the easy availability of so many legal forms online costing little or no money, many people are completing "do-it-yourself" estate plans. Some question the need to spend the money to hire a lawyer for help with the process when they can do it for so little themselves. Others believe that having some kind of estate plan in place is better than not planning at all, even if it is something that a person drafts on his or her own. However, people run the risk of creating major problems for their survivors if they choose to make wills, trusts and other estate planning ...

Grimaldi's Pizzeria Continues its Expansion in Mt. Pleasant South Carolina

2012-07-11

Grimaldi's Pizzeria, famously known for their award-winning hand-tossed, coal-fired brick oven pizzas and calzones, fresh salads and delicious desserts is announcing its latest expansion move into the state of South Carolina. Located in Mt. Pleasant Towncenter, the restaurant will offer 4,000-square-feet of indoor dining and patio space, for 150 guests. Opening late this summer, guests will be welcomed by Frank Sinatra crooning in the background, more than 100-years of pizza making traditions, and the tantalizing aroma of pizza and calzones baked to perfection in the ...

Perry Passyflyer Takes Flight For Your Child

2012-07-11

Authors Katie Eshleman, Elizabeth Arnold, and Danielle Stanely grew up together in Hunterdon County, NJ. Now as mothers, they understand the plight of parents when that certain age hits and it is time to take away a child's prized possession. Giving up the "binky", "paci", or "dummy" can be a struggle for even the most patient of nurturers. They have found a way to make this experience a joyful and adventurous journey. Katie, a mother of three daughters, approached the writing of Perry Passyflyer with both humor and heart. "I was sure ...

JTM Food Group Introduces New IQF Crumbles Line and added Healthy Menu Offerings at 2012 School Nutrition Association (SNA) Conference

2012-07-11

JTM Food Group, a national leader in creating menu solutions for the food service industry, will introduce several new products at the School Nutrition Association's (SNA) 2012 National Conference in Denver, CO. The new offerings will be sampled by school directors from coast-to-coast and from border-to-border as more than 4,000 school nutrition professionals are scheduled to attend the show. JTM, which provides menu items to half of all schools in the United States, which is more than 12.8 million K-12 students across the country, has focused its research and development ...

IC-TAG Solutions, Inc. New RFID Offering to the Healthcare Industry: Latest RFID Solutions

2012-07-11

Since the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) implemented new safety goals, there have been new advances in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) implementation in the Healthcare Industry. The healthcare system uses a wide variety of processes to track patient information, from different types of insurances requiring claims in specific formats to different details and transactions from healthcare providers and clearing houses. RFID has the potential to combine different processes and improve communication, productivity and accuracy of the ...

Florida DUI Law Overview

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: