Orlando DUI Laws
Consequences And Penalties
In Orlando, drunk driving laws are subject to the mandatory minimum sentences established by the Florida legislature—which are widely considered some of the toughest in the country. Whether you or someone you know has been charged with breaking drunk driving laws in Orlando, it helps to understand the severity of the penalties in order to mount a solid drunk driving defense.
Penalties for a first offense
The following are the penalties for a simple, first offense infraction of DUI law:
- Driving license suspension: Six months to one year
- Expensive fines: Almost $1,000
- Minimum mandatory penalties/probation period: 12 months
- Community service: 50 hours
- Jail time: Up to six months
- Civil liability: Those who serve or sell alcohol to anyone who causes damage, injury or death as a result of drinking may be held liable for damages (and possibly be charged with a misdemeanor) in Orlando
Drunk driving law penalties, as outlined above, apply when there are no minors present, where blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is measured at above .08 but below .15, and where no serious injuries or deaths occur. When either of these do occur, each can elevate the penalties to higher fines, longer probation and license revocation periods, and longer stretches of time when your vehicle can be impounded.
Additionally, under Florida drunk driving law, the court can—and must, in the case of a .15 BAC or a minor present in the vehicle, as well as for repeat offenders—require that the vehicle driven by the individual have an ignition interlock device installed.
Contact our Orlando drunk driving lawyer today to schedule an initial consultation about your DUI case.
The limitations of field sobriety tests
Different people have different tolerance levels for alcohol, but field sobriety tests administered by law enforcement officials simply look to see if your blood alcohol level is at .08 or at the second threshold, .15 (this usually carries greater penalties). To reach .08—the level that defines you as technically a drunk driver—generally takes five drinks over two hours for a 180 pound man or four drinks in two hours for a 160 pound woman.
Factors altering this can include the amount of food consumed with the alcohol, the impairment of driving can be affected by fatigue, or the presence of prescriptive medications and illegal substances. Drunk driving law does not factor in these differences—only the BAC levels matter.
That said, DUI laws are not the final word on what happens after you are charged with violating a drunk driving law. Circumstances surrounding the traffic stop, the accuracy of a field sobriety test, and other factors may influence the prosecutor to reduce the charges. They can also reduce the penalties and long-term marks on your record made from violating DUI law. In Orlando, the law and courts allows for fair consideration of all factors.
Defend against Orlando DUI charges
Contact Orlando DUI attorney John Namey when you get hit with a drunk-driving charge. The office can help mitigate the damaging effects of a DUI charge on your life and reduce the expenses a conviction incurs.
Keep your license. Keep your mobility. Keep your cash. Talk to John Namey.
