Mistakes That Cost You

DUI's are expensive. If you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, you could wind up paying for:

• Court costs
• Attorney fees
• Bail fees
• DUI education programs (these programs can cost up to $2,500!)
• Car towing or impoundment
• Alternative transportation costs (since your license be suspended)
• Driver's license reinstatement fee (once you meet all of the requirements)
• Car ignition interlock device (which can cost close to $200 to install and $80 per month to maintain)
• Increase in car insurance (in the five years following a DUI, the car insurance bill can increase by $5,000 to $10,000!)

Taking all of these costs into account, a first-time DUI conviction in Florida could cost around $12,675 ("What to Expect...", n.d). However, the actual cost of a DUI could be much higher.

The State of Florida is serious about keeping the roads safe. With every DUI, there will be steep penalties, but, with every additional DUI the penalties get worse.

First DUI

• Your license will be revoked for 180 days to a year, however, if you caused a serious injury, you can expect your license to be revoked for at least 3 years
• Fines will be between $500 and $1000, however, if you had a BAL of .15% or higher or were driving with a minor in the car, the fines could range from $1000 to $2000
• You will be required to serve 50 hours of mandatory community service, or pay an additional fine of $10 per community service hour required
• At the court's discretion, you could be imprisoned for no more than 6 months (or, if there was a minor in the car or the driver had BAC of .15 or higher the term of imprisonment is no longer than 9 months)
• Mandatory DUI school if you wish to obtain a hardship license
• You must obtain a certification of liability insurance in the form of an FR-44 which will need to be maintained for 3 years
• Required to have a mandatory ignition interlock device for up to six months for individuals convicted with a BAC of .15

Second DUI

DUI offense occurring not within 5 years of a previous conviction

• 180 day to 1 year revocation
• Fines will be between $1000 and $2000, however, if you had a BAL of .15% or higher or were driving with a minor in the car, the fines could range from $2000 to $4000
• A mandatory ignition interlock device will be installed in your vehicle for one year, however, if the BAC was greater than .20 then the interlock device will be installed for two years
• At the court's discretion, you may be imprisoned for up to 9 months (if there was a minor in the car or the driver's BAC was .15 or higher imprisonment may be up to 12 months)

DUI occurring within 5 years of the first conviction

• Driver's license will be revoked for 5 years, however you can apply for a hardship license after one year
• Mandatory imprisonment of at least 10 days where 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive
• Fines will be between $1000 and $2000, however, if you had a BAL of .15% or higher or were driving with a minor in the car, the fines could range from $2000 to $4000
• At the court's discretion, you may be imprisoned for up to 9 months (if there was a minor in the car or the driver's BAC was .15 or higher imprisonment may be up to 12 months)
• Following the conviction, DUI school must be completed
• You will have to remain in a DUI supervision program for the remainder of the revocation period (failure to report for counseling or treatment will result in the cancellation of a hardship license)
• You must obtain a certification of liability insurance in the form of an FR-44 which will need to be maintained for 3 years

Third DUI

Third conviction within 10 years

• Mandatory imprisonment of at least 30 days, where 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive
• 10 year license revocation, where you must serve two years of this revocation before you are allowed to apply for a hardship license
• Mandatory DUI school if you wish to obtain a hardship license
• You must obtain a certification of liability insurance in the form of an FR-44 which will need to be maintained for 3 years

Third conviction in more than 10 years

• At the court's discretion, you may be imprisoned for up to 12 months
• Fines will be between $2000 and $5000, however, if you had a BAL of .15% or higher or were driving with a minor in the car, the fines cannot be less than $4000.
• Not eligible for a hardship license
• DUI School
• You must obtain a certification of liability insurance in the form of an FR-44 which will need to be maintained for 3 years

Sources:

Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. (n.d). 
Drunk Driving Fatalities - National Statistics. 
http://responsibility.org/drunk-driving/drunk-driving-fatalities-national-statistics
What to Expect for the Cost of a DUI Offense Case in Florida. 
http://www.fightduicharges.com/florida/what-is-the-cost-of-a-dui-in-florida/
FLHSMV. Driving Under the Influence (DUI). http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/dlfaqson2a.html
FLHSMV. Florida DUI and Administrative Suspension Laws. 
http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/duilaws.html