Florida Dui Laws And Penalties
Florida’s legal limit is 0.08 BAC, with penalties that escalate based on your record and case facts. A first DUI may bring fines, probation, license suspension, community service, DUI school, and possible ignition interlock if BAC is high; repeat offenses and crashes with injuries raise stakes significantly. We explain what to expect in Miami-Dade courts and map the fastest path to protecting your record and driving privileges.
How We Defend Dui Charges
Every case starts with a challenge to the stop, detention, and arrest. We scrutinize bodycam footage, field sobriety instructions, breathalyzer maintenance and operator certification, blood draw chain of custody, and implied consent warnings. When appropriate, we negotiate strategic reductions that limit criminal exposure and collateral fallout for work and travel—especially for cases originating on US-1, Ponce de Leon, or near Miracle Mile.
Protecting Your License Immediately
You have just 10 days from arrest to request a DMV hearing to contest administrative suspension. We file on time, seek a hardship permit when eligible, and manage both the criminal case and DHSMV process so you’re not sidelined from work or family responsibilities in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, or Brickell. For broader context on criminal cases, see our criminal defense overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dui Defense
Can I beat a DUI in Florida?
Yes—many cases are defensible. A Coral Gables DUI lawyer can challenge the traffic stop, field sobriety instructions, breath-test maintenance and calibration, implied-consent warnings, and bodycam discrepancies. Weak links in any of these areas can lead to suppression of evidence, charge reductions, or dismissal.
Will I lose my license after a DUI arrest in Miami?
Not automatically, but you must act fast. You have 10 days to request a DHSMV hearing to contest the administrative suspension. A Miami DUI defense attorney can file the request, pursue a hardship permit when eligible, and coordinate both the court case and DMV process to keep you driving.
What are the penalties for a first DUI in Florida?
Penalties can include fines, probation, DUI school, community service, license suspension, and possible ignition interlock for high BAC (0.15+) or minors in the vehicle. Jail exposure increases with aggravators or repeat offenses. An experienced DUI attorney near me will explain what applies to your facts and work to limit the impact.
Should I refuse a breath test in Florida?
Refusal triggers a separate license suspension under Florida’s implied-consent law (longer if you’ve refused before) and may be used as evidence in court. A Coral Gables DUI lawyer will evaluate whether the refusal helps or hurts your defense and pursue strategies to challenge the stop and arrest.
Can a DUI be reduced to reckless driving?
Sometimes. Reductions depend on BAC level, accident or injury, prior record, and evidentiary strength. A Miami DUI defense attorney negotiates from a trial-ready posture—using motions practice and discovery issues to seek a reduction to reckless or another disposition when appropriate.
Experience You Can Count On
From first offenders to cases with high BAC, accidents, or refusals, we’re trial-ready and prepared to file motions to suppress or dismiss when the facts warrant. When substances other than alcohol are alleged, we coordinate toxicology and challenge observations to avoid unreliable “drugged driving” conclusions—often overlapping with strategies used in drug crimes matters.