DUI Laws in Florida

Consequences of Getting a DUI in Florida

The ripple effects of having a DUI conviction on your record can be life-changing. 

• Lack of independence: With a revoked license comes a significant loss of freedom, as you will have to rely on others to get you where you want to go.
• Trouble finding a job: Few hiring managers are willing to overlook such a grievous lapse of judgment as driving while intoxicated. They might see you as unreliable or untrustworthy as a result of your DUI, even if you have all the qualifications for a position. 
• Child endangerment: If you get a DUI with a minor in your car, you could face felony charges and lose custody of your child.
• Legal and financial issues: In addition to the fines associated with getting a DUI in Florida, you will need to hire an attorney to represent you in court. Your car insurance rates will also go up, since having a DUI conviction puts you in a high-risk category. You may have to pay medical bills for yourself or others if you got into an accident while driving under the influence. DUIs that severely injure or kill someone else are felonies.  

Court-Ordered Substance Abuse Counseling

After a DUI in Florida, a judge may order you to enroll in substance abuse treatment. Participation in random drug and alcohol screenings might also be a condition of your probation. The goal of these court-mandated interventions is to prevent repeat DUI offenses, improve public safety and encourage people who drive under the influence to address the mental and behavioral health issues that caused them to get themselves in trouble. 

By requiring you to participate in counseling or drug testing, a judge hopes to lessen the burden on Florida’s prison system while keeping you accountable to the greater good. 

How You Can Prevent Drunk Driving

The most practical way to ensure you don’t get a DUI in Florida is to stop drinking and using drugs. Here are some other helpful tips to keep you from recklessly getting behind the wheel when you are under the influence. 

• Arrange for a taxi or ridesharing service to pick you up and drop you off. 
• If you’re going to an event where alcohol will be readily available, reserve a room in a nearby hotel. 
• Ask a sober friend to be your designated driver, or pledge to be a designated driver for someone else. 

Have You Gotten Charged With DUI?

Getting arrested for driving under the influence can be a pivotal point in your life because it unmistakably demonstrates the consequences of your actions. If your drinking and drug use is interfering with your relationships, quality of life or ability to carry out your responsibilities, there is no time like the present to seek help. 

Beach House is an accredited Florida drug and alcohol treatment facility that offers clinically excellent practices and an industry-leading therapist-to-client ratio. We believe love and connection are the opposite of the isolation and shame that often accompany addiction. To learn more about how you can find freedom at our secluded beachfront facility, contact our admissions counselors today.