The High Cost of Drunk Driving in Florida

You could be injured in a Florida drunk driving accident at any time of the year, but Halloween is an especially dangerous time to be on the road. Halloween is one of the deadliest nights of the year for impaired driving crashes. According to the 2008 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 58 percent of all highway fatalities that occurred on Halloween night (between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.) involved a driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

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The price of driving under the influence of alcohol is more than a monetary. Impaired driving is one of the most common and most deadly crimes.There are over 30,000 DUI convictions in Florida each year. Don’t let yourself become one of the statistics. Keep the following in mind if you are even tempted to drive home after a night of drinking:

• Florida has a zero tolerance law for drivers under 21 years old. This means that any driver under 21 who is stopped and is found to have a BAC of .02 or higher will automatically have their Florida driver’s license suspended for six months.

• If you are over the age of 21, the legal blood alcohol limit for driving is .08. Regardless of this higher level, always be aware that no matter how much you drink, your driving can still be affected.

• If you drink and drive, you could face heavy fines and penalties, such as:
  • Jail time
  • Installation of ignition interlock device
  • Loss of driver’s license
  • Substantially higher insurance rates
  • DUI conviction on your driving record

• The penalties for your first DUI conviction in Florida are:
  • $250 to $500 fine
  • 50 hours of community service
  • Not more than one year of probation
  • Not more than six months of imprisonment
  • Not more than nine months of imprisonment if you have a minor in the vehicle
  • Minimum of 180 days license revocation
  • 12 hours of DUI school

• If you kill someone while driving under the influence, you will face DUI manslaughter charges. This is a second degree felony with high penalties and up to 15 years in jail.

Don’t let your fun night end in an arrest – or worse – death. Always plan ahead and think twice before getting behind the wheel. If you feel buzzed or have any doubts about your driving ability or BAC level, don’t drive.

If someone you love has been seriously or fatally injured by the negligent decisions of a drunk driver, you need to contact an attorney. Contact a Palm Beach accident attorney at Fetterman & Associates for a free consultation regarding your rights and options after a devastating Florida auto accident.