If you or a loved one is charged with driving under the influence (DUI), it can be a stressful and perhaps confusing time. Not all DUI charges are the same, which means not all fines are the same. Depending on the severity and number of convictions, the fines can range from $500 to sometimes over $1 million. There is never a good time for a DUI, but if you have been charged with driving under the influence, Integrity Bail Bonds can help you navigate through a difficult time.

Florida DUI penalties

There are many factors in determining the severity of a driving under the influence (DUI) charge in Florida:

• Blood Alcohol Level - In Florida, a driver is considered impaired if their blood alcohol level exceeds .08. This includes not only alcohol, but also chemical or controlled substances like marijuana or medications. It should be noted that the threshold for a DUI drops to .04 if the person is driving a commercial vehicle. If the blood alcohol level is .15 or higher, that is considered an aggravated DUI and carries steeper penalties. 

• Number Of Offenses - There is no such thing as a good DUI charge, but the most lenient is for first time offenders with no prior convictions. The fine is usually between $500-1,000, a one-year probationary period and 50 hours of community service. There are also diversion programs that can lessen some of the insurance burdens. 

If there is a second offense within five years, then the consequences become worse. The fines double, there is mandatory 10 days in jail and the driver’s license is revoked for five years. That can be reduced to one year after enrollment in a substance abuse program. 

A third offense is ten years means 30 days in jail, fines reaching as high as $5,000 and the driver’s license suspension of ten years or more. Of course, if any of these infractions are considered an aggravated DUI, fines and jail time doubles. Second and third offenses are felonies.  

• Was There a Death? - If you are driving under the influence and a person dies from your negligence, you can be charged with DUI manslaughter, which is considered a second-degree felony and carries a $10,000 fine and a mandatory four-year prison sentence. 

• Was There Property Damage or Injury? - If it is determined a driver caused damage to property or injured another person while intoxicated, it’s a first-degree misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail.

Clearly, being charged with driving under the influence never good. Expect to be booked and processed before being held in jail for a period of time before you can be released. In order to be released you must be able to post bail, if you are unable to be released on your own recognizance. Either way, you must agree to appear in court. Failure to do so will result in a warrant for your arrest.  

If you need a bail bond for a DUI charge in Pinellas County, we can help

At Integrity Bail Bonds, our DUI bail bondsmen are available 24/7, 365 days a year to help answer any questions and help get you or your loved ones home quickly and safely. Located in Clearwater, across from the Pinellas County jail, we’ll work with you on payments if necessary and you don’t always need collateral for a DUI bail bond in Pinellas County. Call us at 727-592-0744 or contact us online. We have more than two decades of experience working with DUI bail bonds in Clearwater and throughout Tampa Bay and promise to be professional and compassionate during an otherwise unpleasant time.