Recent changes to Florida's DUI laws have increased the penalties for multiple DUI convictions. In Florida, a third DUI offense within ten years of any prior DUI is a third degree felony. Prior to July of 2002 a third DUI within 10 years was a misdemeanor offense. Some jurisdictions will prosecute these cases as misdemeanors.
An Ignition Interlock Device is a device placed inside a vehicle which requires the driver to breathe into a measuring device before the car will start. If any alcohol is detected on the driver's breath the vehicle will not start.
Any person convicted of a second or third DUI offense that intends to obtain a permanent or restricted driver license, will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle at their own expense. The number of DUI convictions determines how long the interlock device must remain in the car. Previous to the new law, Ignition Interlock Devices were only installed in vehicles pursuant to court order. Drivers will now be required to submit proof of the interlock installation to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles before they will be issued a license.
A second refusal to submit to a breath and/or urine test can be charged as a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail. The license suspension will remain at 18 months.
If you have ever had a DUI conviction, you must certainly know that the consequences can be both humiliating and expensive. Aside from the fines, attorney fees, and license suspension, there are the more long-term consequences, such as the impact on your car insurance rates and coverage.
If you are convicted of DUI, more often than not, your insurance company will find out and will deal with you in one of two ways. Typically, your rates will go up, sometimes substantially, or the company will simply cancel your policy. If your insurance company raises your premiums but keeps you as an insured, you will likely be labeled a "high-risk driver." Most states require the insurance company to provide DHSMV with an SR-22 Proof of Insurance Certificate, which removes your license suspension by providing the state with proof that you are insured.
The catch is that not all insurance companies offer SR-22 policies. So your policy may be non-renewed or cancelled simply because the company can no longer provide insurance for you. In some states, insurers can't cut you off in the middle of the policy term, so be sure to check on the laws where you live.
Another less-likely scenario is that your insurance company doesn't find out about your DUI because, for whatever reason, it slips through the cracks. Occasionally, your insurer will not raise your rates or cancel you if you've been a long time insured with no other blemishes on your record. But this is also pretty unlikely.
Call Miami DUI Lawyer Jonathan Blecher at 305.670.1800 and set up a no charge, no obligation consultation to discuss your case. We have over 25 years of experience in handling DUI cases and will put our experience to work for you.