It’s no secret that DUI laws in Florida are tough, and are enforced strictly. But how strict is our state compared with the rest of the country? It may not be surprising, particularly to people who have ever faced DUI charges, that enforcement of Florida’s laws regarding drunk driving are among the strictest in the country.
A study published last summer found that overall, Florida ranked 14th out of the 50 states when it comes to drunk driving enforcement. This means that our state is above average overall in terms of enforcing drunk driving penalties, and is actually well above the average in certain key components of DUI enforcement.
Every state has a version of drunk and/or impaired driving laws, so putting them side by side can yield some useful information by way of comparison from state to state. The survey looked at 15 components of states’ drunk driving laws and how they are enforced. Some of the highest rankings that Florida received include:
- Length of time old DUI convictions have an impact on new penalties (6th-strictest in the country)
- Minimum fines (4th for first offense, 6th for second offense)
- Administrative driver’s license suspension (2nd in the country)
Being arrested and charged with DWI/DUI is never going to be a simple process, even in a state where enforcement of laws is less strict. In South Florida, it’s especially crucial for people who are facing these types of charges to make sure they have aggressive representation from an experienced criminal defense law firm.
