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This section of the Florida Drivers Handbook explains license suspensions, revocations, and cancellations. It also explains the points system for different traffic tickets, the Florida DUI laws, and Florida auto insurance requirements.
Driving a motor vehicle in Florida is a privilege you earn. You cannot get a license in Florida under the following conditions:
Every driver who obtains a license must drive safely to keep it. If you break the traffic laws or become an unsafe driver, your license can be taken away. It can be suspended, revoked, or canceled.
Topics Addressed in this section of the Florida Driver Handbook include:
Your license can be SUSPENDED if you:
Your license must be REVOKED if you are found guilty of, or department records show:
A court may also order that your license be revoked for certain other traffic offenses.
Your license will be revoked for at least three years if you kill someone because of reckless driving.
Cancellation If your license was issued because of a mistake or fraud (giving false information or identification), it will be cancelled.
| Violation | Violation Points |
|---|---|
| Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage of more than $50 | 6 |
| Unlawful speed resulting in an accident | 6 |
| Reckless driving | 4 |
| Any moving violation resulting in an accident | 4 |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 4 |
| Driving During Restricted Hours | 3 |
| Unlawful speed — 16 MPH or more over lawful or posted speed | 4 |
| Unlawful speed — 15 MPH or less over lawful or posted speed | 3 |
| (Fines are doubled when infractions occur within a school zone or construction zone, with possible civil penalties up to $1,000 and can be required to complete driving school course.) | |
| All other moving violations (including parking on a highway outside the limits of municipalities) | 3 |
| Violation of curfew | 3 |
| Open container as an operator | 3 |
| Child restraint violation | 3 |
The driver receives the same number of points listed if the conviction occurs out-of-state or in a federal court.
| Length of Suspension | Not More than |
|---|---|
| 12 points within a 12-month period | 30 Days |
| 18 points within an 18-month period | 3 Months |
| 24 points within a 36-month period | 1 Year |
In computing points and suspensions, the offense dates of all convictions are used. Three points will be deducted from the driver record of any person whose driving privilege has been suspended only once under the point system and has been reinstated, if such person has complied with all other requirements.
NOTE: Serving a point suspension does not prohibit these convictions from being used to accumulate additional suspensions or revocations.
Mandatory Restriction For Minors Any driver under the age of 18 who accumulates six or more points within a 12 month period is automatically restricted for one year to driving for "Business Purposes ONLY". If additional points are accumulated the restriction is extended for 90 days for every additional point received.
A licensed Florida driver who is under the age of 17 may not operate a motor vehicle between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a driver, who is 21 years of age or older and holds a valid driver license, or the operator is driving to or from work. A licensed driver who is 17 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle between 1:00 a.m and 5:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a driver, who is 21 years of age or older and holds a valid driver license, or the operator is driving to and from work.
If your Florida driving privilege is suspended or revoked you may be eligible to apply for a hardship license or reinstatement. For eligibility information, contact the local Bureau of Administrative Reviews office, driver licenses office or the Customer Service Center in Tallahassee. In many cases you can complete a 12-hour Advanced Driver Improvement course (with approval) to get a hardship license
You can be charged with DUI if you are found to be driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances. Controlled substances include: prescription drugs, depressants, stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens and inhalants. You will be administratively suspended if you have a breath or blood alcohol level of .08 or above or refuse to submit to a chemical test. This suspension requires a mandatory period without a license. If you wish to appeal this suspension, you must apply for a formal or informal review hearing at the appropriate Division of Driver Licenses or Bureau of Administrative Reviews office within 10 days of your date of arrest. This suspension is in addition to any penalties directed by the court.
Any driver under 21 years of age who is stopped by law enforcement and has a breath or blood alcohol level of .02 or higher will automatically have their driving privilege suspended for 6 months. Any driver under 21 with a breath or blood alcohol level of .05 or higher is required to attend a substance abuse course. An evaluation will be completed and parents or legal guardians will be notified of the results for all drivers under the age of 19. Any driver who has a breath or blood alcohol level of .08 or higher can be convicted for driving under the influence (DUI). If the driver refuses to take a test, their driving privilege is automatically suspended for one year.
(including previous DWI and DUBAL convictions)
| First Conviction | |
|---|---|
| Fine | $250-$500 with BAL .08 or higher or minor in the vehicle, not less than $500 or more than $1000 |
| Community Service | 50 Hours |
| Probation | Not more than 1 year |
| Imprisonment | Not more than 6 months; with BAL .08 or higher or minor in the vehicle, not more than 9 months |
| License Revocation | Minimum 180 days |
| DUI School | 12 hours |
| DUI School Requirement | Evaluation conducted to determine need for treatment |
| Second Offense/Conviction | |
|---|---|
| Fine | $500-$1000 with BAL .08 or higher or minor in the vehicle, not less than $1000 or more than $2000 |
| Imprisonment | Not more than 9 months; 2nd conviction within 5 years, 10 days in jail, 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive |
| License Revocation | Minimum 180 days |
| DUI School | 21 hours |
| DUI School Requirement | Evaluation conducted to determine need for treatment |
| Third Offense/Conviction | |
|---|---|
| Fine | $1000-$2500 with BAL .08 or higher or minor in the vehicle, not less than $2000 or more than $5000 |
| Imprisonment | Not more than 12 months; 3rd conviction within 10 years in jail, mandatory 30 days in jail; 48 hours must be consecutive |
| License Revocation | Minimum 180 days; 3rd offense within 10 years after first conviction; 10 year revocation |
| DUI School | 21 hours |
| DUI School Requirement | Evaluation conducted to determine need for treatment |
| Fourth or More Conviction | |
|---|---|
| Fine | Not less than $1000 |
| Imprisonment | Not more than 5 years |
| License Revocation | Permanent revocation |
If you drink alcohol, even a little, your chances of being in a crash is much greater than if you did not drink any alcohol.
No one can drink alcohol and drive safely, even if you have been driving for many years. Young drivers are more affected by alcohol because their bodies are still in the growth process and their livers have not developed to the extent that they can efficiently process the alcohol in their blood stream.
Because drinking alcohol and then driving is so dangerous, the penalties are very tough. People who drive after drinking risk heavy fines, higher insurance rates, loss of license and even jail sentences. A DUI conviction will remain on your driving record for 75 years.
Alcohol reduces all of the important skills necessary to drive safely, such as judgment, reaction, vision and concentration. Alcohol is absorbed into the lining of the stomach and then passes directly into the bloodstream and reaches your brain within minutes after consumption. Alcohol affects those areas of your brain that control judgment and skill and is one reason why drinking alcohol is so dangerous; it affects your judgment. A person's judgment is the first thing affected after drinking an alcoholic beverage. Good judgment is important to driving but in this case, judgment helps you to know when to stop drinking. Alcohol puts good judgment on hold. You do not know when you have had too much to drink until it is too late. It is a little like a sunburn, by the time you feel it, it is already too late.
Alcohol slows your reflexes and reaction time, reduces your ability to see clearly and makes you less alert. As the amount of alcohol in your body increases, your judgment worsens and your skills decrease. You will have trouble judging distances, speeds and the movement of other vehicles. You will also have trouble controlling your vehicle.
The best advice is, if you drink alcohol, do not drive. Even one drink of alcohol can affect your driving. With two or more drinks in your bloodstream you are impaired and could be arrested.
It takes about an hour for your body to get rid of each drink. Time is the only thing that will sober you up.
There are ways of dealing with social situations. Arrange to go with two or more persons and agree which one of you will not drink alcohol. You can rotate among the group being a "designated driver." You can use public transportation or a cab, if available.
You will be asked to take a blood test, a urine test, or a breath test if an officer thinks that you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving. By law, if you drive in Florida, you have agreed by signing your driver license to take these tests if asked. If you refuse to take the tests when asked, your license will automatically be suspended for one year. A second refusal will result in an 18 month suspension.
In DUI cases involving death or serious injury, you will be required to take the blood test without your consent. The blood must be drawn by a doctor, nurse or other health professional.
If you are unconscious and cannot refuse the blood test, blood may be drawn. The results of the test may be used as evidence, even if you object after becoming conscious.
Besides alcohol, there are many other drugs that can affect a person's ability to drive safely. These drugs can have effects like those of alcohol, or even worse. This is true of many prescription drugs and even many of the drugs you can buy without a prescription. Drugs taken for headaches, colds, hay fever or other allergies or those to calm nerves can make a person drowsy and affect their driving. Pep pills, "uppers" and diet pills can cause a person to be nervous, dizzy, unable to concentrate and can affect your vision. Other prescription drugs can affect your reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness in ways similar to alcohol.
If you are driving, check the label before you take a drug for warnings about its effect. If you are not sure it is safe to take the drug and drive, ask your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects.
Never drink alcohol while you are taking other drugs. These drugs could multiply the effects of alcohol or have additional effects of their own. These effects not only reduce your ability to be a safe driver but could cause serious health problems, even death.
Illegal and some legal drugs may affect your ability to be a safe driver. For example, studies have shown that people who use marijuana make more mistakes, have more trouble adjusting to glare and get arrested for traffic violations more than other drivers.
Emotions can have an effect on driving safely. You may not be able to drive well if you are overly worried, excited, afraid, angry or depressed.
If you are angry or excited, give yourself time to cool off. If necessary take a short walk, but stay off the road until you have calmed down.
If you are worried, down or are upset about something, try to keep your mind on your driving. Some find listening to the radio helps.
If you are impatient, give yourself extra time for your driving trip. Leave a few minutes early. If you have plenty of time, you may not tend to speed or do other things that can get you a traffic ticket or cause a crash. Don't be impatient, wait for a train to cross in front of you. Driving around lowered gates or trying to beat the train can be fatal.
You can be put in jail or made to pay a fine for the following offenses:
In Florida, there are two motor vehicle insurance laws. They are the Financial Responsibility Law and the No-Fault law. It is important that you understand these laws because if you do not have the proper insurance, you can lose your driver license and license plate(s) and have to pay large fees to get them back.
The Financial Responsibility Law requires owners and operators of motor vehicles to be financially responsible for damages and/or injuries they may cause to others when a motor vehicle crash happens. This law requires any person to have bodily injury, liability insurance at the time of the following:
You must have the following minimum insurance coverage:
If involved in any of the above violations and you do not have insurance to comply with the Financial Responsibility Law, your driver license and/or license plates will be suspended for up to three years. You will have to pay a $15 reinstatement fee and show the department certified proof of full liability insurance on Form SR-22 for three years from the original suspension date to get your driving privilege back.
In addition, if you are the driver or the owner of a vehicle which is in a crash that is your fault, this department can require you to pay for the damages before your driving privilege is reinstated.
Under this law, to protect yourself and others, you should have liability insurance on any motor vehicle you own or drive, including motorcycles.
The Florida No-Fault Law requires owners of motor vehicles with four or more wheels (excluding taxis and limousines), that has been in the state for at least 90 days or non-consecutive days during the past 365 days to purchase a policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state. The minimum coverages are:
You cannot buy a license plate and registration for a car, or other four-wheel vehicle, without having coverage issued in Florida. Once you have this insurance, anytime you renew it, fail to renew it, cancel it, or the insurance company cancels, the insurance company must notify this department. The department will then notify you to provide proof of new coverage. If you fail to provide proof of insurance, your driver license and license plate(s) will be suspended for up to three years.
You must maintain insurance coverage throughout the vehicle registration period or you must surrender the license plate(s) to any driver licenses office.
If your driver license and license plate(s) are suspended for not having insurance under the No-Fault Law, you will have to pay $150 and show proof of current insurance to get them back. A second time within three years, you will pay $250. A third time within three years, you will have to pay $500. Also, if your driver license and plate(s) have been under suspension for 30 days or more for a no-fault insurance violation, a police officer can seize your license plate immediately.
You will be issued a Florida Insurance I.D. Card from your insurance company. You must have this card ready to show to any law enforcement officer to prove that you have the required insurance. If not, you may receive a ticket for not having proof of insurance.
If your driver license or license plate(s) are suspended for not obeying either of these laws, you cannot get a temporary license for any reason, not even for work purposes only. Any person who makes a false statement or commits forgery about their motor vehicle insurance can be guilty of a second degree misdemeanor.
The Department will always provide you with an opportunity to prove insurance coverage or be heard before being suspended. How to comply:
Remember: Automobile insurance is an important part of your driving privilege. Protect yourself and others by having and keeping the proper insurance coverage.
1. STOP.
If you are in a crash while driving, you must stop. If anyone is hurt, you must get help. You must also be ready to give your name, address, and vehicle registration number; as well as show your driver license to others involved in the crash.
2. Report The Crash.
If the crash causes injury, death, or property damage, it must be reported. Call the local police, the Florida Highway Patrol, or the county sheriff's office. If the crash involves a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) or results in death, injury, or property damage to the extent a wrecker must tow a vehicle, the officer will fill out a report. If the crash is investigated by an officer, the driver need not make a written report. If property damage appears to be over $500 and no report is written by an officer, you must make a written report of the crash to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 10 days. The officer will provide you with a copy of the form for your records.
3. MOVE YOUR CAR IF IT IS BLOCKING TRAFFIC.
If your car is blocking the flow of traffic, you must move it. If you cannot move it yourself, you must get help or call a tow truck. This is true anytime your vehicle is blocking the flow of traffic whether it has been involved in a crash or not.
4. Appear in Court.
If you are charged in a crash, you may have to go to court. The officer who comes to the scene of the crash will file charges against any driver who violated a traffic law. Anyone who is charged will have a chance to explain to the court what happened. The court will then decide what the penalty is. Anyone who is not charged with violating the law may have to come to court as a witness. If you are found at fault in a collision where anyone is injured and transported to a medical treatment facility or it is your second collision in a two-year period, you will be required by law to attend a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course. The traffic school that conducts this course can be found in the yellow pages of your local telephone book under Driving Instruction.
A driver convicted of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or personal injury will have his or her license revoked. The driver is also subject to criminal penalties.
If, while driving, you hit a vehicle with no one in it or if you damage any object that belongs to someone else, you must tell the owner. Give the owner your name, address, and license plate number in person or in a note attached to the object that was hit. Report the crash immediately to the proper law enforcement agency.
Drivers are responsible for any littering from their vehicles. Use ash trays for cigarettes and litter bags for trash while riding in motor vehicles. Empty ash trays and litter bags only into trash cans.
LITTERING IS A CRIME. PEOPLE WHO THROW TRASH ON PUBLIC STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CAN BE FINED UP TO $500.00 OR JAILED UP TO 60 DAYS. YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH A FIRST-DEGREE MISDEMEANOR AND FINED UP TO $1,000.00 IF DUMPING MORE THAN 15 POUNDS OF TRASH.
The court may also require you to pick up litter along roadways.
It is against the law to damage the roads by driving on the rim of a flat tire or by any other means.