Florida is particularly harsh when it comes to penalizing individuals who are found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. Whether you were arrested in Florida or in another state, you can still suffer consequences to your criminal record, as well as to your driving record. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) follows a points system in which traffic offenses add points to your driving record and can eventually result in license suspension or revocation. In cases of drunk driving, however, license suspension is always involved.

A first-time DUI arrest will result in license suspension for 180 days to 1 year, unless the driver’s negligence resulted in bodily injury to another person, in which case it is a 3-year suspension. Second-time DUI charges also incur a suspension of 180 days to 1 year, but the suspension can be for 5 years if the second offense occurs within 5 years of the first. A third-time offense within 10 years will result in a 10-year suspension, and a fourth offense will automatically result in the same.