Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
In the Victim Awareness Program offered by the Florida Safety Council (see Resources below) two-hour sessions are an alternative to DUI courses and feature a panel of victims who have been affected by DUI in some way.
Step2
Learn about the penalty assessed on DUI offenders by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Those convicted of a first-time DUI offense lose their license for six months and have a notation on their record for 75 years. More information about penalties is available through DUI.com (see Resources below).
Step3
Multiple DUI offenders in Florida must have an Ignition Interlock Device attached to their vehicle. This device is installed at the expense of the driver and prevents use of a vehicle with a driver whose breath registers a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 and over. Multiple DUI offenders may have this device for up to five months, depending on the severity of the offense.
Step4
Florida State Patrol officers have the right to do field sobriety tests, like breath tests, and judges can assess greater penalties for uncooperative drivers.
Step5
Municipal and state judges in Florida are required to offer counsel under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution. Public defenders can help a litigant decrease their penalty or appeal decisions. To find an experienced criminal lawyer, see the Web site for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (see Resources below).
