Minor Traffic Violations
Civil infractions are classified as either non-moving violations or moving
violations. Most can be resolved by paying a fine or paying a fine and
attending traffic school, although some require a mandatory court appearance;
Jail time is not a penalty in these cases.
Driving with Suspended Licenses
If you are convicted of driving with a suspended license with knowledge
of the suspension, a first offense is considered a second degree misdemeanor
punishable by up to 60 days in jail and/or 6 months of probation, as well
as a fine up to $500, and a second offense with knowledge is punishable
by up to 1 year in jail, 1 year of probation, or a combination of the two.
Under some circumstances, you may be charged with a third degree felony
which may include a prison sentence if you have a lengthy criminal history.
DUI Offenses
A first-time DUI offense is punishable by up to 6 months of jail time and/or
$500-$1,000 in fines. A second offense might include up to 1 year of jail
time, $1,000-$4,000 in fines, and an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) for
2 years. Depending on your number of prior offenses you will also face
a license revocation for between 180 days and 10 years, or even a permanent
revocation if you are convicted of 4 or more DUIs.
Habitual Traffic Offender Status
A habitual traffic offender (HTO) is any person who has accumulated a specified
number of different types of traffic convictions within a 5-year period.
Note that a habitual traffic offender faces license suspension for up
to 5 years, and if you are caught driving as an HTO, you can face a third
degree felony conviction that might involve state prison time of up to
5 years and/or fines up to $5,000.
Leaving the Scene of an Accident
A driver who has collided with another, causing damage to another vehicle
or property, is legally required to:
- either notify the operator or owner of the damaged vehicle or property
or leave a written notice of your contact information on their vehicle; and
- notify police authorities.
Penalties for failing to do so depend on the circumstances of your case,
particularly whether the accident caused serious bodily injury or fatality,
which could make the difference between a minor misdemeanor and serious felony.
Reckless Driving
A conviction for reckless driving in Florida depends on whether:
- there was property damage,
- anyone was injured (and the extent of the injuries), and
- if you have prior reckless driving convictions.
An offense involving property damage or minor injuries is a first-degree
misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to 1 year in
jail, while an incident involving “serious bodily injury”
is considered a third-degree felony punishable by up to $5,000 in fines
and/or up to 5 years in prison.
Call (954) 525-4858to schedule your free consultation today.