DUI Penalties in Palm Beach County

Florida has some of the most strict DUI laws in the US. Whether you have no prior record or you’ve been convicted previously, DUI penalties in Palm Beach County can impact your life for years to come.

Plus, you won’t face a singular drunk driving penalty if convicted—it’s normal to be hit with fines, jail time, and a license suspension. You need an experienced, knowledgeable Florida DUI defense lawyer to protect your rights and your future.

First-Time DUI Penalties

You might think that the drunk driving penalty for a first DUI is a slap on the wrist, but you’d be wrong. Even for first-time offenders, DUI penalties can cause huge ripples across your life.

For a first time DUI penalty, you could be sentenced to:

• Suspension of your driver’s license for 180 days, up to one year
• Minimum $500 fine, up to $1,000
• Up to six months in county jail
• Mandatory community service
• Mandatory completion of DUI school
• Mandatory participation in a substance abuse treatment program

You should also know Palm Beach County does have a 1st Time DUI Offender Program. This sentencing alternative is a fantastic way to minimize potential DUI penalties—you won’t even get any points on your license if you complete it.

So long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you should discuss pursuing this option with your Palm Beach County DUI attorney.

2nd DUI Penalties

The potential 2nd DUI penalties you face in Palm Beach County include:

• Minimum 10 days in jail, up to 9 months
• Minimum $1,000 fine, up to $2,000
• Minimum 5-year suspension of your driver’s license
• Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for at least one year
• Mandatory community service
• Mandatory probation for up to one year
• Mandatory completion of DUI school
• Mandatory participation in a substance abuse treatment program

Because 2nd DUI penalties can include a maximum of nine months in jail, these are classified as misdemeanor charges. But depending on the circumstances, a third DUI conviction can be charged as a felony—which is far more serious.

3rd DUI Penalties

If you’re convicted of a third DUI, it’s very common for the prosecutor to push for jail time. We know because as former prosecutors ourselves, we’re deeply familiar with how the state builds cases against DUI defendants.

However, a third DUI in Palm Beach County can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. It depends on whether your prior DUI conviction was within the past 10 years or not.

If your second DUI conviction happened in the last decade, your third will most likely be charged as a felony—and carry harsher consequences.

Let’s start with 3rd DUI penalties if you’re facing misdemeanor charges:

• Up to 12 months in county jail
• Minimum $1,000 fine, up to $2,5000
• Six-month license suspension (if BAC was above .08%)
• Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for two years once your license is reinstated

If you’re facing felony charges for your 3rd DUI, the penalties increase to:

• Up to 5 years in a state prison facility, minimum of 30 days
• Up to a $5,000 fine
• Ten-year suspension of your driver’s license
• Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for at least 2 years once your license is reinstated
• Vehicle impoundment for 90 days
• Felony conviction on your criminal record (which can limit housing and job opportunities)

4th DUI Penalties

By the time you get your 4th DUI, the state of Florida views you as a repeat offender—regardless of how long ago your previous convictions were.

A 4th DUI is a third-degree felony, which carries steep penalties:

• Maximum 5 years in a state prison facility
• Minimum $2,000 fine, up to $5,000
• Permanent revocation of your driver’s license
• Installation of an ignition interlock device for 6 months
• Up to 5 years of mandatory probation
• Felony conviction on your criminal record

No matter which of these DUI penalties are imposed as part of your sentence, your life will look a lot different as a result. Nearly every aspect of your personal and professional life will be negatively impacted for years to come if you’re convicted.

Under 21 DUI Penalties

Florida has what’s called a “zero-tolerance policy” when it comes to underage DUI. While adults age 21 or older can face DUI charges with a .08% BAC, the limit is just .02% for people under 21.

Under 21 DUI penalties in Palm Beach County include:

• Six-month suspension of driver’s license (first offense)
• One-year suspension of driver’s license (subsequent offense)
• Mandatory attendance in a substance abuse course (if BAC .05% or more)
• Formal evaluation on substance abuse following course completion
• If under 18, may be held at county’s addiction receiving facility

But remember, if you’re underage and caught with a BAC of .08% or higher, the prosecution may elect to charge you with a full-fledged DUI instead of under 21 DUI. If convicted, you’d face standard adult DUI penalties.

Aggravated DUI Comes with Even Harsher Penalties

Certain circumstances can “aggravate” your DUI arrest, meaning your charges become more severe. If this happens to you, your DUI charge becomes a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

This means far steeper consequences if you’re convicted.

Here are the potential aggravating factors in a Palm Beach County DUI case:

• You registered a BAC of .15% or higher
• You had a minor passenger in the vehicle
• You’ve had two previous DUI convictions within the past decade
• You were involved in a crash (even if no one was injured)
• Someone (pedestrian, passenger, other driver, etc.) experienced serious bodily injury
• Someone was killed
• You were driving 30 miles over the speed limit (or more)
• You were driving recklessly (such as on the wrong side of the road)

If you’re convicted on aggravated DUI charges, your penalties increase to:

• Minimum $2,000 fine up to $5,000
• Up to 5 years of mandatory probation
• Up to 5 years in a state prison facility
• Lifelong revocation of your driver’s license
• 21 hours of DUI school
• Vehicle impoundment for 90 days
• Felony conviction on your criminal record

Your felony conviction will show up on background checks run by potential employers, landlords, colleges, and much more.

How an Attentive, Knowledgeable Palm Beach County DUI Lawyer Can Help

As mentioned previously, Florida has some of the harshest DUI penalties in the entire country. So, it’s no surprise that prosecutors often push for the maximum sentence and jail time.

The best way to defend yourself is by hiring an experienced, attentive Florida DUI defense attorney like Andrew Simko of The DUI Center. As a former Florida prosecutor, he knows better than anyone what type of defense strategy will be most effective for your case.

If you or a loved one are facing DUI penalties in Palm Beach County, contact The DUI Center today at (561) 951-1264. We’ll explore every possible avenue for getting your charges dismissed or reduced.

FAQS About DUI Penalties in Palm Beach County

What legal defenses are available for a DUI charge in Palm Beach County?

A few common legal defenses available for a DUI charge in Palm Beach County are:

• Proving you were illegally stopped, making evidence inadmissible
• Proving the officer arrested you without evidence
• Demonstrating you committed the crime due to an emergency
• Providing evidence that you were under duress at the time
• Stating that law enforcement entrapped you
• Proving you were involuntarily or unknowingly intoxicated, such as via date rape drug

The most important thing to remember is that you can’t just pick a defense at random. There needs to be clear evidence or proof to support your defense, otherwise it won’t have any effect.

Can you attend alcohol treatment programs instead of jail time in Palm Beach County?

Yes, you may be able to attend a diversion or alcohol treatment program instead of doing jail time in Palm Beach County. This is typically reserved for first-time offenders who meet specific eligibility criteria.

When you hire a skilled, capable DUI defense attorney like Andrew Simko, you can also explore negotiating with the prosecution.

Plea deals are rarely a good option, but a knowledgeable attorney has a better chance of securing a favorable outcome this way.

Can a DUI conviction be expunged in Palm Beach County?

No, a DUI conviction can’t be expunged in Palm Beach County or any county in Florida. That conviction will be visible on your record forever—you can’t seal your records when it comes to DUI penalties, either.

That’s why the first thing you should do following a DUI arrest is contact us here at The DUI Center.

Florida DUI penalties can cast a long shadow over your life for years to come. You deserve to maintain your rights and your freedom, so let the attorneys at The DUI Center fight for you. Just call (561) 951-1264 now to schedule your free case evaluation.