Driver license the official handbook

The Official Florida Driver License Handbook—rev. 051417
  
61  
......................................................................................................................YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGE
to use your car, or renting a 
motor vehicle to someone 
without a license.
  • Giving false statements to an 
officer or in a courtroom.
  • Knowingly giving false 
information in crash reports.
Time Restrictions for 
Minors
  • Minors holding a learner’s 
license must be accompanied 
by a licensed driver who is age 
21+, and must only drive during 
daylight hours. After holding 
a learner’s license for 3 months 
you may drive until 10 pm).  
  • A 16 year-old licensed driver 
may not drive between 11:00 
pm and 6:00 am unless driving 
to or from work or accompanied 
by a licensed driver who is age 
21 or older. 
  • A 17 year-old licensed driver 
may not drive between 1:00 am 
and 5:00 am, unless driving to 
or from work or accompanied 
by a licensed driver who is age 
21 or older.
Littering
Littering is a crime. If you throw 
trash less than 15 pounds onto 
roadways, you can be fined $100. 
You can be charged with a first-
degree misdemeanor and fined up 
to $1,000 if dumping more than 15 
pounds of trash. The court may also 
require you to pick up litter along 
roadways. 
Use ashtrays for cigarettes and litter 
bags for trash while riding in motor 
vehicles. Cigarettes that are tossed 
out of windows can lead to fires. 
Empty ashtrays and litter bags only 
into trash cans. 
Road Damage
It is against the law to damage the 
roads by driving on the rim of a flat 
tire or by any other means.
Driving Under the 
Influence (DUI)
You can be charged with Driving 
Under the Influence (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 model glue or 
other inhalants.
At the time of arrest, your license 
will be administratively suspended if 
you have a breath or blood alcohol 
level (BAL) of .08 or above, or 
refuse to submit to a breath/blood 
alcohol test.
Implied Consent Law
You will be asked to take a blood 
test, a urine test, or a breath test 
if an officer has reasonable cause 
to believe that you are under the 
influence of alcohol or drugs while 
driving. By law, you have agreed by 
signing your driver license to take 

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©2017 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
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 and a first degree 
misdemeanor.
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. Blood may be drawn if 
you are unconscious. 
Penalties for DUI
First DUI Conviction
  • Fine: $500-$1,000 [BAL .15 or 
higher or minor in the vehicle, 
not less than $1,000 or more 
than $2,000].
  • Community Service: 50 hours.
  • Probation: Up to 1 year.
  • Imprisonment: Not more than 6 
months [if BAL .15 or higher or 
minor in the vehicle, not more 
than 9 months].
  • License Revocation: Minimum 
180 days.
  • DUI School: 12 hours.
  • Evaluation conducted to 
determine need for treatment 
for addiction.
  • Ignition Interlock Device: if 
court ordered [if BAL .15 or 
higher, or minor in the vehicle, 
at least six continuous months].
Second DUI Offense/Conviction
  • Fine: $1,000-$2000 [BAL 
.15 or higher or minor in the 
vehicle, not less than $2000 or 
more than $4000].
  • Imprisonment: Not more than 9 
months.
  • License Revocation: Minimum 
180 days.
  • DUI School: 21 hours.
  • Evaluation conducted to 
determine need for treatment 
for addiction.
  • Ignition Interlock Device: At 
least one continuous year.
Third DUI Offense/Conviction
  • Fine: $2,000-$5,000 [if BAL 
.15 or higher or minor in the 
vehicle, not less than $4,000].
  • Imprisonment: Not more than 
12 months.
  • License Revocation: Minimum 
180 days.
  • DUI School: 21 hours.
  • Evaluation conducted to 
determine need for treatment 
for addiction.
  • Ignition Interlock Device: At 
least two continuous years.
Zero Tolerance
  • 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 six months. 
  • Any driver under 21 with a 
breath or blood alcohol level 
of .05 or higher is required to 
attend a substance abuse course. 

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The Official Florida Driver License Handbook—rev. 051417
  
63  
......................................................................................................................YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGE
  • An evaluation will be completed and parents or legal guardians will be 
notified of the results for all drivers under the age of 19.
Traffic Crashes
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. Those charged will have a chance to explain in court. 
The court will then decide the penalty. Others who were present at the 
crash 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. 
Three Crashes in Three Years Law
If you were convicted of, or pleaded nolo contendre (no contest) to your 
third traffic offense that caused a crash within 36 months, you must 
complete a DHSMV approved driver improvement course that includes 
behind-the-wheel training and an assessment of your driving safety.
You must:
  • Complete 12 hours of the 3-in-3 Crash Course or an approved 
Advanced Driver Improvement course (ADI).
  • Receive 4 hours of behind-the-wheel training from a Florida licensed 
commercial driving school (CDS).
  • Pass the extended driving exam with a driver license examiner or tax 
collector licensing agent.
Failure to complete these requirements within 90 days will result in a 
license cancellation.
Point System
There are a number of infractions that can cause the loss or restriction of 
your driving privileges. You receive points for moving violations. If you 
accumulate too many points in a certain period of time, your license will be 
suspended and can be revoked.
Violation (some examples)
Points
Unlawful Speed 15 MPH or less over lawful or posted speed 
3
Unlawful Speed 16 MPH or more over lawful or posted speed 
4
Unlawful Speed resulting in a crash
6

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