Refusing A Breathalyzer Test In Florida Could Send You To Jail Under New Law

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Americans can't really work together connected overmuch these days, but, astatine slightest for now, it seems for illustration astir of america tin mostly work together that drunk driving is bad. Heck, moreover nan group who don't deliberation you should beryllium punished for running complete an aged female crossing nan street tend to alteration their tune if nan driver is drunk. So, while you whitethorn not expect Florida — a authorities whose politician says it's okay to use your car arsenic a limb against protestors you don't like – to travel down difficult connected drunk driving, that's precisely what 1 caller rule does.

Known colloquially arsenic Trenton's Law, after Trenton Johnson, an 18-year-old who was killed by a drunk driver pinch a erstwhile vehicular homicide conviction, HB 687 went into effect connected October 1 and specifically targets repetition offenders. Now, alternatively of 15 years being nan maximum condemnation for vehicular homicide aliases DUI manslaughter, anyone connected their 2nd discourtesy tin now beryllium sentenced to up to 30 years successful prison. 

And don't deliberation it's immoderate different if you drunkenly termination personification pinch a boat, either. BUI manslaughter is besides eligible for nan caller 30-year sentence. Additionally, first-time offenders tin now beryllium sentenced to up to 30 years if they knew aliases should person known they deed personification but grounded to extremity aliases fled nan scene. The caller rule doesn't conscionable target repetition offenders — it besides adds caller penalties for refusing a breathalyzer test. Under nan caller legislation, you could look fines, jailhouse time, and moreover a licence suspension if you garbage a breathalyzer trial successful Florida. Here's what you request to know.

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The caller rule does much than conscionable adhd harsher punishments for repetition offenders. It besides allows authorities to spell aft group suspected of drunk driving, moreover if it's their first alleged offense. Before Trenton's Law went into effect, refusing a breathalyzer trial was treated arsenic a civilian infraction. Now, it's treated arsenic an existent crime that tin beryllium charged arsenic a misdemeanor. That said, nan cops are astatine slightest required to fto group cognize nan imaginable consequences that now travel pinch refusing a activity test. 

As a second-degree misdemeanor, refusing a breathalyzer trial could consequence successful up to 60 days successful jailhouse and a imaginable $500 fine, consequences that immoderate whitethorn still find preferable to a DUI conviction. That said, a refusal besides comes pinch an automatic 12-month licence suspension — and bully luck getting astir successful Florida without being capable to drive. That 12-month licence suspension is besides only for your first activity trial refusal. Refuse a 2nd test, and it becomes a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a twelvemonth successful jail, a twelvemonth of probation, and a $1,000 fine. Those who person antecedently had their licenses suspended for immoderate logic and garbage a activity trial whitethorn besides person their licenses suspended for up to 18 months.

So, while drunk driving (and boating) was already bad, you really don't want to do it successful Florida now. Sure, thrust your car into arsenic galore protesters arsenic you want, but you amended beryllium sober while you do it.