Florida statute allows various highway authorities to levy and collect tolls for roadways throughout the State of Florida..

Toll Violation Tickets

Florida statute allows various highway authorities to levy and collect tolls for roadways throughout the State of Florida.  There are certain roadways on which tolls are collected electronically.  The trend is for more and more of these toll roads to be operated without human toll collectors.  This is either done by way of a transponder system or by the  photographing the vehicles license tag as it passes the subject toll point on the highway.  It is becoming more and more important for all owners of vehicles to be sure that their registrations on their vehicles are kept up to date with regard to the correct address where the vehicle is being garaged (and therefore at an address to which you will receive notices). If you, as an owner of a vehicle fail to keep your address on the registration current, you run the risk of never receiving notification of a toll being charged to your vehicle. Tolls can be as little as $.25 when paid at the first notice of the toll being incurred.  If unpaid, toll tickets can become very expensive.  Additional charges are added at each level of the process.

It is imperative that tolls be paid as soon a possible in order to save being exposed to astronomic increases in costs.  However, once the matter is referred to court as an actual toll violation citation or ticket, it should never be paid without contesting the matter in court.  A qualified and experienced traffic ticket lawyer will provide you with a proper defense.  The objective is to get dismissed entirely as many or all of the toll violation tickets as the facts warrant and the judge allows. With regard to any toll violation ticket for which a dismissal cannot be obtained, it is imperative that each case is resolved without a conviction on your driving record.  A conviction on your driving record for a toll violation ticket can affect you by causing a judge in a future case to enhance penalties against you for that later ticket.  An insurance company, seeing convictions on your record even for toll violations, could use this as a basis to raise your insurance rates or to quote you a higher insurance rate as compared to what you would have been quoted without those convictions on your record. Always consult a traffic ticket lawyer before making a decision about what your best course of action is in dealing with a toll violation ticket.

Never pay a Stop Sign ticket.  Paying a Stop Sign ticket will put 4 points on your driving record. It may even cause you to be forced to take a defensive driving class in additon to the assessment of points.

Never pay a Stop Sign ticket.  Paying a Stop Sign ticket will put 4 points on your driving record. Contact us to defend your stop sign ticket immediately to have the best chance at avoiding both defensive driving school and points on your license.

Florida Statute section 316.123 governs stop signs and yield signs and violations thereof:

316.123 Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection.— 

(1) The right-of-way at an intersection may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs as authorized in s. 316.006.

(2)(a) Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from another highway or which is approaching so closely on said highway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection.

(b) At a four-way stop intersection, the driver of the first vehicle to stop at the intersection shall be the first to proceed. If two or more vehicles reach the four-way stop intersection at the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.

(3) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall, in obedience to such sign, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety to stop, shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway. After slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection. If such a driver is involved in a collision with a pedestrian in a crosswalk or a vehicle in the intersection, after driving past a yield sign without stopping, the collision shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way.

(4) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 77-229; s. 305, ch. 95-148; s. 119, ch. 99-248.

While Florida law requires an actual complete stop at any stop sign, the reality of it is that most of us do not come to a complete stop at stop signs we encounter.  While driving we have all experienced the sensation of brake application, the car reacting to the brakes being applied, and the sensation that the car was approaching a stop and stopping. Well, sort of stopping that is.  Unless there is cross traffic at the intersection governed by the stop sign, most of us come close to stopping but never actually reach the point where there is absolutely no motion forward.  From the exterior of the vehicle, a police officer will be looking at your wheels to see that they do, in fact, come to a complete stop (stop moving entirely).  The fact is that since most people never come to a complete stop at a stop sign, a police officer can camp out by any stop sign in Dade, Broward or Palm Beach Counties and give stop sign violation ticket after stop sign violation ticket.  In order to avoid this, the driver should come to a complete stop at the stop sign and wait a two second count before moving forward again. And, if you ever receive a stop sign ticket, always consult an experienced traffic ticket lawyer before paying that stop sign ticket.  Avoid points on your record.  Your driver’s license record depends on it.

Never just pay a speeding ticket as this will be deemed an admission of guilt and will put conviction on your record and points on your driver’s license.

SPEEDING TICKETS

We can help fight your speeding ticket.  Never just pay a speeding ticket as this will be deemed an admission of guilt and will put conviction on your record and points on your driver’s license. Convictions with the points that come with them can give your insurance company the open door to raise your insurance rates for the indefinite future.

Speeding tickets usually carry the largest fines of all tickets. They also tend to be the most likely ticket to be dismissed by the judge if the proper arguments are made by your attorney handling your case. The reason for this is that the police officer must use a speed measuring device to monitor and prove your speed. Speed measurement devices can include a pace clock (the speedometer of the police officer’s car), radar gun or laser gun. Sometimes the use of a stop watch and observations of vehicle travel through distance markings on the highway can be offered to assess speed.  The law requires that all of these speed measuring devices be accurately calibrated before they can be used. If the device is not calibrated and maintained properly its use may be disallowed by the judge hearing your case. It is best to have an experienced traffic attorney who is familiar with all of these devices and the rules and regulations that must be followed for them to be used accurately. The attorney will point out to the judge any errors or omissions that were made by the police officer in the process. With close scrutiny and subsequent argument to the judge, a speeding ticket is much more likely to be dismissed. The rules and regulations that govern these devices sometimes change. It is almost impossible for a lay person trying to represent himself to be aware of the applicable rules themselves, never mind these changes when they occur periodically.

The officer must select the correct Florida statute section number, including sub-section, for your specific situation. Improper citation of applicable statute may also result in your ticket being dismissed.

There are many other reasons for a ticket’s dismissal. Only an experienced ticket attorney will know all of the many more things to look for in seeking that dismissal. The hiring of an experienced traffic attorney to represent you is essential to obtain the best possible results in your case.  An experienced traffic attorney will find all mistakes and will make all necessary legal arguments. This will usually result in the client saving time and money and will protect his or her driver’s license from potential suspension..

Starting at just $75.00 you can get an experienced traffic attorney to defend you in court. Let us represent you in your speeding ticket case. Your driving record depends on it.

There are two types of red light camera ticket.  Some are issued by a police officer during a traffic stop. Others are sent through the mail after your vehicle was photographed failing to obey a red light.

Red Light Tickets

There are two types of red light camera ticket.  Some are issued by a police officer during a traffic stop. Others are sent through the mail after your vehicle was photographed failing to obey a red light. These are handled differently by our office.

Never pay a red light ticket issued by a police officer.  Paying such a red light ticket will put 4 points on your driving record and you will be paying $277. Contact us to defend your red light ticket immediately to have the best chance at avoiding defensive driving school and points on your license.

If you receive a notice of violation that your vehicle was photographed failing to stop at a red light, this is an entirely different story in our opinion.  On July 1, 2010, a new State law came into effect that allows cities to install red light cameras, and issue tickets for violations for red light violations. Since then, red light cameras have been popping up at intersections all over South Florida.  If you have been mailed a Notice of Violation, you have 30 days to pay a fine of $158. If the violation is not paid within 30 days, the fine is increased to $277, a Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC) is issued, and the case is sent to the Clerk of Court. The traffic ticket will charge you with a violation of Florida Statute 316.075(1)(C)1 which reads in part:

Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until a green indication is shown.

If you pay this fine of $158 on a timely basis, the matter will be closed and you will not need an attorney.  There will be no record of this violation on your driving record. You may think of it as a contribution to the economic well being of the city that issued it. At this stage, this isn’t really isn’t even a traffic citation.  However, if you wait beyond the period of time within which $158 can be paid, this matter does become an actual traffic citation which can affect your driving record. Once your red light camera ticket has been sent to the Clerk of Court you again must hire an attorney to fight it.

When we go to Court for you, we will review a video of the incident with a hearing officer, or Judge. We will then be permitted to make objections and present evidence on your behalf.  If we are not able to get the violation dismissed, you will be responsible for the payment of court costs. The important thing to be achieved once this becomes an actual citation is to avoid any conviction on your record.  A conviction on such a ticket for running a red light can be used against you by an insurance company (in quoting you an insurance premium) or by a judge to enhance penalties in a future case. This is true even if it wasn’t you in the car when it was photographed.  Be sure to consult a traffic ticket lawyer regarding your red light ticket before making any final decision about how to handle the matter.

Call us today at: (954) 961-6767

Careless driving that endangers the life or safety of any individual or is in wanton disregard for the safety of the property of others is guilty of the traffic crimiinal violation of reckless driving.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, and it involves $50 of damage to property or any injury to any person, you must remain at the scene of that accident until the police clear the investigation of the accident.

Florida Statute allows a driver who has been involved in a car accident to leave the scene of that accident only under very limited and specific circumstances.  The driver must provide information including full name, address, registration number for the vehcle being driven to others involved in the accident.  Additionally, upon demand, a valid driver’s license must be shown.  Unless this information is provided, leaving the scene of the accident can bring criminal liability upon the driver who leaves.  If you have left the scene of an accident without providing the necessary information, contact a lawyer immediately.  DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT talk to the police or respond to any inquiry they make without first talking to a lawyer. Consultations at Pines Ticket Defense LLC are always free.  Call us now at (954) 961-6767.

The failure to maintain your dirver’s license in valid and properly renewed form can potentialy cause the State of Florida to bring criminal charges against you in the event that your driver’s license has expired more than 4 months and you continue to drive.

Despite belief to the contrary,  it is not illegal to drink and drive, it is illegal to drive while intoxicated or otherwise impaired. After a DUI arrest, you must move quickly for a hearing to prevent immediate license suspension.  Failure to ask for this hearing may cause you to lose important rights.

YOU HAVE ONLY 10 DAYS- IF YOU GET ARRESTED FOR A DUI, YOU HAVE 10 DAYS FROM THE DATE ARRESTED TO APPLY FOR A TEMPORARY PERMIT FROM THE DMV BEFORE YOU LICENSE IS AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDED.  LET US HELP YOU OBTAIN A TEMPORARY PERMIT AND CHALLENGE THE SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE.

DUI/Driving Under the Influence is a crime of degree or amount.  It is legal to drink alcohol and then drive a vehicle in the State of Florida. It becomes a crime when you drink too much alcohol so that your normal faculties are impaired or your Blood Alcohol Content is over .08.  Normal faculties include walking, talking understanding, balance, hearing and seeing in a normal fashion.  Your blood alcohol content, is measured by a machine that has been proven at times in the court system to be inaccurate.  The consequences for DUI/Driving Under the Influence are severe. and most of the sanctions for a DUI conviction are imposed by madatory requirements set forth by the legislature.  Call us now for a free consultation. 

PINES TICKET DEFENSE, LLC is a Pembroke Pines Criminal Defense Law Firm offering experienced Attorneys to handle individuals accused of DUI/Driving Under the Influence in Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County conveniently located in Pembroke Pines and near Hollywood, Cooper City, Davie, Plantation, Miramar and Weston, Fl.  If you were recently given a ticket or arrested for DUI/Driving Under the Influence or are facing any DUI/Driving Under the Influence charges in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade or any other part of South Florida, contact the attorneys at PINES TICKET DEFENSE at (954) 961-6767 for a free consultation.

Serving all of South Florida, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE JURY INSTRUCTIONS USED IN FLORIDA COURTS TO CHARGE JURIES WITH THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE PROVEN BY THE STATE IN ORDER TO GET A CONVICTION FOR DUI.

§ 316.193(1), Fla. Stat.

To prove the crime of Driving under the Influence, the State must prove the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. 1.              (Defendant) drove or was in actual physical control of a vehicle.

1. 2.              While driving or in actual physical control of the vehicle, (defendant)

                                  Give 2a or b or both as applicable.

a.                  was under the influence of [alcoholic beverages] [a chemical                   substance] [a                  controlled substance] to the extent that [his] [her] normal faculties were                   impaired.

b.                  had a [blood] [breath]-alcohol level of .08 or more grams

of alcohol per [100 milliliters of blood] [210 liters of breath].

                  Give if applicable. (Offenses committed prior to October 1, 2008, alcohol level of .20 or higher.)

                  If you find the defendant guilty of Driving under the Influence, you must also determine whether the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt whether:

a.                  the defendant had a [blood] [breath]-alcohol level of .15 or

higher while driving or in actual physical control of the

vehicle.

b.                  the defendant was accompanied in the vehicle by a person

                  under the age of 18 years at the time of the driving under

                  the influence.

                  Definitions. Give as applicable.

                  Vehicle is every device, in, upon or by which any person or property is, or may be, transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

                  Normal faculties include but are not limited to the ability to see, hear, walk, talk, judge distances, drive an automobile, make judgments, act in emergencies and, in general, to normally perform the many mental and physical acts of our daily lives.

                  Actual physical control of a vehicle means the defendant must be physically in or on the vehicle and have the capability to operate the vehicle, regardless of whether [he] [she] is actually operating the vehicle at the time.

                  Alcoholic beverages are considered to be substances of any kind and description which contain alcohol.

(                                    ) is a controlled substance under Florida law.  Ch. 893, Fla. Stat.

(                                    ) is a chemical substance under Florida law.  § 877.111(1), Fla. Stat.

                  When appropriate, give one or more of the following instructions on the presumptions of impairment established by § 316.1934(2)(a), (2)(b), and (2)(c), Fla. Stat.

1. 1.              If you find from the evidence that while driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, the defendant had a blood or breath-alcohol level of .05 or less, you shall presume that the defendant was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that [his] [her] normal faculties were impaired; but this presumption may be overcome by other evidence demonstrating that the defendant was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that [his] [her] normal faculties were impaired.

1. 2.              If you find from the evidence that while driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, the defendant had a blood or breath-alcohol level in excess of .05 but less than .08, that fact does not give rise to any presumption that the defendant was or was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that [his] [her] normal faculties were impaired. In such cases, you may consider that evidence along with other evidence in determining whether the defendant was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that [his] [her] normal faculties were impaired.

1. 3.              If you find from the evidence that while driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, the defendant had a blood or breath-alcohol level of .08 or more, that evidence would be sufficient by itself to establish that the defendant was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that [his] [her] normal faculties were impaired.  But this evidence may be contradicted or rebutted by other evidence demonstrating that the defendant was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that [his] [her] normal faculties were impaired.

                  Defense of inoperability; give if applicable.

                  It is a defense to the charge of Driving under the Influence if at the time of the alleged offense, the vehicle was inoperable. However, it is not a defense if the defendant was driving under the influence before the vehicle became inoperable.  Therefore, if you are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the vehicle was operable at the time of the alleged offense, you should find the defendant not guilty.  However, if you are convinced that the vehicle was operable at the time of the alleged offense, then you should find the defendant guilty, if all the other elements of the charge have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Lesser Included Offenses

316.193 Driving under the influence; penalties.–

(1) A person is guilty of the offense of driving under the influence and is subject to punishment as provided in subsection (2) if the person is driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state and:

(a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired;

(b) The person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or

(c) The person has a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

(2)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), subsection (3), or subsection (4), any person who is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) shall be punished:

1. By a fine of:

a. Not less than $250 or more than $500 for a first conviction.

b. Not less than $500 or more than $1,000 for a second conviction; and

2. By imprisonment for:

a. Not more than 6 months for a first conviction.

b. Not more than 9 months for a second conviction.

3. For a second conviction, by mandatory placement for a period of at least 1 year, at the convicted person’s sole expense, of an ignition interlock device approved by the department in accordance with s. 316.1938 upon all vehicles that are individually or jointly leased or owned and routinely operated by the convicted person, when the convicted person qualifies for a permanent or restricted license. The installation of such device may not occur before July 1, 2003.

(b)1. Any person who is convicted of a third violation of this section for an offense that occurs within 10 years after a prior conviction for a violation of this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. In addition, the court shall order the mandatory placement for a period of not less than 2 years, at the convicted person’s sole expense, of an ignition interlock device approved by the department in accordance with s. 316.1938 upon all vehicles that are individually or jointly leased or owned and routinely operated by the convicted person, when the convicted person qualifies for a permanent or restricted license. The installation of such device may not occur before July 1, 2003.

2. Any person who is convicted of a third violation of this section for an offense that occurs more than 10 years after the date of a prior conviction for a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $2,500 and by imprisonment for not more than 12 months. In addition, the court shall order the mandatory placement for a period of at least 2 years, at the convicted person’s sole expense, of an ignition interlock device approved by the department in accordance with s. 316.1938 upon all vehicles that are individually or jointly leased or owned and routinely operated by the convicted person, when the convicted person qualifies for a permanent or restricted license. The installation of such device may not occur before July 1, 2003.

3. Any person who is convicted of a fourth or subsequent violation of this section, regardless of when any prior conviction for a violation of this section occurred, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, the fine imposed for such fourth or subsequent violation may be not less than $1,000.

1(3) Any person:

(a) Who is in violation of subsection (1);

(b) Who operates a vehicle; and

(c) Who, by reason of such operation, causes or contributes to causing:

1. Damage to the property or person of another commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

2. Serious bodily injury to another, as defined in s. 316.1933, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

3. The death of any human being or unborn quick child commits DUI manslaughter, and commits:

a. A felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

b. A felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if:

(I) At the time of the crash, the person knew, or should have known, that the crash occurred; and

(II) The person failed to give information and render aid as required by s. 316.062.

For purposes of this subsection, the definition of the term “unborn quick child” shall be determined in accordance with the definition of viable fetus as set forth in s. 782.071.

(4) Any person who is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) and who has a blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level of 0.20 or higher, or any person who is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) and who at the time of the offense was accompanied in the vehicle by a person under the age of 18 years, shall be punished:

(a) By a fine of:

1. Not less than $500 or more than $1,000 for a first conviction.

2. Not less than $1,000 or more than $2,000 for a second conviction.

3. Not less than $2,000 for a third or subsequent conviction.

(b) By imprisonment for:

1. Not more than 9 months for a first conviction.

2. Not more than 12 months for a second conviction.

For the purposes of this subsection, only the instant offense is required to be a violation of subsection (1) by a person who has a blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level of 0.20 or higher.

(c) In addition to the penalties in paragraphs (a) and (b), the court shall order the mandatory placement, at the convicted person’s sole expense, of an ignition interlock device approved by the department in accordance with s. 316.1938 upon all vehicles that are individually or jointly leased or owned and routinely operated by the convicted person for up to 6 months for the first offense and for at least 2 years for a second offense, when the convicted person qualifies for a permanent or restricted license. The installation of such device may not occur before July 1, 2003.

(5) The court shall place all offenders convicted of violating this section on monthly reporting probation and shall require completion of a substance abuse course conducted by a DUI program licensed by the department under s. 322.292, which must include a psychosocial evaluation of the offender. If the DUI program refers the offender to an authorized substance abuse treatment provider for substance abuse treatment, in addition to any sentence or fine imposed under this section, completion of all such education, evaluation, and treatment is a condition of reporting probation. The offender shall assume reasonable costs for such education, evaluation, and treatment. The referral to treatment resulting from a psychosocial evaluation shall not be waived without a supporting independent psychosocial evaluation conducted by an authorized substance abuse treatment provider appointed by the court, which shall have access to the DUI program’s psychosocial evaluation before the independent psychosocial evaluation is conducted. The court shall review the results and recommendations of both evaluations before determining the request for waiver. The offender shall bear the full cost of this procedure. The term “substance abuse” means the abuse of alcohol or any substance named or described in Schedules I through V of s. 893.03. If an offender referred to treatment under this subsection fails to report for or complete such treatment or fails to complete the DUI program substance abuse education course and evaluation, the DUI program shall notify the court and the department of the failure. Upon receipt of the notice, the department shall cancel the offender’s driving privilege, notwithstanding the terms of the court order or any suspension or revocation of the driving privilege. The department may temporarily reinstate the driving privilege on a restricted basis upon verification from the DUI program that the offender is currently participating in treatment and the DUI education course and evaluation requirement has been completed. If the DUI program notifies the department of the second failure to complete treatment, the department shall reinstate the driving privilege only after notice of completion of treatment from the DUI program. The organization that conducts the substance abuse education and evaluation may not provide required substance abuse treatment unless a waiver has been granted to that organization by the department. A waiver may be granted only if the department determines, in accordance with its rules, that the service provider that conducts the substance abuse education and evaluation is the most appropriate service provider and is licensed under chapter 397 or is exempt from such licensure. A statistical referral report shall be submitted quarterly to the department by each organization authorized to provide services under this section.

(6) With respect to any person convicted of a violation of subsection (1), regardless of any penalty imposed pursuant to subsection (2), subsection (3), or subsection (4):

(a) For the first conviction, the court shall place the defendant on probation for a period not to exceed 1 year and, as a condition of such probation, shall order the defendant to participate in public service or a community work project for a minimum of 50 hours; or the court may order instead, that any defendant pay an additional fine of $10 for each hour of public service or community work otherwise required, if, after consideration of the residence or location of the defendant at the time public service or community work is required, payment of the fine is in the best interests of the state. However, the total period of probation and incarceration may not exceed 1 year. The court must also, as a condition of probation, order the impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle that was operated by or in the actual control of the defendant or any one vehicle registered in the defendant’s name at the time of impoundment or immobilization, for a period of 10 days or for the unexpired term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 10 days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant. The impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in accordance with paragraph (e), paragraph (f), paragraph (g), or paragraph (h).

(b) For the second conviction for an offense that occurs within a period of 5 years after the date of a prior conviction for violation of this section, the court shall order imprisonment for not less than 10 days. The court must also, as a condition of probation, order the impoundment or immobilization of all vehicles owned by the defendant at the time of impoundment or immobilization, for a period of 30 days or for the unexpired term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 30 days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant and must occur concurrently with the driver’s license revocation imposed under s. 322.28(2)(a)2. The impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in accordance with paragraph (e), paragraph (f), paragraph (g), or paragraph (h). At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.

(c) For the third or subsequent conviction for an offense that occurs within a period of 10 years after the date of a prior conviction for violation of this section, the court shall order imprisonment for not less than 30 days. The court must also, as a condition of probation, order the impoundment or immobilization of all vehicles owned by the defendant at the time of impoundment or immobilization, for a period of 90 days or for the unexpired term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 90 days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant and must occur concurrently with the driver’s license revocation imposed under s. 322.28(2)(a)3. The impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in accordance with paragraph (e), paragraph (f), paragraph (g), or paragraph (h). At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.

(d) The court must at the time of sentencing the defendant issue an order for the impoundment or immobilization of a vehicle. Within 7 business days after the date that the court issues the order of impoundment or immobilization, the clerk of the court must send notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered owner of each vehicle, if the registered owner is a person other than the defendant, and to each person of record claiming a lien against the vehicle.

(e) A person who owns but was not operating the vehicle when the offense occurred may submit to the court a police report indicating that the vehicle was stolen at the time of the offense or documentation of having purchased the vehicle after the offense was committed from an entity other than the defendant or the defendant’s agent. If the court finds that the vehicle was stolen or that the sale was not made to circumvent the order and allow the defendant continued access to the vehicle, the order must be dismissed and the owner of the vehicle will incur no costs. If the court denies the request to dismiss the order of impoundment or immobilization, the petitioner may request an evidentiary hearing.

(f) A person who owns but was not operating the vehicle when the offense occurred, and whose vehicle was stolen or who purchased the vehicle after the offense was committed directly from the defendant or the defendant’s agent, may request an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the impoundment or immobilization should occur. If the court finds that either the vehicle was stolen or the purchase was made without knowledge of the offense, that the purchaser had no relationship to the defendant other than through the transaction, and that such purchase would not circumvent the order and allow the defendant continued access to the vehicle, the order must be dismissed and the owner of the vehicle will incur no costs.

(g) The court shall also dismiss the order of impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle if the court finds that the family of the owner of the vehicle has no other private or public means of transportation.

(h) The court may also dismiss the order of impoundment or immobilization of any vehicles that are owned by the defendant but that are operated solely by the employees of the defendant or any business owned by the defendant.

(i) All costs and fees for the impoundment or immobilization, including the cost of notification, must be paid by the owner of the vehicle or, if the vehicle is leased or rented, by the person leasing or renting the vehicle, unless the impoundment or immobilization order is dismissed. All provisions of s. 713.78 shall apply.

(j) The person who owns a vehicle that is impounded or immobilized under this paragraph, or a person who has a lien of record against such a vehicle and who has not requested a review of the impoundment pursuant to paragraph (e), paragraph (f), or paragraph (g), may, within 10 days after the date that person has knowledge of the location of the vehicle, file a complaint in the county in which the owner resides to determine whether the vehicle was wrongfully taken or withheld from the owner or lienholder. Upon the filing of a complaint, the owner or lienholder may have the vehicle released by posting with the court a bond or other adequate security equal to the amount of the costs and fees for impoundment or immobilization, including towing or storage, to ensure the payment of such costs and fees if the owner or lienholder does not prevail. When the bond is posted and the fee is paid as set forth in s. 28.24, the clerk of the court shall issue a certificate releasing the vehicle. At the time of release, after reasonable inspection, the owner or lienholder must give a receipt to the towing or storage company indicating any loss or damage to the vehicle or to the contents of the vehicle.

(k) A defendant, in the court’s discretion, may be required to serve all or any portion of a term of imprisonment to which the defendant has been sentenced pursuant to this section in a residential alcoholism treatment program or a residential drug abuse treatment program. Any time spent in such a program must be credited by the court toward the term of imprisonment.

For the purposes of this section, any conviction for a violation of s. 327.35; a previous conviction for the violation of former s. 316.1931, former s. 860.01, or former s. 316.028; or a previous conviction outside this state for driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, driving with an unlawful blood-alcohol level, driving with an unlawful breath-alcohol level, or any other similar alcohol-related or drug-related traffic offense, is also considered a previous conviction for violation of this section. However, in satisfaction of the fine imposed pursuant to this section, the court may, upon a finding that the defendant is financially unable to pay either all or part of the fine, order that the defendant participate for a specified additional period of time in public service or a community work project in lieu of payment of that portion of the fine which the court determines the defendant is unable to pay. In determining such additional sentence, the court shall consider the amount of the unpaid portion of the fine and the reasonable value of the services to be ordered; however, the court may not compute the reasonable value of services at a rate less than the federal minimum wage at the time of sentencing.

(7) A conviction under this section does not bar any civil suit for damages against the person so convicted.

(8) At the arraignment, or in conjunction with any notice of arraignment provided by the clerk of the court, the clerk shall provide any person charged with a violation of this section with notice that upon conviction the court shall suspend or revoke the offender’s driver’s license and that the offender should make arrangements for transportation at any proceeding in which the court may take such action. Failure to provide such notice does not affect the court’s suspension or revocation of the offender’s driver’s license.

(9) A person who is arrested for a violation of this section may not be released from custody:

(a) Until the person is no longer under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893 and affected to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired;

(b) Until the person’s blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level is less than 0.05; or

(c) Until 8 hours have elapsed from the time the person was arrested.

(10) The rulings of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles under s. 322.2615 shall not be considered in any trial for a violation of this section. Testimony or evidence from the administrative proceedings or any written statement submitted by a person in his or her request for administrative review is inadmissible into evidence or for any other purpose in any criminal proceeding, unless timely disclosed in criminal discovery pursuant to Rule 3.220, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.

(11) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is directed to adopt rules providing for the implementation of the use of ignition interlock devices.

(12) If the records of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles show that the defendant has been previously convicted of the offense of driving under the influence, that evidence is sufficient by itself to establish that prior conviction for driving under the influence. However, such evidence may be contradicted or rebutted by other evidence. This presumption may be considered along with any other evidence presented in deciding whether the defendant has been previously convicted of the offense of driving under the influence.

When an accident occurs, the most common violation given is for careless driving. It is also one of the most dismissable of all of the tickets we handle. There are very specific rules for the issuance of this type of ticket…..and police often get it wrong.

316.1925 Careless driving.—