Have a DUI(fr-44), insurance premium is $2,800. Am I doomed to never drive again?

After moving to Florida from Virginia my premium almost tripled (went from paying about $280 a month to being charged $680 a month). I have to hold my car insurance coverage for another 20 months before my fr-44 expires but there’s no way I can afford it especially now that I’m about to start college. I’d need a full time job to keep up with tuition + my car insurance. I’m kind of freaking out right now, any advice?

Car insurance spouse dui?

how can i get affordable car insurance after my spouse has DUI ? What if he chooses to never get a license again? Do I have to kick him out so I can afford car insurance? I have a great driving record. HELP !!!!!!

Hire an experienced Florida DUI Lawyer or a competent drunk driving defense attorney who is experienced in the Florida DUI laws.

Understanding the Florida DUI laws and courtroom proceedings that accompany it can be a major challenge. Hiring a qualified Florida DUI attorney whose legal practice concentrates on drunk driving cases can make a difference in the outcome of your drunk driving charge.

Florida DUI Education – First-time Offenders

Florida DUI Information:

Driving with an illegal alcohol level (DUBAL) (.08) results in an immediate License Suspension.

According to Florida DUI statutes, your license will be suspended as of the arrest date for 6 months for the first offense and one year for any other offense of DUBAL. You will be given a 10-day permit on the date of the arrest. Once the permit has expired, then 30 days of the suspension must be served before the driver is eligible to apply for a hardship license.

Eligibility for a Hardship License in the state of Florida

You will be eligible for a hardship license on the first and any consecutive suspension, unless you have been convicted of a DUI in Florida two or more times. Under the Florida DUI law, you must provide proof of enrollment in a driving under the influence school to the Administrative Reviews Office in order to be considered for a hardship license.

If given approval to reinstate early for hardship, you must present this approval to the driver’s license office. At the time of reinstatement, whether for a hardship license or a full license, you must take the required examination, and pay $115 administrative fee and $35 reinstatement fee and any license fee required. Proof of liability insurance on the arrest date will be required or proof of liability coverage and a $15 reinstatement fee will be required.

Conditions for DUI Test Refusals

If you refuse to submit either to a breath or urine test, Florida DUI statutes require that your license be suspended as of the arrest date for a minimum of one year for the first offense and 18 months for any consecutive offenses. You will be given a 10-day permit on the date of arrest and when the permit expires, you must serve 90 days of the suspension before the driver is eligible to apply for a hardship license on the first suspension. No hardship license is permitted if you have refused to submit two or more times. You must provide proof of enrollment in a DUI school to the Administrative Reviews Office for consideration for a hardship license. If given approval to reinstate early for hardship, you must present this approval to the driver license office. At the time of reinstatement, whether for a hardship license or a full license, you must take the required examination, pay a $115 administrative fee, a $35 reinstatement fee and any license fees required. Under Florida DUI law, proof of liability insurance on the arrest date will be required or proof of liability coverage and a $15 reinstatement fee will be required.

Penalties for a DUI in Florida

First DUI – 180 day to 1 year revocation effective on conviction date.

Before the expiration of the revocation period, you may apply for a hardship license in the county where you live. DUI School completion and treatment, if referred, is required. You then can apply for a hardship license in any Administrative Reviews Office.

If you wait to reinstate your license until your revocation period ends, proof of enrollment or completion of DUI School and treatment, if referred, is required.

At the time of reinstatement, whether for a hardship license or a full license, you must take the required examination, and pay $115 administrative fee and $60 reinstatement fee and any license fee required. Proof of liability insurance on the arrest date will be required or proof of liability coverage and a $15 reinstatement fee will be required.

A second DUI conviction in more than 5 years will result in a 180 day to 1 year revocation. You cannot reinstate early for hardship. The full revocation period must be served before you may request a driver license reinstatement. The second DUI conviction within a five-year period will result in a five-year revocation. You may apply for a hardship license at the Administrative Reviews Office after serving one year from the effective date of revocation. DUI School, and treatment, if referred, must be completed and you must have a favorable recommendation from the Special Supervision Services Program to be eligible for a hardship license. If given approval to reinstate early for hardship, you must present this approval to the driver license office. You must remain in the Special Supervision Services Program for the duration of the revocation period to retain your hardship license. If you wait to reinstate until after your revocation period ends, proof of enrollment or completion of DUI School, and treatment, if referred, is required.

At the time of reinstatement, whether for a hardship license or a full license, you are required to take the specified examination, pay a $115 administrative fee, a $60 reinstatement fee and any additional license fees required. Proof of liability insurance on the arrest date will be required or proof of liability coverage and a $15 reinstatement fee will be required.

Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device

Florida DUI statues require an ignition interlock device to be installed on the vehicles of certain persons convicted of DUI in Florida. The ignition interlock program affects those arrested and convicted of DUI after July 1, 2002. This is applicable upon eligibility of reinstatement for a permanent or restricted driver’s license. The ignition interlock device is also required when a driver convicted of DUI in Florida applies for a restricted license for work or business purposes. Two ignition interlock vendors were selected by the State of Florida.

If the person is otherwise eligible, a driver’s license will be issued with a restriction indicating that the interlock device is required. The required time period for interlock officially begins on the day the “P” interlock restriction is issued.

Costs to the Defendant

The cost (plus tax) to the convicted person for an ignition interlock device is:

o $70 for installation

o $67.50 for monthly monitoring and calibration

o $100 refundable deposit

o Or a $5 monthly insurance charge will be assessed. Driving Under the Influence Of Drugs in the State of Florida

DUI (Driving Under the Influence of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances or controlled substances). s. 316.193, F.S.

Under Florida law, DUI is one offense, proved by impairment of normal faculties or unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of.08 or above. The penalties upon conviction are the same according to Florida DUI laws, regardless of the manner in which the offense is proven.

Fine Schedule For A DUI In Florida

First Conviction for a DUI in Florida:

o Not less than $250, or more than $500.

o With Blood/Breath Alcohol Level (BAL) of.20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less than $500, or more than $1,000.

Second Conviction for a DUI in Florida:

o Not less than $500, or more than $1,000.

o With BAL of.20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not less than $1,000, or more than $2,000.

Community Service First Conviction:

o Mandatory 50 hours of community service or additional fine of $10 for each hour of community service required.

Florida DUI Probation and First conviction

Total period of probation and incarceration may not exceed 1 year.

Imprisonment:

At the court’s discretion, sentencing terms may be served in a residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment program, credited toward the term of imprisonment.

First Conviction:

Not more than 6 months.

With BAL of.20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not more than 9 months.

Second Conviction:

Not more than 9 months.

With BAL of.20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not more than 12 months.

If the second conviction happens within 5 years, mandatory imprisonment of at least 10 days will follow. At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.

Impoundment or Immobilization

Unless the family of the defendant has no other transportation

o First conviction = 10 days

o Second conviction within 5 years = 30 days

o Third conviction within 10 years = 90 days

Impoundment or immobilization must not occur concurrently with incarceration.

The court may dismiss the order of impoundment of any vehicles that are owned by the defendant if they are operated solely by the employees of the defendant or any business owned by the defendant.

Conditions for Release of Persons Arrested for DUI in Florida

o The person is no longer under the influence

o The person’s normal faculties are no longer impaired

o The person’s blood/breath alcohol level is lower than 0.05; or

o Eight hours have elapsed from the time the person was arrested.

Misdemeanor Conviction of DUI in Florida

Accident Involving Property Damage or Personal Injury:

Any person who causes property damage or personal injury to another while driving under the influence is guilty of a First Degree Misdemeanor (not more than $1,000 fine or 1-year imprisonment).

Florida DUI Felony Conviction

Repeat Offenders or Accidents Involving Serious Bodily Injury:

Any person convicted of a third DUI within 10 years or a fourth or subsequent DUI commits a Third Degree Felony (not more than $5,000 fine and/or 5 years imprisonment). Any person who causes serious bodily injury while driving under the influence is guilty of a Third Degree Felony (not more than $5,000 fine and/or 5 years imprisonment) or if habitual/violent felony offender.

Driver’s License Revocation Periods for DUI in Florida

At the end of the First Conviction: Minimum 180 days revocation, maximum 1 year.

Second Conviction Within 5 Years: Minimum 5 years revocation. May be eligible for hardship reinstatement after 1 year. Other 2nd offenders same as “A” above.

Third Conviction Within 10 Years: Minimum 10 years revocation. May be eligible for hardship reinstatement after 2 years. Other 3rd offenders same as “A” above. one conviction more than 10 years prior and one within 5 years, same as “B” above.

Fourth Conviction, Regardless of When Prior Convictions Occurred) and Murder with Motor Vehicle: Mandatory permanent revocation. No hardship reinstatement.

Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) Alcohol-Related Convictions or Disqualifications

Persons convicted of driving a commercial motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of.04 or above or refusing to submit to a test to determine the alcohol concentration while driving a commercial motor vehicle, driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, or driving a commercial motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled substance shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a period of 1 year. Second or subsequent conviction of any of the above offenses arising out of separate incidents will result in a permanent disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle. There are no provisions for persons disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle to obtain a hardship (business or employment) license to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

DUI School Requirements in Florida

First Conviction:

Must complete the mandated tenure the DUI school before the hardship reinstatement could take place. Individuals who wait out the revocation period before reinstatement need only show proof of enrollment or completion to become re-licensed.

If an individual enrolls and is reinstated after the revocation period expires, failure to complete the DUI school within 90 days after reinstatement will result in license cancellation. The driver cannot then be re-licensed until the DUI school tenure is completed.

Second Conviction in 5 Years (5-Year Revocation) or Third Conviction in 10 Years (10-Year Revocation):

Customers must complete their DUI school tenure following a conviction.

D. Keith Kilpatrick is the head of Kilpatrick Law Firm, which provides a full range of legal services in Florida’s Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties including Navarre, Pensacola and Destin. The law firm specializes in criminal law including DUI cases, family law, bankruptcy law, real estate law, and personal injury. Call (850)939-7722 for more information or visit http://www.kilpatricklawfirm.com/.

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I’m in Florida and just got a DUI last November. What are some reasonable agencies with low rates?

I’d like to know of any agencies that anyone may have dealt with, that have the lowest rates possible with an FR-44 (Florida’s new version of an SR-22). It is my first offense, and I’ve had a few tickets within the past 4 years. This whole situation is so stressful, and is causing more of a pain in my pocket than anything else. Any suggestions?

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious, yet quite common offense. As you may know, a DUI conviction can be humiliating and expensive for the person involved. Some of the short-term consequences include fines, attorney fees, and license suspension. The long-term consequences are often the most expensive due to the effects on auto insurance rates and coverage.

If you are convicted of a DUI, your insurance company will likely uncover the occurrence. The first way insurers uncover a DUI is through their annual driving record investigations. The second way they find out about a DUI is that you may have to file form SR-22 (Proof of Insurance Certificate) when you re-instate your license. Not all insurance companies will file a SR-22 form, so you might have to consider other options such as changing companies. How insurance companies deal with your specific case is dependent on your individual driving record and past delinquencies, but there are two basic outcomes. Often times, the companies that accept SR-22 forms will specialize in “high-risk” driving auto insurance. While your insurance rates may increase, filing with a smaller company usually makes the switch less expensive then attempting to file an SR-22 with a major firm.

Insurance companies deal with DUI convictions in two general ways. First, they might drop your coverage completely and you will have to find a new company to insure you. The other route they can take is substantially increasing your rates. They will now, because of your DUI, classify you as a “high risk” driver. Regardless of the outcome, you as the paying client, have options to work with.

There are many companies that cover clients with a DUI on their record. In rare cases, insurance companies never find out about the occurrence because it slips through the cracks within an enormous bureaucracy. While we hope you are lucky enough to slip through the cracks, we are also here to prepare you for any negative outcomes. Either way, just keep in mind that you do have options and there are always people there to offer a second chance, you just have to take it.

*Feel free to visit my website [http://the-florida-dui.com/] for more information regarding DUI cases in the state of Floria.

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Nickolas Gatz, Copyright ZNGInc 2007

[http://the-florida-dui.com/]

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Driving under the influence or DUI is a serious offense in the state of Florida and is dealt with accordingly. According to the “Driving Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages, Chemical Substances or Controlled Substances Law s. 316.193, F.S.”, violators of DUI laws can be arrested and penalized. A person can be arrested when 0.08% of alcohol is found present in urine, blood sample, or breath.

There are several sanctions and penalties for conviction of drunk driving under Florida laws depending on offense and case. Penalties include loss of license, fine, permanent criminal record, community service, higher insurance rates, vehicle repossession and even imprisonment.

Below are excerpts of Florida DUI Law and are not meant as a complete resource. Please note that this is for informational purposes only. It is best to consult with an attorney.

Community Service – 316.193 (6)(a), F.S.

First Conviction: Mandatory 50 hours of community service or additional fine of $10 for each hour of community service required.

Probation – 316.193 (5)(6), F.S.

First conviction, total period of probation and incarceration may not exceed 1 year.

Imprisonment- 316.193 (2)(a) 2, 4(b), (6)(j), F.S.

At court’s discretion, sentencing terms may be served in a residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment program, credited toward term of imprisonment.

- First Conviction: Not more than 6 months. With BAL of .20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not more than 9 months.

- Second Conviction: Not more than 9 months. With BAL of .20 or higher or minor in the vehicle: Not more than 12 months. If second conviction within 5 years, mandatory imprisonment of at least 10 days. At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.

- Third Conviction: If third conviction within 10 years, mandatory imprisonment of at least 30 days. At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive. If third conviction more than 10 years, imprisonment for not more than 12 months.

- Fourth or Subsequent Conviction: Not more than 5 years or as provided in 775.084 as habitual/violent offender.

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Florida DUI Attorneys provides detailed information on Florida DUI Attorneys, Driving Under The Influence, Florida Alcohol Treatment, Florida DUI And Fines and more. Florida DUI Attorneys is affiliated with Florida Business Lawyers [http://www.e-floridalawyers.com].

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The filing fee for the “Florida Uniform Financial Responsibility Certificate FR-44″ is 15.00 dollars. Not too bad, however, the other additional insurance costs related to the DUI can be quite severe. Increased coverage, point surcharge, and rate tier assessment combine to skyrocket the policy premium (price) for DUI drivers. Keep in mind FR44 insurance is for DUI drivers only; other high risk drivers file SR22.

For Florida drivers not convicted of DUI the state considers a policyholder who maintains auto insurance liability of 10/20/10 as being financially responsible. The state requires proof of 100/300/50 liability limits, via the FR44 filing, to reinstate and maintain the operators license of drivers with a DUI. This requirement is for three years from date of conviction. For policyholders who are accustomed to minimum coverage, or significantly lower limits, this change drastically increases premium (price).

Auto insurance companies use a system of discounts and surcharges to adjust premium. A “safe driver discount” reduces the premium for drivers who are accident and violation free. Those drivers with accidents and or violations accumulate “points” which surcharge premium. Naturally, DUI is considered a major violation and results in several points. Policy premium increases for each point assessed.

Rate tier assessment is another major factor insurance companies utilize to determine premium. Insurance companies place polices in different tiers (categories) with different rates. Good and bad risk characteristics for a specific policy determine the qualifying tier. DUI does not qualify anyone for a favorable tier with lower rates. In fact, more often than not, an insurance company will place a risk (policy) with a DUI driver in their worst tier with the highest rates.

Florida FR44 insurance is our specialty and we value your phone call. Our clients enjoy a level of personal attention and first class service that most other agencies simply cannot match. For additional related Florida DUI insurance information visit www.DUIinsuranceFlorida.com or call us at 1-877-WIZ-AUTO (949-2886).

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Cheap auto insurance in miami?

Does anyone know of a cheap auto insurance company in Miami? i am 20 years old and i have gotten quotes from Esurance, geico, and progressive. the cheapest was Geico and it was $278 a month for the Basic coverage.

I own my car and it is a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon

As of October 1, 2007, a person convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) is required to maintain increased auto insurance liability in the amount of 100/300/50. The amount indicated represents liability coverage of $100,000 per person for bodily injury or death, $300,000 total for any one accident for bodily injury or death and $50,000 of property damage liability for any one accident.

A combined single limit of liability in the amount of $350,000 for bodily injury, death and property damage in any one accident will also satisfy the Fr-44 requirement. A reinstatement fee of $150, $250, or $500 (1st, 2nd, 3rd offense) will be required for license reinstatement. If the person convicted of DUI had the higher liability limits at the time of the offense than no reinstatement fee will apply. Higher liability limits, as indicated on the form Fr-44, will be required for a period of 3 years.

Fr-44 forms are submitted to Florida’s Bureau of Financial Responsibility by insurance companies on behalf of the policyholder. Failure to maintain the Fr-44 requirement will result in driver’s license and vehicle registration suspensions. Insurance companies are required to notify the Bureau of Financial Responsibly of cancellation of insurance by submitting form Fr-46 to the bureau.

Florida Statue 324.023 is the specific law that requires the higher liability limits for persons convicted of DUI. Prior to its enactment, a person convicted of a DUI was required to maintain liability limits of 10/20/10, or a combined single liability limit of 30,000. Previously, proof of these liability limits were submitted to the Bureau on form Sr-22. The Sr-22 form is still in use to provide evidence of liability insurance for other types of convictions.

Clifford Schimek is a graduate of Florida International University, 1980. He is President of Auto Plus Insurance, a family owned and operated Florida auto insurance agency. Click here to visit our website for additional helpful Florida auto insurance information.

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Im 18 and charged for dui in florida?

Ive known that jobs will look at this on my record be used against me. But how about for colleges and way later on in like after college and all. Im also not a big drinker i just got caught in the wrong possition moving my car when i was drunk. Please any information would help, im about to sign up for college and i was thinking about being a physician assistant… but is it worth it to go threw all that schooling to get rejected to jobs in that field when i finish college?