How Florida DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Florida is prosecuted in the County Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Florida county courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor DUI, a first or second offense, under Chapter 34, Florida Statutes. Circuit courts try felony DUI — a third or later offense, DUI manslaughter, or DUI with serious bodily injury — and hear appeals from county court DUI judgments. Further review lies with the District Courts of Appeal.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at flcourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Florida
A DUI case in Florida is heard in the County Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Fla. Stat. § 316.193 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Florida's implied-consent section, Fla. Stat. § 316.1932. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — An officer suspends the driving privilege on the department's behalf under Fla. Stat. § 322.2615 for a breath or blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more, or for a refusal. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the County Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the County Court. Florida county courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor DUI, a first or second offense, under Chapter 34, Florida Statutes.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Florida courts file criminal cases, DUI included, through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 5Diversion or treatment disposition — Pretrial diversion for a first offense is run by the local State Attorney's office and varies by circuit.
- 6Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500–$1,000, jail exposure up to 6 months, a licence suspension of 6 months. Prior offenses within 5 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. Fines and jail exposure rise sharply at 0.15 BAC or with a minor in the car.
- 7Reinstatement — Reinstatement is handled by the Bureau of Administrative Reviews under Fla. Stat. §§ 322.2615, 322.2616, 322.271 and 322.64. Florida requires a FR-44 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Florida
- Florida courts file criminal cases, DUI included, through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- County courts are courts of record; Florida has no separate municipal trial court for DUI.
- Circuit courts hold appellate jurisdiction over county court DUI judgments under Fla. Stat. § 26.012.
- Pretrial diversion for a first offense is run by the local State Attorney's office and varies by circuit.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Florida ZIP codes covered
These Florida ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Florida resources
Counties
Other Florida official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Florida?
- First-offense DUI cases in Florida are heard in the County Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Florida?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the FL driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.