The FL licensing action explained
After a DUI arrest in Florida, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 10 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the FL agency runs the licence case
- 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.
- A formal or informal review may be requested at the Bureau of Administrative Reviews using form HSMV 78065.
- The review request must be made within the short statutory window that begins at arrest, so the paperwork is time-critical.
- Reinstatement is handled by the Bureau of Administrative Reviews under Fla. Stat. §§ 322.2615, 322.2616, 322.271 and 322.64.
Florida licence facts
Florida DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the Florida code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (Florida)
- Controlling statute
- Fla. Stat. § 316.193
- Implied consent
- Fla. Stat. § 316.1932
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 10 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 5 years
- First-offense fine
- $500–$1,000
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 6 months
- Licence suspension
- 6 months
- Ignition interlock
- Not automatic on a first offense
- Trial court
- the County Court
- High-risk filing
- FR-44 for 3 years
Fines and jail exposure rise sharply at 0.15 BAC or with a minor in the car.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an ignition interlock device if the court or agency orders one.
- Florida requires a FR-44 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on flhsmv.gov before you travel to an office.
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
- How long do I have to challenge a Florida licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 10 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the FL licensing agency at flhsmv.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Florida?
- A first DUI offense generally carries a 6 months suspension in Florida. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.