If you were convicted of a DUI in Okaloosa County, or anywhere in Florida, your driving privileges were most likely suspended for a minimum of six months. You might even have a lifetime revocation of your license.
If you are caught driving while serving a DUI suspension, you will be charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR), in violation of Florida Statute 322.34.
Here is an overview of the penalties according to the statute:
- First Offense: second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine
- Second Offense: first-degree misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $1000 fine
- Third Offense: third-degree felony with a potential five-year prison sentence and a $5000 fine. The judges in Okaloosa County routinely hand down one-year jail sentences for this charge.
Are DUI suspensions treated any differently in Okaloosa County?
Yes they are. In most other DWLSR cases, you would not face a jail sentence for a first or second offense. However, if you are caught driving on a DUI suspension in Okaloosa County, you will likely face a minimum of ten days in jail for a first offense, and far longer for a second or subsequent offense.
Contact an Okaloosa County Criminal Defense Attorney
If you or a loved one have been charged with a DUI in Okaloosa County, call Flaherty & Merrifield today at (850) 403-6835 for a free consultation.