California vs Florida

$100-$200 base fine on a first conviction, plus penalty assessments — a civil infraction under CA Veh. Code 16029(a), for failing to provide evidence of financial responsibility (16028(a)). The court may impound the vehicle and order coverage maintained for at least one year.

$200-$500 for a subsequent conviction within three years, plus penalty assessments — civil infraction under CA Veh. Code 16029(b). Same penalty-assessment multiplier as the first-offense fine; the court may also impound the vehicle.

License revoked on DUI conviction; IID mandatory: ≥6 months (1st, if BAC ≥0.15 or minor in vehicle; court discretion if BAC ≥0.08), ≥1 year (2nd), ≥2 years (3rd) (§316.193). Revocation lengths are set by §322.28 — typically 180 days–1 year for a 1st offense, 5 years for a 2nd within 5 years, and 10 years for a 3rd within 10 years.

1st: $500-$1,000 (BAC ≥0.15 or minor passenger: $1,000-$2,000). 2nd: $1,000-$2,000 (enhanced $2,000-$4,000); ≥10 days jail if within 5 yrs. 3rd within 10 yrs: 3rd-degree felony; beyond 10 yrs: $2,000-$5,000. 4th+: ≥$2,000, 3rd-degree felony. DUI w/ property damage = 1st-deg misdemeanor; serious bodily injury = 3rd-deg felony; death = DUI manslaughter (2nd-deg felony, 4-yr mandatory min). (§316.193)

Misdemeanor. No-insurance suspension (VC 14601.1): up to 6 months jail and/or $300-$1,000. Reckless/negligent suspension (VC 14601): 5 days-6 months + $300-$1,000. DUI-related: VC 14601.2.

Florida DWLS (FL Stat. 322.34). Suspended unknowingly = civil moving violation (Ch. 318). knowing DWLS, general = 2nd-degree misdemeanor (1st; up to 60 days/$500), 1st-degree misdemeanor (2nd+; up to 1 yr/$1,000), with a min 10 days jail on a 3rd+; 3rd-degree felony on a 3rd+ if the suspension is DUI-related (DUI, refusal, death/serious-injury offense, fleeing) (322.34(2)(c)). Habitual traffic offender driving (322.264) = 3rd-degree felony (322.34(5)). CMV while suspended/disqualified = 1st-degree misdemeanor (1st), 3rd-degree felony (2nd+) (322.34(7)). financial-responsibility / administrative track (322.34(10)) — suspended solely for failing to maintain FR under Ch. 324, child support, or unpaid obligations: lighter — 2nd-degree misdemeanor (1st), 1st-degree misdemeanor (2nd+), with a nolo-election option (322.34(11)). Arrest while suspended for an FR reason triggers vehicle impound/immobilization (322.34(8)). Penalty ranges from FL Stat. 775.082-083: 2nd-deg misd up to 60 days/$500; 1st-deg misd up to 1 yr/$1,000; 3rd-deg felony up to 5 yrs/$5,000.

Must downgrade to a Class C license to obtain a restricted license. If not operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the offense, a $125 reissue fee applies after a 30-day suspension. A DUI in a commercial vehicle triggers a 1-year CDL disqualification under federal rules.

Florida CDL disqualification (FL Stat. 322.61, federal FMCSA structure). 1-year (first major offense): DUI including in a NON-commercial vehicle (322.61(3)(b)1), CMV at 0.04+ BAC, leaving the scene, felony with a vehicle, refusal, CMV-while-disqualified, negligent-operation fatality. 3-year if transporting hazardous materials (4). permanent for a 2nd major offense (5), a controlled-substance manufacture/distribution felony with a vehicle (6), or a human-trafficking felony with a CMV (7). Serious-violation ladder: 60 days (2nd in 3 yrs) / 120 days (3rd) — reckless, 15+ over, texting, handheld, etc. Plus out-of-service-order and railroad-crossing ladders. CMV alcohol threshold 0.04. Important for CDL holders: a DUI in a personal vehicle still triggers a 1-year CDL disqualification.