Florida DUI Statistics and Rates

Written By: Adam Siegel

Clinically Reviewed By:

Written: April 19, 2024Updated: April 19, 2024Editorial Policy

Reading Time 6 minutes

Forbes ranked the 50 American states in order of which are the most dangerous when it comes to drunk driving. Florida ranks 34th, meaning the driving under the influence (DUI) situation in the state is not too bad.

Let’s take a look at Florida DUI statistics by region, gender, age, and costs.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

A significant portion of the total traffic deaths are attributed to alcohol-related incidents.

In 2021, there were 38,000 DUI cases in Florida that involved a crash. Out of these, 5,111 drunk drivers were under the influence of alcohol, 747 were under the influence of a single drug, and 414 were under the influence of multiple substances.

As of 2024, about 5.09 drunk drivers out of 100,000 licensed drivers are involved in fatal DUI accidents. Similarly, 3.90 per 100,000 state residents are killed in car accidents involving a drunk driver.

Florida’s alcohol-impaired driving fatalities rate (per 100,000 population) is higher than the national average.

The total number of DUI cases filed each year in Florida has seen a decline, from 53,664 in 2012 to 43,899 in 2017. The pending cases, however, peaked during this time at 29%.

The primary contributors to a steady decrease in Florida’s DUI cases over the years are increased use of rideshares (Uber or Lyft), increased education and awareness, and fewer younger people driving.

Statewide Florida DUI Statistics

Here are some general insights into the DUI situation in Florida:

In 2019, there were 814 traffic fatalities related to alcohol-impaired driving in Florida. This accounted for 26.7% of the total traffic deaths in the said year.

In 2018, there were 5,106 alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in Florida. This resulted in 352 fatalities.

In 2018, there were 32,177 arrests for DUI in Florida. Out of these, there were 32,108 adults and 69 juveniles involved.

Hillsborough County had the highest DUI convictions in the state in 2011 (3,256 convictions).

Males are more likely to die when driving under the influence as compared to women.

Jupiter town has the highest share of DUI drivers in Florida.

Florida DUI Statistics by Region

Florida DUI statistics by region include:

Panhandle Region

In Escambia, a survey conducted in 2018 revealed that 18.6% of high school students traveled in a car with a driver who was under the influence of alcohol while 23.2% traveled with a driver under the influence of marijuana.

High school students in Escambia are at a greater risk of DUI accidents as compared to the rest of Florida.

In Washington, 1,602 people were killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver from 2009 to 2018.

In Washington, alcohol-related death rates are higher among males (3.1 per 100,000) compared to females (1.2 per 100,000)

North Florida

In 2021, the rate per 100,000 Alcohol Confirmed Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Fatalities in Alachua County was 1.8, which was almost the same as the rate for Florida.

Alachua ranked fifth in the top ten counties with the highest drunk driving fatality rates in 2021.

Duval County ranks eighth in the top ten counties with the highest drunk driving fatalities with a death rate of 6.73 per 100,000 people. In 2021, the county had an annual five-year average of 63 drunk driving deaths.

Central Florida

The Tampa Police Department made 2,087 DUI arrests in 2016 and 1,729 DUI arrests in 2017. This indicates a 16.8% decrease in arrests from 2016 to 2017.

Over half of the DUI arrests in both 2016 and 2017 were self-initiated, while less than half involved DUI enforcement officers being dispatched to the scene.

Daytona ranks as the ninth most dangerous city when it comes to DUI rates. There are 2.73 DUI-related deaths per 100,000 residents in the city.

Southern Florida

DUI arrests in Miami-Dade County decreased by 64% between 2009 and 2016. This was a significantly larger decrease compared to the State of Florida as a whole (34%) and the United States (29%) over the same period.

From 2016 to 2020, the DUI arrest rate in Miami-Dade had further declined. According to 2020’s estimates, there were 32 arrests per 100,00 people.

In Fort Myers, there have been 241 DUI arrests through July 2021. It’s slightly lower than the total of 250 for the entirety of 2020.

Cape Coral recorded 428 DUI arrests by July 2021. This is slightly less than the total of 452 for the entirety of 2020.

DUI cases can be costly for drunk drivers. A law firm won a $13 million settlement in a drunk driving accident case in Fort Myers. The same firm also recovered $310,000 for a Georgia woman who got injured by a drunk driver in Naples.

DUI Death Rates by Gender and Age

Here’s a closer look at DUI death rates by gender and age in Florida:

Florida’s alcohol-impaired driving death rate by age is higher than the national average (per 100,000)

On average, 5.9 per 100,000 males die in Florida when driving under the influence. This is higher than the national average for DUI male deaths (4.9 per 100,000).

1.8 per 100,000 females die in Florida when driving under the influence. This too is higher than the national average for DUI female deaths (1.6 per 100,000).

The largest number of DUI deaths were reported for the age group 25 – 29, followed by 55 – 59 year olds.

The Cost of DUI in Florida

The cost of DUI in Florida refers to mainly what drunk drivers have to pay. Here are the costs as defined by Florida law:

For a first-time DUI offense in Florida, fines can range from $500 to $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months is possible, and mandatory DUI school education is required. The offender also faces a minimum 180-day license revocation, with the possibility of an extended revocation to one year if they refuse a required roadside test at the time of arrest.

First-time offenders may also have to deal with the installation of an ignition interlock device (IID), community service, and/or probation. Plus, the conviction will remain on record for 75 years.

A second DUI offense in Florida can result in fines ranging from $1,000 to $2,000, imprisonment for up to nine months, and mandatory installation of an IID for a minimum of one year at the convicted person’s expense.

If a third DUI violation occurs more than ten years from the last offense, fines can range from $2,000 to $5,000, imprisonment is possible for up to 12 months, and mandatory installation of an IID for a minimum of two years at the convicted person’s expense is required.

If someone is convicted of a third DUI offense within ten years of the last offense, it is considered a felony of the third degree, with a fine of $5,000, imprisonment for up to five years, and mandatory installation of an IID for a minimum of two years at the convicted person’s expense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Percentage of DUI Cases Are Dismissed in Florida?

The percentage of DUI cases dismissed in Florida is around 30% to 40%

Which Age Group Is Most Involved in DUI Cases in Florida?

Young adults aged 21 to 34 are often reported as the group most involved in DUI cases in Florida.

Is Florida Tough on DUI?

Florida imposes harsher penalties for DUI as compared to other states. Fines can range from $500 – $5000, while imprisonment can range from six months to five years.

Is a DUI a Felony in Florida?

For a DUI to be a felony in Florida, it must be either the third DUI within a ten-year period, the fourth DUI overall, cause serious bodily injury, or result in someone’s death. The most severe offense is known as DUI manslaughter. It is a second-degree felony with a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Data Sources

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/dui/florida-dui-laws/#:~:text=First%20DUI%20Conviction%20in%20Florida,up%20to%20nine%20months%20imprisonment.

Clinically Reviewed By:

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