Criminal Defense Questions: What Happens to an Out of State License after a Florida DUI?

Question: I have an Illinois Driver’s License and I got a DUI in Florida. What will happen to my license, and what do I need to take into consideration?

Amir’s Answer: As someone who’s practiced DUI defense in Florida since 2001, I can tell you that the impact on your license can vary greatly from issuing state to state, but in the end, all states share that information with one another, so your Illinois license will certainly be suspended as a result of your DUI here in Florida. That said, the legal process here and what you need to do are not affected by where your DL was issued. You have ten (10) days to determine what you’re going to do about the fact that your license was suspended, assuming that you A) took a breath test and blew above a 0.08 or B) refused a breath test. I encourage you to reach out to 3-5 DUI lawyers based in the county where your DUI is pending and meet with them. They’ll review your case, often times for free in an initial consultation, and they will be best equipped to tell you what your best options are in that county. While the DUI law is universal throughout Florida, what the DMV may do or what a particular judge may do varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction so it’s in your best interest to hire someone “in the know” as it relates to the county and those that will be deciding your fate.