Florida Rideshare Drivers Need to Take DUI Charges Seriously if They Want to Keep Driving for Uber and Lyft
Rideshare companies offer convenient transportation options for Niceville residents and visitors alike. At the same time, they also present a good opportunity for Floridians to make money driving for these platforms. Uber and Lyft have strict driver requirements, including a clean record. A DUI conviction can have devastating consequences for rideshare drivers, representing a direct threat to their livelihood. Understanding the implications of drunk driving charges is paramount for anyone who relies on Uber or Lyft for income.
Consequences for Niceville Rideshare Drivers Charged With DUI
If you drive for Uber or Lyft in Niceville and were pulled over for driving under the influence (DUI), it is critical that you take these charges seriously.
A DUI conviction in Florida can result in significant criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for a DUI in Florida are among the strictest in the nation. A drunk driving conviction is added to your permanent criminal record and could jeopardize your future, including the chance to continue driving for rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber.
Criminal Penalties for Drunk Driving in Florida
It is important to note that a DUI in Florida isn’t restricted to alcohol. Florida Statute 877.111 lists an array of intoxicating substances, including hexane, ethyl acetate, and nitrous oxide. The statute includes any similar substance “for the purpose of inducing a condition of intoxication or which distorts or disturbs the auditory, visual, or mental processes.”
Many factors impact the potential penalties for a Florida DUI, including whether it was a first-time or subsequent conviction. You may be charged with an “enhanced” DUI if you had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.15 or you had a minor in the vehicle.
A standard first-time DUI, charged as a misdemeanor, may result in:
- A fine of $500 to $1,000
- One year probation
- Jail time of up to six months
- A license suspension of up to one year
- A mandatory 10-day impoundment of the vehicle
- Up to six months of an ignition interlock device
- Up to 50 hours of community service
- Completion of an approved DUI Counter Attack School
- A substance abuse evaluation and completion of any recommended treatment
In some instances, the charge may escalate to a felony, like a DUI with serious bodily injury (SBI). This is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation, a $5,000 fine, and a three-year driver’s license suspension.
Opportunity to Continue Driving for Lyft or Uber
Your ability to continue driving for rideshare platforms is significantly impacted by a DUI. Lyft and Uber conduct regular background and driving checks. These checks typically look for convictions and not just charges, as you are still innocent until proven guilty.
As a whole, rideshare companies have the legal discretion to reject drivers based on a history of bad driving. Any felony conviction disqualifies you from driving for Lyft or Uber. A reckless driving or DUI misdemeanor in the last seven years is also a disqualifying factor, along with other certain criminal offenses. Uber typically reruns a screening for its drivers at least annually.
If your DUI case is expunged or dismissed, you may still be eligible to drive for these rideshare platforms.
Other Repercussions for Driving Under the Influence
As if criminal penalties and being barred from driving for Uber and Lyft weren’t enough, a Florida DUI conviction can have even longer-lasting consequences.
- It can affect college admissions applications or applications for student housing.
- It can impact your immigration status if you are applying for US citizenship.
- It can hamper your future employment prospects, preventing security clearance.
- It can raise your car insurance rates and require you to increase your coverage limits.
- It can harm how the court perceives your suitability in child custody proceedings.
Possible DUI Defense Strategies
The skilled Florida criminal defense attorneys at Flaherty & Merrifield will work with you to develop compelling defense strategies for your DUI charge. These may include:
- Contesting the legitimacy of the traffic stop by the arresting officer
- Questioning the accuracy and administration of field sobriety tests
- Challenging how law enforcement analyzes and interprets urine samples in DUI cases
- Arguing that the defendant’s rights were violated with improper arrest protocols
- Claiming that the defendant was unknowingly intoxicated against their will
- Negotiating to reduce the DUI to a lesser charge, like reckless driving
Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys Get the Job Done
For over 20 years, DUI attorney Tim Flaherty has served the people of northwest Florida. Along with Brandy Merrifield, our legal practice has helped to defend thousands of locals and vacationers against criminal charges, fighting for the best possible resolution in each case. Don’t leave your future up to chance. If you want to keep driving for Uber and Lyft, you need a DUI criminal defense lawyer on your side.
