• Florida bases DUI penalties partly on the offender's blood alcohol level.to drunk to drive image by Marjan Veljanoski from Fotolia.com
  
  The Florida Statutes set different penalties for different degrees and instances of driving under the influence (DUI). Offenders face suspensions, DUI school, and constant monitoring for each conviction, culminating in a permanent loss of driving privileges upon the fourth conviction. The severity of penalties depends on the circumstances of an arrest, including the offender's blood-alcohol level (BAL).
  
  

Impairment

• Florida statutes state that a BAL of 0.08 or higher means the driver is impaired. Technically, this means that the offender has 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 1,000 milliliters of blood.
  
  

Higher penalties

• State law raises the fines and imprisonment for someone with a BAL of 0.15 or higher. For example, a first conviction would bring a fine between $500-$1,000 for a BAL of 0.08. A BAL of 0.15, however, brings fines between $1,000-$2,000. These stiffer penalties also apply if the offender has a minor in the vehicle, regardless of the offender's BAL.
  
  

Commercial drivers

• Florida puts greater requirements on drivers of commercial vehicles (such as 18-wheelers). Commercial drivers must have a BAL of 0.04 or less to avoid DUI charges. Penalties are even steeper than for individual drivers. The first conviction brings a one-year suspension from driving commercial vehicles, and a second conviction would ban the offender permanently from getting a commercial driver's license.
  
  

Minors

• The very strictest requirements fall on drivers who are too young to legally drink anyway. Drivers under age 21 can be charged with DUI for having a BAL of 0.02. License suspensions range from 6 to 18 months. Minors with a BAL of 0.05 or more must complete a substance abuse evaluation and course before getting their licenses back.