Can a person be charged with a DUI after being involved in an accident?
Yes, a person can be charged with a DUI in Florida after being involved in an accident. This is because in Florida, a DUI is defined as operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while impaired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In many cases, police officers will arrive on the scene of an accident and have reasonable cause to investigate the driver of the vehicle for DUI. A driver may be asked to perform a field sobriety test or have their breath or blood tested for the presence of alcohol or drugs. If the driver fails or refuses these tests, then they may be arrested and charged with the DUI even if they were not actually driving at the time of the accident. Even if the driver passes the tests, the police may still accuse them of being impaired at the time of the accident, and can charge them with a DUI if they find sufficient evidence of impairment. The consequences of being convicted of a DUI involving an accident depend on the severity of the offense. For example, a conviction for a misdemeanor DUI can result in up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a license suspension for up to one year, while a felony DUI can result in up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, and a license suspension for up to five years.
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