A first-time DUI diversion of prosecution after a DUI arrest in Hillsborough County can be overwhelming. Understanding the RIDR program, designed to reduce DUI recidivism, is crucial for those seeking a path to resolution. This guide provides essential Q&A and a detailed table summarizing the program’s eligibility, benefits, and restrictions, offering clarity to individuals facing DUI charges and exploring their diversion options. If you’re looking for expert legal guidance, especially concerning the details found below, contact Casey the Lawyer at DUI2Go.com to discuss your case.
Q&A: RIDR Program in Hillsborough County Florida – Answers from an Expert
Questions and Answers
from a
DUI Expert
As a DUI expert serving Hillsborough County, I understand the anxiety and confusion that follows a first-time DUI arrest. The RIDR program offers a potential path to resolution, but navigating its complexities is vital. This comprehensive guide breaks down the RIDR program through essential Q&A and a detailed table, clearly outlining eligibility, benefits, and restrictions.
My goal is to equip you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions. If you’re seeking clarity and personalized legal guidance on your DUI case and the RIDR program details presented below, reach out to Casey at DUI2Go.com for expert assistance.
The program was created to address Hillsborough County’s high rates of DUI crashes, injuries, and fatalities. It aims to reduce recidivism and improve community safety by imposing enhanced sanctions on first-time, non-aggravated DUI offenders.
Eligibility criteria include: the case must be a misdemeanor DUI offense; there can be no children in the vehicle; the breath alcohol concentration must be below 0.200%; there cannot have been a crash; there cannot be a prior DUI, alcohol-related reckless driving, driving while license suspended with serious bodily injury or death, leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death, or vehicular homicide charges; there cannot have been a prior DUI diversion program and no more than one non-DUI diversion program as an adult; and in the five years prior to the date of offense the driver cannot have had a prior adjudication withhold or any portion of a felony sentence.
Your attorney can request consideration. The State Attorney’s Office evaluates cases individually based on the specific facts. They have the sole discretion to determine eligibility. Sanction levels are determined by BAC and the nature of the offense.
Benefits include: No Conviction; reduced charge to reckless driving; withhold adjudication; 12 months probation; vehicle immobilization for 10 days; avoidance of a DUI conviction on their record; and completion of DUI school and any recommended treatment.
Restrictions include: no possession or consumption of alcohol, illegal drugs, or non-prescribed drugs during the 12-month probation period; payment of standard court costs and cost of supervision; and completion of DUI school and any recommended treatment.
Table Summarizing the First-Time DUI Diversion (RIDR) Program:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Goal | Reduce DUI recidivism and improve community safety in Hillsborough County. |
| Eligibility | Misdemeanor DUI, BAC < 0.200%, no crash, no prior DUI-related offenses, no children in vehicle, limited prior diversions, no recent felony convictions. |
| Case Selection | State Attorney’s Office discretion, individual case evaluation. |
| Sanction Levels | Level 1: BAC < 0.15%; Level 2: BAC 0.15% – 0.20% or refusal; Level 3: Drug-related DUI. |
| Plea Offer Benefits | Reduced charge (reckless driving), withhold adjudication, 12 months probation. |
| Restrictions | 10-day vehicle immobilization, no alcohol/drug consumption, payment of court costs, DUI school completion. |
Don’t Navigate Your DUI Alone: Connect with Casey Today.
If you or someone you know is facing a first-time DUI in Hillsborough County, contact Casey at DUI2Go.com today. Learn more about Casey here: https://dui2go.com/about/ For expert legal assistance regarding the First-Time DUI Diversion program, reach out to Casey at DUI2Go.com. Contact Casey here: https://dui2go.com/contact/
Original Announcement from 2018
Why Start New First-Time DUI Diversion (RIDR)?
Hillsborough County has consistently been ranked the worst or near the worst in Florida for DUI crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Given the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of reducing recidivism to promote long-term Community safety, the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office has established the reducing impaired driving recidivism initiative. The program seeks to aggressively target and reduce impaired driving by imposing enhanced sanctions like alcohol monitoring devices and DUI education programs on first-time, non-aggravated DUI offenders. This First-Time DUI Diversion program also promotes consistency in the prosecution of DUI cases by eliminating the incentive for offenders to refuse to provide a breath sample during the investigation.