Can You Sleep in Your Car Drunk in Florida?

Can You Sleep in Your Car Drunk in Florida?

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Florida is one of the American states that have laws on sitting or sleeping in a vehicle when you are drunk.

Can you sleep in your car drunk in Florida? I remembered getting into trouble with friends in Florida years ago. We had taken more drinks than necessary and slept off in the car.

We had to call our parents for rescue at the police station. Although you may not be driving, there is the risk that you may start the engine and drive off once you are sitting in the vehicle and have the key in your hand.

The concern is you have the ability and the intention to drive when you are drunk.  I know it is not new to you that you are not allowed by law in Florida, and the entire United States to drive under the influence of alcohol.

I hope you also know that the law does not allow you to drive under the influence of hard drugs. I have to explain this further.

The laws of Florida and America forbid anyone to drive under the influence of drugs, alcohol, and some lawfully prescribed drugs. The reason is that your ability to drive safely will most likely be compromised.

Some prescribed drugs may also compromise your safe driving ability, so the law does not authorize you to drive when you take them.

Can you sleep in your car drunk in Florida?

In Florida, the law allows you to sleep in a car if you are drunk but not in the driver’s seat. If you are caught, you will be arrested.

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You are arrested not only when you are drunk and driving. The law says that once you are drunk and in physical control of the vehicle you should be arrested.

Have you discovered that certain laws and regulations are not the same in different places?

America does not have a federal law that says you should not drive and sleep, but each state and city has its laws and rules.

There is a three-hour parking rule in Florida. The state law does not allow overnight parking or camping in certain places. Many drivers and car owners are not comfortable with this rule. However, within three hours, you can get good sleep and drive on.

Sleeping in your car in Florida is illegal if you do not follow the rules. Do you want to keep by the rules while sleeping in your vehicle?

Be informed that Florida law says you should be arrested if you should have physical control of your car when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Physical control of a vehicle means you are physically in the car, and you are in a position of possibly operating it.

Therefore, if you are sleeping in the driver’s seat with the car key in the ignition or anywhere close to you, even in your pocket, it legally means you are having a thought of having physical control of the vehicle.

This action qualifies you for arrest by the police and charges of driving under the influence of alcohol. You are culpable even if the engine is not running, the car is in a park, and you are sleeping, not driving.

Possible exceptions to Florida DUI and sleeping in a car:

You will not be seen as having physical control of the car if you are sleeping in the backseat while the car keys are not close to you, for instance, you put them in the glove box.

Get a lawyer that is knowledgeable in driving under the influence of alcohol law to prove your innocence if police should arrest you for sleeping in the back seat of your car when you are drunk, and the car key is far away from you.

A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol is another story. A conviction for this offense is possible, but it is not guaranteed in any case. The prosecution’s responsibility is to prove you guilty of the offense.

The punishment specified by the laws of Florida for being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or chemical substances and being in actual physical control of a car is the same as the punishment for driving under the influence of alcohol or drug.

The state law did not differentiate between the two offenses.

If you are convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol or drug or having physical control of a vehicle while drunk, you will be paid a fine of $2,000.

This is subject to the level of drug or alcohol in your blood or you will be sent to jail for a maximum of nine months.

Your driver’s license will be revoked for 180 days to one year. If you are a first offender, your driving license may be reinstated strictly for employment or business.

You have to go through DUI School before you qualify to get your driving license reinstated. You also have to apply for a hearing for hardship reinstatement.

If the level of alcohol or drug in your blood is above 15, you will be requested to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) for as many as six months.

In Florida and some other states of America, police can arrest you for driving under the influence of alcohol or drug even when they did not see you drive the vehicle.

If they look at the way you drive the vehicle they may establish that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drug.

They will have enough reason to arrest you if you physically control the vehicle.

FAQs

What happens if you get caught sleeping in your car in Florida?

Sleeping in your car in Florida is lawful, but Florida is among the states in America where you are told where and for how long you will sleep in your car.

What is the law on sleeping in your car?

The law of Florida allows you to sleep in your car, but the important question is where. For instance, the law does not permit you to pull up and park on double yellow lines.

You have to park in a safer place. You can park on residential streets, but be on the lookout for parking restrictions.

Can you get pulled over for sleeping in your car?

The law permits you to sleep in your car but not when you are trespassing, intoxicated, or falling asleep as you drive.

Some rules in some cities make it a crime. To stop people from loitering, some states have laws that prohibit people from passing the night at rest spots.

 


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ABOUT ME

I’m Jeff – I’m like a human GPS, but instead of giving you directions, I give you the inside scoop on how to have the time of your life on your next holiday.

As a born & raised Floridian, I know my home state like the back of my hand.

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