Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 316.1939 — Refusal to submit to testing; penalties

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Chapter 316: State Uniform Traffic Control, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Refusal to submit to testing; penalties

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 316.1939

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 316.1939Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes

(1) A person who has refused to submit to a chemical or physical test of his or her breath or urine, as described in s. 316.1932, and:(a) Who the arresting law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances, or controlled substances;(b) Who was placed under lawful arrest for a violation of s. 316.193 unless such test was requested pursuant to s. 316.1932(1)(c);(c) Who was informed that, if he or she refused to submit to such test, his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle would be suspended for a period of 1 year or, in the case of a second or subsequent refusal, for a period of 18 months;(d) Who was informed that a refusal to submit to a lawful test of his or her breath or urine is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, or if his or her driving privilege has been previously suspended or if he or she has previously been fined under s. 327.35215 for a prior refusal to submit to a lawful test of his or her breath, urine, or blood as required under this chapter or chapter 327, that a refusal to submit to a lawful test of his or her breath or urine is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, in addition to any other penalties provided by law; and(e) Who, after having been so informed, refused to submit to any such test when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer or correctional officercommits a misdemeanor of the second degree for a first refusal or a misdemeanor of the first degree for a second or subsequent refusal, and is subject to punishment as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (2) The disposition of any administrative proceeding that relates to the suspension of a person’s driving privilege does not affect a criminal action under this section. (3) The disposition of a criminal action under this section does not affect any administrative proceeding that relates to the suspension of a person’s driving privilege. The department’s records showing that a person’s license has been previously suspended for a prior refusal to submit to a lawful test of his or her breath, urine, or blood shall be admissible and shall create a rebuttable presumption of such suspension.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is refusal to submit to testing; penalties a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

It depends on the circumstances: refusal to submit to testing; penalties ranges from a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree to a Misdemeanor of the First Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 316.1939.

First refusal to submit to testing: Misdemeanor of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 316.1939(1)) · Second or subsequent refusal to submit to testing: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 316.1939(1))

Which Florida statute covers refusal to submit to testing; penalties?

Refusal to submit to testing; penalties is governed by Fla. Stat. § 316.1939 (Refusal to submit to testing; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.