Fla. Stat. » Title XXIII — MOTOR VEHICLES · Chapter 316 — STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL
Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 316.655 (2025)

Penalties.

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316.655 Penalties.—
(1) A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, except those violations with a specific criminal charge, as enumerated in s. 318.17, are infractions, as defined in s. 318.13(3). Except for violations of s. 316.302, infractions of this chapter are punishable as provided in chapter 318. Any person convicted of a violation of or otherwise found to be in violation of s. 316.063, s. 316.3025, s. 316.516, s. 316.545, or s. 316.550 shall be punished as specifically provided in that section.
(2) A driver convicted of a violation of any offense prohibited by this chapter or any other law of this state regulating motor vehicles, which resulted in an accident, may have his or her driving privileges revoked or suspended by the court if the court finds such revocation or suspension warranted by the totality of the circumstances resulting in the conviction and the need to provide for the maximum safety for all persons who travel on or who are otherwise affected by the use of the highways of the state. In determining whether suspension or revocation is appropriate, the court shall consider all pertinent factors, including, but not limited to, such factors as the extent and nature of the driver’s violation of this chapter, the number of persons killed or injured as the result of the driver’s violation of this chapter, and the extent of any property damage resulting from the driver’s violation of this chapter.
History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 2, ch. 74-377; ss. 1, 4, ch. 76-31; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 3, ch. 77-456; s. 15, ch. 81-218; s. 6, ch. 83-218; s. 20, ch. 84-359; s. 3, ch. 85-87; s. 18, ch. 86-296; s. 1, ch. 87-246; s. 8, ch. 87-270; s. 2, ch. 87-378; s. 6, ch. 92-165; s. 65, ch. 94-209; s. 11, ch. 94-306; s. 906, ch. 95-148; s. 8, ch. 95-247; s. 26, ch. 95-267; s. 40, ch. 96-350; s. 45, ch. 97-300; s. 15, ch. 2012-181.
Note.—Former s. 316.026.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 31 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1979–2022 · leading case: Stoletz v. State, 875 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 2004).
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Stoletz v. State, 875 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 2004). · cites it 26× “4th DCA 2001), wherein the Fourth District concluded that the defendant's driver's license could not be permanently revoked for a second DUI conviction under section 316.655 because the more specific statute, section 322.”
Whipple v. State, 789 So. 2d 1132 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001). · cites it 8× “The trial court erroneously revoked appellant's driving privileges pursuant to section 316.655, Florida Statutes (1999).”
Bischoff v. Florida, 242 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (M.D. Fla. 2003). · cites it 4× “2045 (1); Fla. Stat. § 316.655 (1); Fla. Stat. § 318.”
State v. Champe, 373 So. 2d 874 (Fla. 1979). · cites it 2× “25, Florida Statutes (1977), cannot constitutionally be levied on civil penalties (as opposed to criminal fines), the state asks: Are the penalties imposed for traffic infractions under §§ 316.655 and 318.18, Florida Statutes, to be considered as "fines" or "civil penalties"…”
Cheatem v. State, 416 So. 2d 35 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982). · cites it 3× “026, which subsequently became section 316.655, was also enacted. [3] Appellant points out that when the city adopted chapter 316, the relevant statutes were sections 316.”
Gasset v. State, 490 So. 2d 97 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986). “, it chose to maintain criminal sanctions for certain serious traffic offenses, including reckless driving and fleeing or eluding an officer, see § 316.655(1), (4), Fla. Stat. (1985), thereby indicating the state's view of the seriousness of these offenses and the state's…”
City of Aventura v. Masone, 89 So. 3d 233 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011). · cites it 2× “(2) Section 316.655 provides that all traffic infractions be punished under the provisions of chapter 318, and section 318.”
Stoletz v. State, 842 So. 2d 866 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003). · cites it 7× “Whipple’s driver’s license after his second DUI conviction under section 316.655, because the more specific statute, section 322.”
Lewek v. State, 702 So. 2d 527 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997). “1994); see also §§ 316.655, 322.26(8), 322.27(2), 322.28(2), 322.”
Whirley v. State, 450 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 1984). “08(2), which excepted from the definition of "misdemeanor," "any violation of any provision of chapter 316" and section 316.655, which read in pertinent part: (1) A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, except criminal offenses enumerated in section (4), shall be…”
State v. Smith, 584 So. 2d 145 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). · cites it 2× “See § 316.655, Fla. Stat. (1989). See also Ch.”
Houle v. State, 33 So. 3d 822 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). · cites it 2× “The trial court, however, revoked appellant’s driving privileges pursuant to section 316.655(2), not section 322.28(4)(a).”
Show all 31 citing cases →
316.655(1): 5 cases
Cheatem v. State, 416 So. 2d 35 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982). “026, which subsequently became section 316.655, was also enacted. [3] Appellant points out that when the city adopted chapter 316, the relevant statutes were sections 316.”
Gasset v. State, 490 So. 2d 97 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986). “, it chose to maintain criminal sanctions for certain serious traffic offenses, including reckless driving and fleeing or eluding an officer, see § 316.655(1), (4), Fla. Stat. (1985), thereby indicating the state's view of the seriousness of these offenses and the state's…”
Thompson v. Off. of the Pub. Def. of the Ninth Jud. Circuit In & For Orange Cnty., 387 So. 2d 541 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980).
State v. Rahn, 5 Fla. Supp. 2d 11 (Fla. Lee Cty. Ct. 1983).
State v. Garcia, 696 So. 2d 1352 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997).
316.655(1)(3): 1 case
State v. Smith, 624 So. 2d 355 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993).
316.655(2): 6 cases
Stoletz v. State, 875 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 2004). “4th DCA 2001), wherein the Fourth District concluded that the defendant's driver's license could not be permanently revoked for a second DUI conviction under section 316.655 because the more specific statute, section 322.”
State v. Champe, 373 So. 2d 874 (Fla. 1979). “25, Florida Statutes (1977), cannot constitutionally be levied on civil penalties (as opposed to criminal fines), the state asks: Are the penalties imposed for traffic infractions under §§ 316.655 and 318.18, Florida Statutes, to be considered as "fines" or "civil penalties"…”
Stoletz v. State, 842 So. 2d 866 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003). “Whipple’s driver’s license after his second DUI conviction under section 316.655, because the more specific statute, section 322.”
Houle v. State, 33 So. 3d 822 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). “The trial court, however, revoked appellant’s driving privileges pursuant to section 316.655(2), not section 322.28(4)(a).”
Reed v. State, 744 So. 2d 1090 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999).
316.655(3): 1 case
Bludworth v. Evans ex rel. Chalkey, 40 Fla. Supp. 2d 54 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 1990).
316.655(4): 2 cases
J.R.S. v. State, 483 So. 2d 834 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986).
State v. Schell, 11 Fla. Supp. 2d 68 (Fla. Lee Cty. Ct. 1985).
316.655(4)(f): 2 cases
State v. Armstrong, 428 So. 2d 261 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982).
State v. Schell, 11 Fla. Supp. 2d 68 (Fla. Lee Cty. Ct. 1985).
316.655(5): 2 cases
Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs. v. Heredia, 520 So. 2d 61 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988).
Bludworth v. Evans ex rel. Chalkey, 40 Fla. Supp. 2d 54 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 1990).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.

This Florida statute resource is curated by Florida Bar member Graham W. Syfert, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 316 matters in the context of traffic and automobile accident law and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.