Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 322.263 (2025)

Legislative intent.

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322.263 Legislative intent.—It is declared to be the legislative intent to:

(1) Provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of the state.

(2) Deny the privilege of operating motor vehicles on public highways to persons who, by their conduct and record, have demonstrated their indifference for the safety and welfare of others and their disrespect for the laws of the state and the orders of the state courts and administrative agencies.

(3) Discourage repetition of criminal action by individuals against the peace and dignity of the state, its political subdivisions, and its municipalities and impose increased and added deprivation of the privilege of operating motor vehicles upon habitual offenders who have been convicted repeatedly of violations of traffic laws.

History.—s. 1, ch. 72-175.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 18 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1974–2025 · leading case: Lescher v. Florida Dept. of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs., 985 So. 2d 1078 (Fla. 2008).

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Lescher v. Florida Dept. of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs., 985 So. 2d 1078 (Fla. 2008). · cites it 6× “§ 322.263, Fla. Stat. (2005). The Legislature further provided that "[t]his chapter [322] shall be liberally construed to the end that the greatest force and effect may be given to its provisions for the promotion of public safety.”

Raulerson v. State, 763 So. 2d 285 (Fla. 2000). · cites it 3× “Section 322.263, Florida Statutes (1995), expressly declares the legislative intent underlying all of Chapter 322: It is declared to be the legislative intent to: (1) Provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of the state.”

State v. Keirn, 720 So. 2d 1085 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998). · cites it 3× “Section 322.263, Florida Statutes (1995), expressly declares the legislative intent underlying all of Chapter 322: It is declared to be the legislative intent to: (1) Provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of the state.”

State v. Harvey, 693 So. 2d 1009 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997). · cites it 3× “While it is true that the legislative intent as set forth in section 322.263(3), Florida Statutes (1995), was to discourage repetition of criminal action, it also ascribes as part of the legislative intent to "impose increased and added deprivation of the privilege of operating…”

State, Dept. of Hwy. Saf. v. Degrossi, 680 So. 2d 1093 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996). · cites it 3× “[2] The legislative intent in enacting the driver license laws is to provide maximum safety for all persons who travel by discouraging repetition of criminal action through denying "the privilege of operating motor vehicles on public highways to persons who, by their conduct and…”

Burgess v. State, 198 So. 3d 1151 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016). · cites it 2× “34(5) to driving without ever having had a license, as Carroll did, would better comport with the expressed legislative purpose to deter habitual traffic offenders, see § 322.263, one cannot say that interpreting the statute in accord with its plain language leads to absurd' or…”

State, Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs. v. Walsh, 204 So. 3d 169 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016). · cites it 2× “(1997)); see also § 322.263(1), Fla. Stat. (1997) (legislative intent was to “provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of the state”).”

John Eugene Williams, III v. State of Florida, 244 So. 3d 356 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018). · cites it 2× “(setting forth “eligibility requirements for driving privileges” for minors); § 322.263(2), Fla. Stat. (2016) (declaring the legislative intent to “[d]eny the privilege of operating motor vehicles” to persons who have demonstrated their indifference to the safety of others and…”

State, Dept. of Hwy. Saf. v. Grapski, 696 So. 2d 950 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997). · cites it 2× “§ 322.263, Fla. Stat. (1993). The chapter is to be liberally construed "to the end that the greatest force *952 and effect may be given to its provision for the promotion of public safety.”

Keith v. Capers, 362 So. 2d 130 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978). · cites it 2× “Section 322.263, Florida Statutes (1977), expresses the legislative intent of the driver license laws: to provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use Florida’s public highways; to deny the driving privilege to persons who, by conduct and record,…”

State, Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs. v. Abbey, 745 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999). · cites it 2× “” § 322.263(1), Fla. Stat. (1997). When the legislature announced that an applicant must be “drug-free,” it did not intend the applicant to refrain from the use of aspirin.”

State v. Demarzo, 453 So. 2d 850 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984). · cites it 2× “When that factor is considered together with the expressed legislative intent to “provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of the state,” Section 322.263(1), Florida Statutes (Supp.”

Show all 18 citing cases →

— 322.263(1) — 4 cases

State, Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs. v. Walsh, 204 So. 3d 169 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016). “(1997)); see also § 322.263(1), Fla. Stat. (1997) (legislative intent was to “provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of the state”).”

State, Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs. v. Abbey, 745 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999). “” § 322.263(1), Fla. Stat. (1997). When the legislature announced that an applicant must be “drug-free,” it did not intend the applicant to refrain from the use of aspirin.”

State v. Demarzo, 453 So. 2d 850 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984). “When that factor is considered together with the expressed legislative intent to “provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of the state,” Section 322.263(1), Florida Statutes (Supp.”

Michael Crist v. State of Florida (Fla. 5th DCA 2025).

— 322.263(2) — 3 cases

John Eugene Williams, III v. State of Florida, 244 So. 3d 356 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018). “(setting forth “eligibility requirements for driving privileges” for minors); § 322.263(2), Fla. Stat. (2016) (declaring the legislative intent to “[d]eny the privilege of operating motor vehicles” to persons who have demonstrated their indifference to the safety of others and…”

Burgess v. State, 198 So. 3d 1151 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016). “34(5) to driving without ever having had a license, as Carroll did, would better comport with the expressed legislative purpose to deter habitual traffic offenders, see § 322.263, one cannot say that interpreting the statute in accord with its plain language leads to absurd' or…”

Burgess v. State (Fla. 2d DCA 2016).

— 322.263(3) — 1 case

State v. Harvey, 693 So. 2d 1009 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997). “While it is true that the legislative intent as set forth in section 322.263(3), Florida Statutes (1995), was to discourage repetition of criminal action, it also ascribes as part of the legislative intent to "impose increased and added deprivation of the privilege of operating…”

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