Florida Driver License: Traffic Laws and Penalties

22 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Traffic Laws and Penalties. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver rear-ends another car, denting its bumper, and also suffers whiplash from the impact. Which coverage pays for the whiplash treatment regardless of who caused the crash?

A Financial Responsibility Certificate
Property Damage Liability
Bodily injury liability
Personal Injury Protection

Answer: D — Personal Injury Protection

PIP covers the policyholder's own injuries no matter who caused the crash; PDL only covers damage done to someone else's property.

2. A car has been driven in Florida for a total of 100 days over the past year, though never for more than two weeks at a stretch. Does it need to meet Florida's insurance minimums?

Yes, but only once the car is registered in Florida
No, because the total must exceed 100 days
No, because the days were not consecutive
Yes, because the 90-day threshold counts total days whether or not they are consecutive

Answer: D — Yes, because the 90-day threshold counts total days whether or not they are consecutive

The 90-day presence rule counts cumulative days in the past year, consecutive or not.

3. An insurer reports that a driver's policy has lapsed, and the driver cannot show new coverage. What is the maximum length of the resulting license and plate suspension?

Six months
18 months
One year
Three years

Answer: D — Three years

Failure to show new coverage after a reported lapse can suspend license and plate for up to three years.

4. A driver convicted of DUI wants to keep driving legally afterward. What coverage must they carry beyond the usual minimums, and for how long?

$30,000 combined, kept for three years
$100,000 per person, $300,000 per crash, and $50,000 PDL, kept for three years
$10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL, kept continuously through registration
$10,000 per person, $20,000 per crash and $10,000 PDL, kept for three years

Answer: B — $100,000 per person, $300,000 per crash, and $50,000 PDL, kept for three years

A DUI conviction requires the higher $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 limits, kept for three years.

5. A driver lets a friend who has never held a license borrow the car for the weekend. Is this lawful?

Yes, as long as the friend is over 18
No, but only the friend can be charged, not the owner
No, letting an unlicensed person drive or rent your vehicle is punishable
Yes, if the friend carries proof of insurance

Answer: C — No, letting an unlicensed person drive or rent your vehicle is punishable

Letting an unlicensed person drive or rent your vehicle is itself a punishable violation.

6. A driver parks in a reserved disabled space using a placard issued to their grandmother, who is not in the car. What happens if caught?

A civil fine only, with no towing
Automatic six-month suspension of the driver's own license
A second-degree misdemeanor: a $500 fine or up to six months in jail, plus towing and confiscation of the permit
A first-degree misdemeanor with up to a year in jail

Answer: C — A second-degree misdemeanor: a $500 fine or up to six months in jail, plus towing and confiscation of the permit

Using someone else's disabled permit is a second-degree misdemeanor with a $500 fine or up to six months in jail, plus towing and confiscation.

7. A driver is arrested for DUI and a breath test at the time of arrest shows a blood alcohol level of .08. What happens to their license?

It is administratively suspended
It is suspended only if they are under 21
Nothing, until a court later convicts them
It is suspended only if they also refuse a second test

Answer: A — It is administratively suspended

At arrest, a breath or blood alcohol level of .08 or above triggers an administrative suspension, without waiting for a conviction.

8. A driver stopped on suspicion of DUI refuses a breath test for the first time. What happens to their license?

No suspension unless later convicted of DUI
An automatic one-year suspension
A 30-day suspension
An automatic 18-month suspension and a first-degree misdemeanor charge

Answer: B — An automatic one-year suspension

A first refusal brings an automatic one-year suspension; the 18-month suspension and misdemeanor charge apply only to a second refusal.

9. A driver is convicted of DUI for the first time, with no elevated blood alcohol level and no minor in the car. What is the minimum period their license is revoked?

90 days
One year
180 days
Three years

Answer: C — 180 days

A first DUI conviction carries a license revocation of at least 180 days.

10. A driver convicted of a first DUI had a blood alcohol level of .15. Compared to a first-time offender below that level, what changes about the sentence?

Only the fine increases; the jail term stays the same
The conviction is automatically treated as a second offense, with a $1,000-$2,000 fine
The minimum fine rises to $1,000 and the maximum jail term rises to 9 months
The mandatory DUI school requirement increases from 12 hours to 21 hours

Answer: C — The minimum fine rises to $1,000 and the maximum jail term rises to 9 months

A .15 level (or a minor in the car) raises the minimum fine from $500 to $1,000 and the jail exposure from 6 months to 9 months.

11. A 19-year-old driver tests at .03 blood alcohol level. What happens to their license?

A 30-day suspension under the point system
Nothing, since .03 is below the adult .08 threshold
Automatic six-month loss of license, since any level of .02 or higher triggers it for drivers under 21
A formal warning only, since a substance abuse course is only required at .05

Answer: C — Automatic six-month loss of license, since any level of .02 or higher triggers it for drivers under 21

For drivers under 21, any level of .02 or higher triggers an automatic six-month loss of license; the substance abuse course only kicks in at .05.

12. Someone throws 20 pounds of trash out of a car window. How does this compare to tossing out a fast-food bag weighing well under 15 pounds?

The heavier litter draws points but no fine; the lighter litter draws only a fine
Only litter over 15 pounds is illegal at all
Both are treated the same, a flat $100 fine
The heavier litter is a first-degree misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and 3 points, while the lighter litter draws just a $100 fine

Answer: D — The heavier litter is a first-degree misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and 3 points, while the lighter litter draws just a $100 fine

Litter up to 15 pounds is a $100 fine, while more than 15 pounds is a first-degree misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and 3 points.

13. A driver passes a stopped school bus on the side where children are getting off, with no one hurt. What is the minimum fine?

$1,500
$1,000
$465
$265

Answer: C — $465

Passing on the loading side raises the minimum fine to $465, versus $265 on the other side.

14. A driver is ticketed for driving 55 miles per hour over the posted limit, a first such offense. What is the fine?

$1,000
$500
$1,500
$2,500

Answer: A — $1,000

More than 50 mph over the limit costs $1,000 for a first offense; $2,500 applies to a second offense.

15. A family is driving with a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, with a parent behind the wheel. What restraint does each child need at minimum?

The 3-year-old may use a belt alone since a parent is driving; the 5-year-old needs a safety seat
Both may simply use the adult lap and shoulder belt
Both need a booster seat
The 3-year-old needs a child safety seat; the 5-year-old may use a safety seat or a booster

Answer: D — The 3-year-old needs a child safety seat; the 5-year-old may use a safety seat or a booster

Children under 4 must use a child safety seat, while children aged 4 and 5 may use a safety seat or a booster.

16. A 16-year-old passenger is not wearing a seatbelt when the car is pulled over. Who is cited?

The driver, because the driver is charged when a passenger under 18 is not properly restrained
No one, since only front-seat passengers must belt up
The passenger, since they are old enough to know better
Both driver and passenger are cited jointly

Answer: A — The driver, because the driver is charged when a passenger under 18 is not properly restrained

The driver is held responsible for an unrestrained passenger under 18; only passengers 18 and older are charged themselves.

17. A driver is found at fault in a crash after which the other party is taken to a medical facility. What is this driver required to do?

Attend a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course
Attend an approved driver improvement course with behind-the-wheel training
Complete 120 hours of community service in a trauma center
Nothing, unless it is their second such crash

Answer: A — Attend a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course

An at-fault crash where someone is taken to a medical facility requires attending a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course, even on the first such crash.

18. A driver accumulates 12 points within a 12-month span. What happens to their license?

30-day suspension
One-year suspension
No action until 18 points are reached
3-month suspension

Answer: A — 30-day suspension

Reaching 12 points within 12 months triggers a 30-day suspension.

19. Which earns more points: speeding 16 mph over the limit, or speeding in a way that causes a crash?

They are the same, both worth 4 points
Neither carries points unless a citation is issued in a school zone
Speeding 16 mph over is worse, at 6 points, versus 4 for causing a crash
Causing a crash while speeding is worse, at 6 points, versus 4 for speeding 16 mph or more over

Answer: D — Causing a crash while speeding is worse, at 6 points, versus 4 for speeding 16 mph or more over

Speeding that results in a crash carries 6 points, more than the 4 points for speeding 16 mph or more over the limit.

20. A 17-year-old driver racks up 7 points within a year. What restriction follows?

Automatic 30-day suspension, same as an adult driver
License revoked outright since they are a minor
License restricted to business purposes for a year, lifted after a 12-hour ADI course and 4 hours of behind-the-wheel training
No special restriction beyond what applies to adult drivers

Answer: C — License restricted to business purposes for a year, lifted after a 12-hour ADI course and 4 hours of behind-the-wheel training

A driver under 18 with 6 or more points in 12 months is restricted to business use for a year, lifted only after completing the ADI course and behind-the-wheel training.

21. One driver has unpaid fines and missed court dates; another is convicted of DUI. How does the resulting loss of driving privilege differ between the two?

Both face revocation, ending the privilege entirely
The DUI driver faces only a temporary suspension, while unpaid fines lead to permanent revocation
Both face the same kind of loss, a suspension
The unpaid-fines driver faces suspension, a temporary withdrawal; the DUI driver faces revocation, which ends the privilege

Answer: D — The unpaid-fines driver faces suspension, a temporary withdrawal; the DUI driver faces revocation, which ends the privilege

Unpaid fines and missed court dates are grounds for suspension, a temporary withdrawal, while DUI is grounds for revocation, which ends the privilege.

22. A driver's license is administratively suspended after a breath test shows .10 at the time of arrest. How soon must they request a review hearing?

Anytime before the court date
Within 90 days of the arrest
Within 30 days of the arrest
Within 10 days of the arrest

Answer: D — Within 10 days of the arrest

A driver administratively suspended for a level of .08 or above must request a formal or informal review hearing within 10 days of the arrest.