DUI Arrests and Bail Bonds in Florida
Most Florida DUI arrests are bondable, but there is usually a mandatory hold period before anyone can be released — no matter who posts the bond.
The hold period
Florida law provides for a person arrested for DUI to be held until they are no longer impaired or a set number of hours has passed, whichever comes first. This is why families are often told their loved one cannot be released yet even though the bond is already paid. It is not the jail stalling and it is not the bondsman.
Have the bond ready before the hold clears
The practical move is to complete the paperwork and payment during the hold so the bond is posted the moment the person becomes releasable, rather than starting the process afterward.
The driver license clock is separate
A DUI arrest in Florida also triggers an administrative process affecting the driver license that runs on its own short deadline, entirely separate from the criminal case and from the bond. Ask a DUI defense attorney about it immediately — that deadline does not wait for the criminal case.
Vehicle and personal property
If the vehicle was towed, recovering it is handled through the towing company or agency that impounded it, not through the bond. Ask us and we will point you in the right direction for that county.
DUI Bail Bonds — questions we get
Why can't my family member be released right after I pay the DUI bond?
Florida provides for a hold period after a DUI arrest until the person is no longer impaired or a set number of hours passes. The bond can be posted in advance, but release waits for the hold to clear.
Is a first DUI bondable in Florida?
Most standard first-offense DUI arrests are bondable, though aggravating circumstances or additional charges can change that. Call with the booking details and we will check.
Does the bond fix my driver license?
No. The license consequences of a DUI arrest run through a separate administrative process with its own short deadline. Speak with a DUI defense attorney right away.