DUI Diversion Programs in Tampa Bay

Legally reviewed by William Franchi, Founding Attorney, Franchi Law. Updated November 2026.

Tampa Bay DUI diversion programs are run by each county’s State Attorney’s Office. Hillsborough County uses RIDR. Pinellas and Pasco counties share one program, DROP. Polk County has no published DUI diversion program. If the prosecutor offers RIDR or DROP and you finish every requirement, the case can end with a plea to reckless driving instead of DUI.

How DUI diversion works in Tampa Bay

A DUI diversion program is an offer from the prosecutor, not a right. The State Attorney’s Office decides who is eligible. You complete set requirements before a plea, and the case can then be resolved as reckless driving, with probation and court costs. Each program has its own limits on blood alcohol level (BAC), crashes, prior records, and children in the vehicle.

Diversion only deals with the criminal case. Your driver license suspension is a separate matter with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), with its own 10-day deadline. We cover that below.

Tampa Bay DUI diversion programs compared

DUI diversion programs by county, as of November 2026
County	Program	Who may qualify	What you must do	Possible outcome	Official source
Hillsborough	RIDR (Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism), Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office	Misdemeanor DUI with a BAC under .20, no crash, no minor in the vehicle, and no prior DUI or DUI diversion	Before the plea: DUI school, MADD Victim Impact Panel, 10 community service hours, and an ignition interlock or alcohol monitor (Levels 1 and 2) or drug patch (Level 3)	Offer of a plea to reckless driving with adjudication withheld, 12 months of probation, 50 to 75 community service hours, and a 10-day vehicle immobilization	RIDR Information Sheet (January 2026)
Pinellas	DROP (DUI Rehabilitation of Offenders Program), Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office	First-time misdemeanor DUI with a BAC of .150 or lower or a test refusal, no crash with injury or significant property damage, no minor in the vehicle, a valid license, and no CDL	Apply by the second pretrial hearing ($50 fee). Before the plea: 20 community service hours, DUI school, MADD Victim Impact Panel, and a $60 trust fund donation	Charge amended to reckless driving. Tier 1: withhold of adjudication recommended, up to 6 months of probation. Tier 2: adjudication recommended, up to 9 months of probation	Sixth Circuit DROP page
Pasco	DROP, the same program as Pinellas County	Same as Pinellas County	Same as Pinellas County	Same as Pinellas County	Sixth Circuit DROP page
Polk	No published DUI diversion program (Tenth Judicial Circuit)	No published program. The DUI Drug Court is for repeat offenders	DUI Drug Court: plea to DUI, probation, treatment, court dates, and testing	The court’s brochure does not describe any reduction of the DUI charge	Tenth Circuit Problem Solving Court

Hillsborough County: RIDR

The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office (13th Judicial Circuit) runs Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism, or RIDR, for first-time, non-aggravated DUI cases. Its current information sheet is dated January 2026.

Who may qualify for RIDR

The case must be a misdemeanor DUI.
No minor in the vehicle, no crash, and no BAC of .20 or higher.
No prior DUI, alcohol-related reckless driving, or DUI diversion program, and no more than one other diversion program as an adult. Certain other serious driving offenses also disqualify a case.
No felony adjudication, withhold, or sentence in the five years before the offense.
Nothing pending, such as a Florida license suspension, another DUI, Pretrial Intervention, or probation.

The sheet says the office reviews every case on its own facts and decides eligibility at its sole discretion, including for reasons not on the list.

RIDR levels

Level 1: BAC at or below .15.
Level 2: BAC above .15. The sheet’s Level 2 line also mentions cases with no breath sample.
Level 3: drug-related DUI.

What you must do before the plea

Everyone in RIDR must not commit any new crime, must register for DUI school and begin any recommended treatment, attend the MADD Victim Impact Panel, and complete 10 community service hours. Levels 1 and 2 must also show proof that an ignition interlock device or a continuous alcohol monitoring device, such as SCRAM, has been installed. Level 3 participants may not have or use alcohol, illegal drugs, or non-prescribed drugs, and must wear a PharmCheck drug patch.

The RIDR plea offer

After the pre-plea steps are done, the office offers a plea to reckless driving with these terms:

Withhold of adjudication and 12 months of probation, with standard court costs and conditions.
A 10-day vehicle immobilization, no alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during probation, and completion of DUI school and any recommended treatment.
Level 1: 50 community service hours and 3 months of ignition interlock or continuous alcohol monitoring.
Level 2: 75 community service hours and 6 months of ignition interlock or continuous alcohol monitoring.
Level 3: 50 community service hours and 3 months wearing the drug patch.

The office gives credit for sanctions already completed by sentencing, with proof of no violations.

How a case gets into RIDR

The sheet does not describe a separate application. The State Attorney’s Office assigns a level to eligible cases. At arraignment, the person waives speedy trial and agrees to set the case for disposition about 60 days out. Before that date, you must give the office proof that the pre-plea steps are done. The sheet does not list program fees beyond standard court costs. Read the official RIDR Information Sheet or the office’s programs page.

For more on the rest of a Hillsborough County case, see our pages on DUI defense in Tampa, first-time DUI defense in Tampa, and DUI defense in Riverview.

Pinellas and Pasco Counties: DROP

Pinellas and Pasco counties make up Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, so one State Attorney’s Office handles DUI cases in both. Its program is the DUI Rehabilitation of Offenders Program, or DROP. It is a voluntary, supervised program for first-time, misdemeanor DUI and boating under the influence (BUI) cases. Any recommended sanction and outcome must be approved by the court.

Who may qualify for DROP

A breath or blood result of .150 or lower, or a refusal to give a breath, blood, or urine sample. No BAC estimates are allowed.
No crash with bodily injury or significant property damage.
No minor children in the vehicle.
No leaving the scene charge and no felony charge with the DUI.
No pending charges, and not on probation, parole, or other supervision.
No prior DUI, BUI, or similar offense, including one resolved through diversion or a reduced charge.
A valid driver license on the date of the offense, and no commercial driver license (CDL).

The office says every case is reviewed on its own facts and that eligibility is at the State Attorney’s sole discretion.

How to apply for DROP

You must apply at or before your case’s second pretrial hearing. The application package includes the DROP application, a statement of prior record, a waiver of speedy trial, and a nonrefundable $50 money order or cashier’s check made payable to the State of Florida. Forms and filing details are on the Sixth Circuit DROP page. Office contacts: Pinellas, (727) 464-6803; Pasco in New Port Richey, (727) 847-8051; Pasco in Dade City, (352) 521-4333.

What you must do before the plea

20 community service hours with an approved provider. These hours cannot be bought out.
An FLHSMV-approved DUI school in the county where you live, work, or go to school.
A $60 donation to the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program Trust Fund.
The MADD Victim Impact Panel, which is the only panel DROP accepts.

The plea must be entered before any defense motions or speedy trial demand are filed and before any depositions are taken.

The DROP outcome

When the pre-plea conditions are done on time, the State amends the charge to reckless driving under section 316.192 of the Florida Statutes. The recommended sentence depends on your tier and is subject to the court’s approval:

Tier 1 (BAC of .120 or below, and drug DUIs): plea to reckless driving with a recommended withhold of adjudication, and up to 6 months of probation. Conditions include a $100 fine plus costs, 50 total community service hours (the first 20 are credited), a 10-day vehicle immobilization, no alcohol or bars, and random testing at your expense.
Tier 2 (BAC above .120 and up to .150, and breath test refusals): plea to reckless driving with a recommended adjudication of guilt, and up to 9 months of probation. Conditions include a $250 fine plus costs, the same community service, immobilization, and testing terms, and a state-approved driver improvement course.

The office’s program information says that after a Tier 1 withhold and successful probation, no points are added to your license. See the DROP Program Information for the full terms.

Polk County: no published DUI diversion program

Polk County is in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. DROP is a Sixth Circuit program, so it does not apply to Polk County arrests. As of November 2026, the Tenth Circuit State Attorney’s Office has not published a DUI diversion program, eligibility rules, or a reckless driving offer for first-time DUI cases.

Polk County does have a D.U.I. Drug Court, run through the court’s Problem Solving Court. It is built for repeat DUI offenders, and it begins after the court accepts a plea to the DUI charge. Participants are placed on supervised probation and move through three treatment phases with court dates, treatment sessions, support group meetings, random testing, and must pay program fees. For a misdemeanor, the minimum phases add up to 12 months. The judge decides who enters. Its brochure does not describe any reduction of the DUI charge.

Diversion does not stop your license suspension

If you are arrested with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, or after refusing a breath, blood, or urine test, the officer takes your license, gives you a notice of suspension, and issues a 10-day temporary permit if you are otherwise eligible to drive. Under section 322.2615, you have 10 days from the date the notice is issued to request a formal or informal review with FLHSMV. The temporary permit expires at midnight on the 10th day.

The suspension is 6 months for a first BAC result of 0.08 or higher and 1 year for a first refusal. FLHSMV states that the outcome of the criminal case does not affect this suspension, so finishing RIDR or DROP does not undo it. Refusing a lawful breath or urine test is also a separate crime under section 316.1939: a second-degree misdemeanor for a first refusal.

What to think about before accepting a diversion offer

A diversion offer comes with trade-offs. Both programs require a waiver of speedy trial, and DROP requires the plea before defense motions or depositions. We review the arrest report, the reason for the stop, the testing, and your record to help you weigh a program against the other ways your case could be handled.

Franchi Law was founded by attorney William Franchi, a former Tampa Bay area law enforcement officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RIDR the same as DROP?

No. RIDR is the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s program. DROP is the Sixth Judicial Circuit program for Pinellas and Pasco counties. Both can end with a plea to reckless driving, but the BAC limits, requirements, and probation terms differ.

Does Polk County have a DUI diversion program?

As of November 2026, the Tenth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, which handles Polk County cases, has not published a DUI diversion program. Polk County has a DUI Drug Court for repeat DUI offenders, but it begins with a plea to the DUI charge itself, and its brochure does not describe any reduction of the charge.

Can I qualify for RIDR or DROP if I refused the breath test?

DROP lists breath test refusals under Tier 2. The Hillsborough RIDR sheet does not list a refusal as a reason to exclude a case, and its Level 2 line mentions cases with no breath sample. In both counties, the prosecutor decides.

Does finishing a diversion program end my license suspension?

No. The license suspension is a separate matter with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and FLHSMV states that the outcome of the criminal case does not affect it. You have 10 days from the date the notice of suspension is issued to request a formal or informal review.

Is acceptance into RIDR or DROP automatic?

No. Both State Attorney’s Offices say they review every case on its own facts and decide eligibility at their sole discretion, even for reasons not on their written lists. In DROP, the recommended sentence is also subject to the court’s approval.

Talk to us about your DUI case

If you or a family member was arrested for DUI in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, or Polk County, call or text us at (813) 800-4529. Franchi Law has offices at 4100 W Kennedy Blvd, Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33609 and 11131 Winthrop Market St, Suite C, Riverview, FL 33578.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Program rules are set by each State Attorney’s Office and can change.