Fla. Stat. 790.157
Presumption of impairment; testing methods


(1)

It is unlawful and punishable as provided in s. 790.151 for any person who is under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, when affected to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired, to use a firearm in this state.

(2)

Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person while using a firearm while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, when affected to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired or to the extent that the person was deprived of full possession of his or her normal faculties, the results of any test administered in accordance with s. 790.153 or s. 790.155 and this section shall be admissible into evidence when otherwise admissible, and the amount of alcohol in the person’s blood at the time alleged, as shown by chemical analysis of the person’s blood or chemical or physical analysis of the person’s breath, shall give rise to the following presumptions:If there was at that time 0.05 percent or less by weight of alcohol in the person’s blood, it shall be presumed that the person was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired.If there was at that time in excess of 0.05 percent but less than 0.10 percent by weight of alcohol in the person’s blood, such fact shall not give rise to any presumption that the person was or was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired, but such fact may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired.If there was at that time 0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the person’s blood, that fact shall be prima facie evidence that the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired.

The percent by weight of alcohol in the blood shall be based upon grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. The foregoing provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as limiting the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing upon the question of whether the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired.

(a)

If there was at that time 0.05 percent or less by weight of alcohol in the person’s blood, it shall be presumed that the person was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired.

(b)

If there was at that time in excess of 0.05 percent but less than 0.10 percent by weight of alcohol in the person’s blood, such fact shall not give rise to any presumption that the person was or was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired, but such fact may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired.

(c)

If there was at that time 0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the person’s blood, that fact shall be prima facie evidence that the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired.

(3)

A chemical analysis of a person’s blood to determine its alcoholic content or a chemical or physical analysis of a person’s breath, in order to be considered valid under the provisions of this section, must have been performed substantially in accordance with methods approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the department for this purpose. Any insubstantial differences between approved techniques and actual testing procedures in an individual case shall not render the test or test results invalid. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement may approve satisfactory techniques or methods, ascertain the qualification and competence of individuals to conduct such analyses, and issue permits which shall be subject to termination or revocation in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

(4)

Any person charged with using a firearm while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired, whether in a municipality or not, shall be entitled to trial by jury according to the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Source: Section 790.157 — Presumption of impairment; testing methods, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0790.­157 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

790.01
Carrying of concealed weapons or concealed firearms
790.001
Definitions
790.02
Officer to arrest without warrant and upon probable cause
790.06
License to carry concealed weapon or concealed firearm
790.07
Persons engaged in criminal offense, having weapons
790.08
Taking possession of weapons and arms
790.09
Manufacturing or selling metallic knuckles
790.10
Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms
790.013
Carrying of concealed weapons or concealed firearms without a license
790.15
Discharging firearm in public or on residential property
790.015
Nonresidents
790.16
Discharging machine guns
790.17
Furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited
790.18
Sale or transfer of arms to minors by dealers
790.19
Shooting into or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, public or private buildings, occupied or not occupied
790.22
Use of BB guns, air or gas-operated guns, or electric weapons or devices by minor under 16
790.23
Felons and delinquents
790.24
Report of medical treatment of certain wounds
790.25
Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons
790.27
Alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited
790.29
Paramilitary training
790.31
Armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon’s breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited
790.33
Field of regulation of firearms and ammunition preempted
790.051
Exemption from licensing requirements
790.052
Carrying concealed firearms
790.053
Open carrying of weapons
790.054
Prohibited use of self-defense weapon or device against law enforcement officer
790.061
Judges and justices
790.062
Members and veterans of United States Armed Forces
790.064
Firearm possession and firearm ownership disability
790.065
Sale and delivery of firearms
790.115
Possessing or discharging weapons or firearms at a school-sponsored event or on school property prohibited
790.151
Using firearm while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances, or controlled substances
790.153
Tests for impairment or intoxication
790.155
Blood test for impairment or intoxication in cases of death or serious bodily injury
790.157
Presumption of impairment
790.161
Making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging any destructive device or attempt so to do, felony
790.162
Threat to throw, project, place, or discharge any destructive device, felony
790.163
False report concerning planting a bomb, an explosive, or a weapon of mass destruction, or concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner
790.164
False reports concerning planting a bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction in, or committing arson against, state-owned property, or concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner
790.165
Planting of “hoax bomb” prohibited
790.166
Manufacture, possession, sale, delivery, display, use, or attempted or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction or hoax weapon of mass destruction prohibited
790.169
Juvenile offenders
790.173
Legislative findings and intent
790.174
Safe storage of firearms required
790.175
Transfer or sale of firearms
790.221
Possession of short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or machine gun
790.222
Bump-fire stocks prohibited
790.225
Ballistic self-propelled knives
790.233
Possession of firearm or ammunition prohibited when person is subject to an injunction against committing acts of domestic violence, stalking, or cyberstalking
790.235
Possession of firearm or ammunition by violent career criminal unlawful
790.251
Protection of the right to keep and bear arms in motor vehicles for self-defense and other lawful purposes
790.256
Public service announcements
790.331
Prohibition of civil actions against firearms or ammunition manufacturers, firearms trade associations, firearms or ammunition distributors, or firearms or ammunition dealers
790.333
Sport shooting and training range protection
790.335
Prohibition of registration of firearms
790.336
Lists, records, or registries to be destroyed
790.338
Medical privacy concerning firearms
790.401
Risk protection orders
790.0601
Public records exemption for concealed weapons
790.0625
Appointment of tax collectors to accept applications for a concealed weapon or firearm license
790.0655
Purchase and delivery of firearms
790.1612
Authorization for governmental manufacture, possession, and use of destructive devices
790.1615
Unlawful throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging of destructive device or bomb that results in injury to another

Current through Fall 2025

§ 790.157. Presumption of impairment; testing methods's source at flsenate​.gov