Hillsborough’s RIDR Program for First-Time DUI Cases: Frequently Asked Questions
After a first DUI arrest in Tampa, Brandon, Riverview or Plant City, many people ask whether Hillsborough County has a program for first-time cases. The State Attorney’s Office has one called RIDR, short for Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism. It can offer a potential reduction from DUI to reckless driving, which may be negotiated by an experienced attorney. It is not automatic, it does not dismiss the case, and eligibility is at the State Attorney’s sole discretion.
As of this writing in 2026, the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit provides the following information about RIDR on its Programs page and in a one-page RIDR information sheet. We summarize it below in our own words. All of it is subject to change, so check the State Attorney’s Office’s current official information before relying on any detail.
Attorney Ron Frey has been practicing law for over two decades and has handled many DUI cases in Hillsborough County. (Our DUI and criminal traffic defense page describes how we approach these cases.)
What RIDR Is
The State Attorney’s Office (SAO) describes RIDR as an initiative for first-time, non-aggravated DUI cases. It pairs added sanctions, such as alcohol monitoring devices and DUI education, with a set plea offer. The SAO says RIDR is also meant to make DUI prosecutions more consistent and to remove any incentive to refuse a breath test during an investigation. Unlike a program that ends in a dropped charge, RIDR leads to a plea to a reduced charge of reckless driving if the person completes the required steps.
Who May Be Eligible, and What Is Generally Excluded
According to the SAO’s information sheet (subject to change), a case generally must meet these conditions:
- The charge is a misdemeanor DUI.
- There was no minor in the vehicle, no crash, and no blood alcohol level of .20 or higher.
- The person has no prior DUI and no prior alcohol-related reckless driving, vehicular homicide, or certain other serious driving offenses involving injury or death. The person also has not been through a DUI diversion program, or more than one non-DUI diversion program, as an adult.
- In the five years before the offense, the person has no felony adjudication, withhold of adjudication, or felony sentence.
- The person has no pending driver’s license suspension, no pending DUI or certain other serious charges, and is not currently in Pretrial Intervention or on probation.
The SAO says it evaluates every case on an individual, fact-specific basis, that eligibility is at its sole discretion, and that it may consider factors not on the list. Meeting every item does not mean an offer will be made.
How the Process Works
Getting into RIDR is not automatic, it is often not simple, and it is not right for everyone. The SAO does not post a separate RIDR application form. According to its information sheet (subject to change), the process generally works like this:
- Attorney Ron Frey works with the client to determine whether RIDR is something they are even interested in pursuing. If, after understanding the potential benefits and having a full understanding of the case, the client wants to pursue it, Attorney Ron Frey can advocate on their behalf and negotiate with the State Attorney’s Office to try to get the SAO on board with a resolution that includes RIDR, if warranted and if desired by the client.
- The SAO assigns an eligible case to a level. The sheet describes Level 1 as a blood alcohol level at or below .15, Level 2 as above .15 or a case with no breath sample, and Level 3 as a drug-related DUI.
- At arraignment, the person waives speedy trial, and the case is set for disposition about 60 days later, according to the sheet.
- Before the disposition date, the person completes the pre-plea sanctions and gives proof to the SAO.
- At disposition, a person who has completed the pre-plea sanctions may accept the plea offer, enter a plea, and be sentenced as part of RIDR.
Typical Conditions
According to the SAO’s information sheet (subject to change), the pre-plea sanctions for everyone include staying crime-free, registering for DUI school and starting any recommended treatment, attending the MADD Victim Impact Panel, and completing 10 community service hours. Level 1 and Level 2 cases also require proof of an ignition interlock device or a continuous alcohol monitoring device. The sheet notes that the interlock option is only for people with a valid license. Level 3 cases require no alcohol, illegal drugs or non-prescribed drugs, plus a drug-testing patch with results sent to the SAO.
The sheet describes the plea offer as a plea to reckless driving with a withhold of adjudication, 12 months of probation, standard court costs and probation conditions, a 10-day vehicle immobilization, no alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during probation, and completing DUI school and any recommended treatment. Level 1 adds 50 community service hours and three months of alcohol monitoring. Level 2 adds 75 hours and six months of monitoring. Level 3 adds 50 hours and three months of a drug-testing patch, with results sent to the Sheriff’s probation staff. The SAO says it will credit sanctions already completed, with proof of no violations.
What Happens on Completion, and If the Steps Are Not Completed
RIDR does not end with the charge being dropped. A person who completes the pre-plea sanctions may accept the SAO’s offer to plead to reckless driving on the terms above, including probation. The sheet describes a withhold of adjudication as part of the offer. How a withhold may affect a person’s record later is a separate question, discussed on our first-time offenders page.
The SAO’s published materials do not say what happens if a person does not complete the pre-plea sanctions or chooses not to accept the offer. In general, the DUI case would continue through the regular court process. The sheet also does not address the separate driver’s license process that can follow a DUI arrest, which our post on a DUI arrest in Tampa explains.
How Attorney Ron Frey Can Help
RIDR is at the State Attorney’s discretion, and no lawyer can promise an offer. What an experienced attorney can do is help make sure the prosecutor sees the full picture. Attorney Ron Frey can:
- Review eligibility. Look at the charge, the test results or refusal, the reports and video, any prior history, and any pending matters, all of which can affect whether an offer is made and at what level.
- Present mitigation. Show the person behind the charge, such as work history, family responsibilities, and steps already taken.
- Advocate and negotiate. If the client wants to pursue RIDR, negotiate with the assigned Assistant State Attorney to try to get the SAO on board, including by pointing out any problems in the State’s case.
- Review the terms. Make sure every condition, and the plea itself, is understood before anyone agrees.
- Weigh the alternatives. RIDR means waiving speedy trial, taking on months of obligations and pleading to reckless driving. If the evidence has real problems, such as a questionable stop or test, contesting the case may be the better route.
Why Talk With a Lawyer First
RIDR involves waiving the right to a speedy trial and, at the end, entering a plea. Those are significant steps to take before you understand your case and your license situation. Every case is different. A lawyer can help you decide whether RIDR, another option, or a defense on the merits fits the facts, and can flag concerns that may matter to licensed professionals, students and people who drive for work. (See our Hillsborough County criminal defense page. For non-DUI first-time misdemeanors, see our post on the Misdemeanor Intervention Program.)
If you or a friend or family member faces any stop, search, seizure, inquiry, investigation, arrest or target letter, contact a lawyer.
Hillsborough RIDR FAQ
What does RIDR stand for?
Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism, an initiative of the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit for certain first-time, non-aggravated DUI cases in Hillsborough County.
Does RIDR get my DUI dismissed?
No. According to the SAO, a person who completes the pre-plea sanctions may be offered a plea to reckless driving, with a withhold of adjudication and probation.
Will I qualify for RIDR because it’s my first DUI?
Not necessarily. The SAO lists several disqualifying factors, reviews each case on its own facts, and decides eligibility at its sole discretion.
What if I refused the breath test?
The SAO’s sheet places cases with no breath sample in Level 2, which carries more community service and a longer monitoring period. The wording is brief, so how it applies to a particular case is worth reviewing with a lawyer.
Does RIDR apply to drug-related DUIs?
The SAO’s sheet describes drug-related DUIs as Level 3, with drug-testing patch requirements instead of alcohol monitoring.
Does RIDR take care of my driver’s license suspension?
The SAO’s RIDR materials do not address it. The license issues after a DUI arrest generally run on a separate track with their own short timelines, so talk with a lawyer about them right away.
Is there a RIDR application form?
The SAO does not post one. Its sheet describes a process that begins at arraignment, which is one reason to have a lawyer involved early.
What if I start RIDR and can’t finish the pre-plea steps?
The SAO’s materials do not say. In general, the DUI case would continue through the regular court process.
Facing a DUI in Hillsborough? Let’s Talk.
If you or a friend or family member would like to speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer about RIDR or other options in a Hillsborough County DUI case, contact Attorney Ron Frey of The Frey Law Firm, LLC.
Call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person.
This post is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
The program information above reflects what the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit published as of this writing in 2026. It is subject to change, and levels, time frames and requirements may be different today. Check the State Attorney’s Office’s current official information. Eligibility for RIDR is at the State Attorney’s discretion and is never assured. Every situation must be evaluated case by case. Please don’t rely on this post, on any other information online, or on AI to make decisions about your situation. Talk with a lawyer.