Get The Representation That You Need to Protect Your DUI Cases in South Carolina.
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or DUI, in Fort Mill & Greenville South Carolina, you may already be struggling with how to reconcile the intimidating charges. You probably have a lot of questions, beginning with how a DUI affects your driving privileges, how you can get your license back, and what consequences come next.
After all, the world does not stop because you have been charged with a DUI in Fort Mill & Greenville. You still must go to work or school. You may have kids that must go to school, play sports, and accompany you on errands.
How are you going to get to and from your daily obligations if your license is suspended?
Understanding your rights after a DUI arrest can be overwhelming and cause such severe stress that you may not know what step to take first. We can help.
At the David W. Martin Law Group, our Fort Mill & Greenville DUI attorneys focus on providing real-time customized solutions for our clients, so they can face their charges and the solicitor’s office with confidence.
Who Can Be Charged with a DUI in Fort Mill, South Carolina?
A DUI in South Carolina requires proof that the driver was appreciably and materially impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both.
That can apply to any driver, including those who are underage.
South Carolina has no tolerance policy for underage drivers consuming alcohol. You only need to register a blood alcohol concentration of .02 percent instead of the .08% BAC for adults if you are under the age of 21 to face consequences for drinking and driving.
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Fort Mill & Greenville, South Carolina, contact our experienced defense attorneys in Fort Mill & Greenville today at (803) 548-2468 to learn how our legal resources can pursue the best outcome for your charges even if this is not your first DUI in Fort Mill & Greenville.
What Are the Penalties for a DUI Charge in Fort Mill & Greenville, South Carolina?
If you have been charged with a first DUI, you will face charges according to the registered blood alcohol content at the time of their arrest.
First DUI penalties for drivers with a BAC Less than 0.10%:
- Must serve 48 hours of community service, or
- Jail time from 48 hours up to 30 days, and
- Fine up to $400
First DUI penalties for drivers with a BAC between .10% and .15%:
- Must serve 72 hours of community service, or
- Jail time from 72 hours up to 30 days, or
- Fine up to $500
First DUI penalties for drivers with a BAC between .16% or greater:
- Must serve 30 days of community service, or
- Jail time from 30 to 90 days, andor
- Fine up to $1,000
Additional DUI penalties in South Carolina may include:
- Driver’s license suspension
- Community service
- Fines, fees, and court costs
- Ignition interlock device
- Mandatory drug and alcohol education, assessment, and treatment
- Expensive SR-22 insurance will be required for reinstatement of your license
- Vehicle confiscation
- Jail time
Community service is allowable in place of jail time only for first offenders.
If you have been convicted of a previous DUAC or DUI charge in Fort Mill & Greenville, you will need an experienced DUI lawyer in Fort Mill & Greenville to assess your case and ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process.
Fort Mill & Greenville DUI enforcement is extensive and aggressive in South Carolina, and so is our approach to producing results for our clients, because a DUI charge should never define you. Allow us to help preserve your reputation by pursuing the best legal outcome available for your South Carolina DUI charges without delay.
Why Was My License Suspended for An Implied Consent Violation?
In South Carolina, when a driver is arrested for DUI or DUAC, the arresting officer will ask that the driver take a breathalyzer test or give a blood draw to determine the blood alcohol concentration. The driver is not required to consent to a breath test or blood test, but if they refuse then the person’s driver’s license can be suspended. Even more, if the driver takes the test and the results are greater than 0.15% BAC then the license is also going to be suspended.
Good news! If this has happened to you, there is a way to get your license and driving privileges back, but you must act quickly as the law only gives you a short window to contest that suspension. Our experienced lawyers will help you get back on the road and fight back against the officer’s attempts to suspend your license.
Can I Get a DUI While Operating a Boat in South Carolina?
Yes. The same laws apply to the water as the roadway when operating a vehicle.
That means the officer must prove that the driver was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both so that his or her faculties to operate the boat were materially and appreciably impaired to get a conviction for a BUI or boating under the influence.
A first BUI is a misdemeanor, which carries similar penalties to an initial DUI charge, including community service or jail time and a fine. The person will also lose his or her privilege to operate a watercraft for six months.
The person charged with a BUI will have to complete the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program, which costs approximately $500, and will be ordered to complete a boating safety course.
Just like driving a vehicle on our roadways, if the intoxicated boater causes property damage or bodily injury the penalties will significantly increase and may result in felony charges.
What if I Have Already Been Convicted of a DUI in Fort Mill & Greenville, South Carolina?
Drivers with two or more previous DUI convictions face even stricter penalties.
If you are convicted of a subsequent DUI charge within ten years of your previous conviction, you will face increased fines and a mandatory minimum jail term.
A subsequent DUI conviction can have a dramatic impact on your personal and professional life, which is why it is so important to partner with a Fort Mill & Greenville DUI lawyer immediately after you have been charged, so you can get ahead of the solicitor’s office by allowing us to build a strong case on your behalf.
A Drunk Driving Arrest Does Not Mean You Are Guilty in Fort Mill & Greenville, South Carolina
Just because you have been arrested for a DUI in Fort Mill & Greenville, does not mean you have been proven guilty of driving under the influence.
Being stopped or arrested or charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs does not automatically equate to a conviction.
The solicitor’s office must prove that you were appreciably impaired at the time of your arrest, either mentally, physically, or materially.
A chargeable offense for a positive BAC test or one that reads as .08 or higher during a DUI roadblock, checkpoint, or routine sobriety test is not the equivalent of a guilty DUI verdict in a court of law, and our experienced Criminal defense lawyer Greenville will prepare your case accordingly, so we can pursue the best outcome for your unique circumstances.
Our Fort Mill & Greenville DUI lawyer will assess your complete case, seeking the proper defense to have your charges decreased or dismissed by:
- Challenging probable cause for the arrest
- Contesting the field sobriety test and whether it was properly conducted
- Submitting a motion to suppress breathalyzer test evidence
- Defending your rights from illegal search and seizures
- Presenting a reckless driving defense, when applicable
Our Fort Mill & Greenville Criminal Defense Attorneys Fight For Clients Who Have Been Charged With:
- Assault and Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Shoplifting
- DUAC
- Traffic Violations
- Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
- Drug Crimes
- Gun Crimes
- Sex Crimes
- Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor
- Murder or Attempted Murder
Contact our Very Experienced DUI Lawyers in Fort Mill & Greenville by calling (803) 548-2468.
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Fort Mill & Greenville, South Carolina, do not face the solicitor’s office alone. Contact our Criminal defense attorney Fort Mill today to schedule a consultation by calling (803) 548-2468 to learn how we can strengthen your case based on the facts and evidence surrounding your arrest. The sooner we can review your case, the quicker we can counter the charges against you while petitioning to keep your driving privileges until the hearing.
