I WAS CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI) IN SOUTH CAROLINA. WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES?
The short answer is: DUI penalties in SC are numerous and severe and, to make matters worse, they vary depending on the jurisdiction in which you were charged. This is because court fines and assessments vary. You should call Attorney Joyner at 843.253.5316 with the specifics of your case for a more accurate consultation. The long answer is: Generally speaking, in this area of SC, your minimum fine for a 1st offense DUI will be between $997 and $2,267, depending on your Datamaster BAC results. Worse still, if you’re found guilty, the law requires a minimum 48 hours of either jail time or community service. You could face up to a whole 30 days in jail! On top of all that, you will lose your driver’s license for 6 months. There are ways you can fight to keep your license or to get a temporary alcohol license, but you’ll face state-imposed fees amounting to hundreds of dollars just to have the opportunity, and you might be denied a license anyway! On top of that, you face mandated “alcohol and drug” classes that also amount to hundreds of dollars. And it keeps getting worse because most insurance companies – if they don’t completely cancel your coverage altogether – will probably increase your rates for up to 3 years. Finally, and perhaps worst of all, because a DUI conviction stays on your driving record for no less than 10 years, future potential employers and insurance companies will easily be able to find out about the one time you were accused of this crime. If you’ve been charged with DUI, you need to fight it, but because the issues are so complex, you should not fight it alone!