South Carolina DUI Law is one of the most complex areas of law. Many prosecutors say it’s easier to prosecute a murder than a DUI. We’re experienced DUI attorneys. We’ve handled thousands of DUI cases.
Contesting a DUI charge is crucial due to the long-lasting consequences it can have on your life. A DUI conviction will permanently mark your criminal record and stay on your South Carolina Driving Record for a decade.
If you’re a college student in South Carolina, a DUI can jeopardize your grants/scholarships and render you ineligible for the refundable state income tax credit. Moreover, depending on your desired field of study, a DUI conviction may prevent you from working in certain industries as many employers refrain from hiring candidates with alcohol and drug-related charges.
Various businesses have strict policies regarding alcohol and drug use, leading to the termination of employees convicted of DUI. Additionally, if you’re listed on your employer’s automobile insurance policy and get convicted of a DUI, you may face termination from your job.
For individuals holding a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), seeking legal counsel is essential to understand your chances of defeating a DUI charge. In South Carolina, a first offense DUI results in a one-year disqualification of your CDL, while transporting hazardous materials during a DUI conviction can disqualify your CDL for three years.
Professionals such as traveling salespersons, pharmaceutical sales representatives, or anyone relying on automobiles for work face the risk of job loss if convicted of a DUI.
Furthermore, if you’re an out-of-state driver, your home state likely participates in the Driver License Compact (DLC), meaning any out-of-state violations, including DUI convictions, will be communicated to your home state. This underscores the importance of contesting a DUI charge and understanding its broader implications.
A DUI conviction has five main consequences. 1. Potential jail or prison sentence. 2. Your criminal history for life will show a DUI conviction that cannot be expunged . 3. A license suspension of no less than 6 months (Potentially longer if you have a prior DUI) 4. You must complete alcohol classes through South Carolina Behavioral Health which is no less than 16 hours and $500. 5. You must purchase and carry high risk SR-22 insurance for three years after conviction.
The penalties depend on your blood alcohol concentration and whether or not you have had any previous DUI convictions within a 10 year period.
A DUI conviction in South Carolina requires you to pay high risk SR-22 insurance.
You must complete a required alcohol and drug program; treatment is mandatory for all offenses.
You must pay all assessed fees designated by the State of South Carolina.
Until October 1, 2014, a conviction of a DUI 2nd offense or greater, required you to have installed, on any motor vehicle you drive, an ignition interlock device (IID) designed to prevent driving of the vehicle if you have consumed alcoholic beverages. This changed with the passing of Emma’s Law, effective October 1, 2014 and may apply to your DUI 1st charge.
Depending on what offense this is for you (DUI 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th felony DUI, etc…), you will either pay high court fines; be ordered to complete community service; be placed on house arrest; be placed on probation; need to enroll in the IIDP, or even serve jail time.
As you can see, the penalties for DUI are high, so contact the Cole & Crangle Law Firm as soon as possible so that we can begin working on your case.
Your driver’s license was suspended at the time of your arrest due to specific regulations in South Carolina related to DUI cases. If you refused to undergo a breath, blood, or urine test, your license would be suspended for a minimum of six months. This suspension period could extend if you had previous administrative suspensions or prior DUIs on your driving record.
Moreover, if you took the test and registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15% or higher, your driver’s license would automatically be suspended for 30-days suspension. Again, prior administrative suspensions could lengthen this period.
Within 30 days of your arrest, you have the option to request a Contested Case Hearing to challenge this administrative suspension and apply for a temporary alcohol license. This will allow to drive while your case is pending.
It’s important to note that this Contested Case Hearing is distinct from the DUI hearing. The DUI charge is a criminal offense, while the administrative suspension is a civil violation.
If your BAC was below 0.15% when you took the test, you would likely retain your original driver’s license until your court date for the DUI criminal charge.
Time is of the essence in these cases. Contact the Cole & Crangle Law Firm promptly to arrange your free initial consultation and start addressing your legal situation.
South Carolina first enacted IID legislation in 2000 under §56-5-2941. It was amended in 2009. Again, prior to October 1, 2014 IID’s only were required for 2nd and subsequent convictions. As of October 1, 2014 it now applies to many 1st offenses.
When one who is required to have an IID attempts to start up his automobile he must blow into the device installed in the auto. Randomly, as he is driving he has to blow into the device again each time the IID triggers the requirement.
If you are required to have an IID, have problems after the installation of an IID, or if you just have questions…call the Cole & Crangle Law Firm for a free consultation.
Ronnie Cole and John Crangle first crossed paths in 2012, with Ronnie assuming the role of mentor to John. Their professional collaboration officially began in 2016, culminating in John becoming a partner in 2021. John takes the lead as the attorney on every case they handle. Together, they boast extensive experience in managing numerous criminal cases, securing not guilty verdicts, and obtaining dismissals of DUI charges since 2016.
Connect with an attorney who knows DUI law. Each attorney with Cole & Crangle Law Firm has tried DUI cases. 85% of what we do is DUI defense. Our defense attorneys are former prosecutors, public defenders, and municipal judges. We’ve got you covered.
All four attorneys with Cole & Crangle Law Firm are experienced in DUI law. We aren’t your average criminal defense attorney. We live and breath this area of law and are deeply invested in your case.
We cannot guarantee any outcome. But we’ve built a process of strategic and careful case review in each DUI case. We take pride in our results.
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Please note that any result Cole & Crangle Law Firm LLC achieved on behalf of one client, in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Each case is different and nothing on this website should be constituted as legal advice.
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