South Carolina DUI Consequences

Everyone makes mistakes—but unfortunately, when that mistake involves driving under the influence (DUI), one bad decision can cost you. However, you can avoid this scenario if you understand the DUI laws in your area. Like most states, South Carolina lawmakers grant little leniency to drunk drivers and under state law, a DUI conviction carries a number of harsh penalties. Here’s what every driver should know about South Carolina DUI consequences.

If you are convicted of driving under the influence and it is your first offense, your sentence may include a $400 fine, 48-hour to 30-day jail sentence, and six-month license suspension. In some circumstances, the judge may also order you to enroll in a court-approved alcohol rehabilitation program. Additional penalties may also apply if you had an extremely high amount of alcohol in your system at the time of your arrest—a concentration known as blood alcohol content, or BAC.

Under state law, habitual drunk drivers are subjected to much harsher sentencing requirements than first-time offenders. A second DUI conviction within a ten-year period, for example, carries a $2,100 to $5,100 fine, one-year license suspension, and up to a one-year jail sentence. Rehabilitation is also more likely to be included in your sentence, and once your license is reinstated, you may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle for two years (making it impossible to start your vehicle unless you successfully complete a breath test).

For a third DUI conviction, your sentence may include up to $6,300 in fines and up to three years of jail time. Your driving privileges could also be revoked for up to two years, and you may have to maintain an ignition interlock device in your vehicle for the next three years. Once again, the judge may also require you to obtain treatment for substance abuse.

Regardless of whether you are a first-time offender or have a long history of driving under the influence, you can expect complications in your personal life if you are convicted of DUI. First and foremost, your conviction will show up on your criminal record throughout your life, jeopardizing countless housing, employment, and/or educational opportunities in the future. It’s also not uncommon for convicted drunk drivers to pay two to three times more for auto insurance than a driver who has no record of driving under the influence—which means a DUI will almost certainly impact your budget for years to come.

Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid both the short- and long-term consequences of a drunk driving conviction. In fact, with the right legal strategy, many drivers are able to get their charges reduced or entirely dismissed in court. To find out how you can improve your chance for success, complete our online form today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a skilled DUI defense attorney in your area.