You may wish to fight the DUI, which will result in you calling around to different law offices to pick the best lawyer for you. In South Carolina, you will generally hear of an attorney’s fee ranging from $2,500 to $7,000, but there are some even cheaper or more expensive depending on your lawyer’s experience.
A South Carolina second offense DUI conviction carries the following penalties: Jail time: A second offense with a BAC of .08% – .10% will result in a jail sentence of 5 days up to a maximum of 1 year. A second offense with a BAC of .10% – .16% will result in a jail sentence of 30 days up to a maximum of 2 years.
South Carolina DUI law section 56-5-2930 states that it is against the law for any person to drive a motor vehicle in the state of South Carolina while they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08% or greater.
Lain Lawrence, who owns Lawrence Law Firm in Aurora, Colorado, typically charges $2,000-$4,000 for misdemeanor DUI representation. Felony representation brings a higher flat fee.
$2,500 to $7,000DUI Legal Defense Costs in South Carolina In South Carolina, you will generally hear of an attorney's fee ranging from $2,500 to $7,000, but there are some even cheaper or more expensive depending on your lawyer's experience.
A first DUI offense typically carries a mandatory license suspension of 6 months. A second offense will result in suspension for a minimum of 60 days and up to a maximum of 1 year. And a third DUI arrest in South Carolina automatically results in a minimum 2-year license suspension.
DUI Fines, Fees And Court Costs In South Carolina First offense: Between $400 and $1,000. Second offense: Between $2,000 and $6,500. Third offense: Between $3,800 and $10,000.
Bail bondsman: Bail bondsmen charge a maximum of 15 percent of the fine. That equates to at least $150 for a DUI fine. Vehicle towing: The average cost of a vehicle tow is upwards of $150.
Duration of License Suspension After a DUI in South Carolina If you are cited for a DUI for the first time, you will likely face a license suspension for six months. For the second DUI offense, the license suspension period is nine months. For the third DUI offense, you may face a license suspension of up to 12 months.
Felony driving under the influence: If you are convicted of causing great bodily injury or death while driving under the influence (felony DUI), you face: A mandatory fine of $5,100 to $10,100 ($21,119.50 with assessments and surcharges) and imprisonment from 30 days to 15 years when great bodily injury occurs.
five to 10 yearsA DUI or DWI usually stays on your driving record for five to 10 years and your insurance record for three to five years. Besides all of the legal trouble that can come with a DUI, your driving record is blemished. A DUI stays on your driving record for five to 10 years in most states.
South Carolina law defines "under the influence" as being impaired to an extent that the person's faculties to drive a motor vehicle are materially and appreciably impaired. A driver who has a BAC of . 08% or more can be convicted of a "per se DUI," regardless of his or her level of actual impairment.
Even though most DUI defendants are not required to post bail, the Los Angeles County bail schedule does recommend a $5,000 for a first time DUI offense. For defendants who have a prior DUI conviction within the previous ten years, the recommended bail increases to $15,000.
In South Carolina, there's no such thing as a wet reckless. The only option for a reduced DUI charge is an ordinary reckless driving charge. Thankfully, you don't need to handle this yourself.
You can beat a DUI charge – you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The State must prove that you were driving while your ability to operate a vehicle was impaired. In some instances, it is difficult for the police to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were under the influence.
Generally, a DUI is a misdemeanor. However, the offense becomes a felony if: Injury or death – If your impaired driving causes great bodily injury or death, you can be charged with a felony.
Since car insurance rates are based on driving history and projected risk, it stands to reason that a DUI conviction will result in higher insuranc...
DUIs are expensive. In addition to attorney fees that often run the gamut from $700 to over $4,000, there may also be bail costs, court-ordered fin...
While it's possible to contest a DUI without a lawyer present, case law is complex, and navigating those laws can be tricky. A DUI lawyer can't gua...
You may have refused to blow into the breathalyzer, which results in your license being suspended. You may challenge this suspension, but it will cost you $200 to file for the “implied consent hearing.” You will also obtain a Temporary Alcohol License while you wait on the hearing, which costs $100, and then when you finally get your license back, it will cost another $100. Also, if you do blow and the reading 0.15 or higher, then you’ll have to deal with a suspension and possible implied consent hearing as well.
If convicted of DUI, and you refused the breathalyzer, if you don’t receive jail time, the fine will $997. The fine goes up if you blew a 0.10 or greater. If it is a DUI 2 nd offense, the fine is between $2,100 and $5,100. If it is a third offense or greater, the fine keeps going up.
First, the court will hold a bond hearing. Some people get “PR bonds,” which means they don’t have to pay money to get out. Some receive “surety bonds,” which means they do have to pay money to get out. If your bond is $1,000, you may end up paying around 10% of that, or $100, to a bondsman.
Here’s The Deal:#N#Office also located in North Charleston , Walterboro and Myrtle Beach. Free confidential consultation. Provides him with a comprehensive view of how the law works on both sides of the courtroom
Here’s The Deal:#N#John W. Molony is a highly qualified and passionate lawyer in the area. He has completed his Bachelor's degree in Arts at Clemson University and majoring in English and History. Mr. Molony has earned his Juris Doctor from Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, where he was a Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity member. He is the owner and sole managing operator of the John W. Molony Law Firm. The firm represents all clients who have been charged with DUI and all criminal offenses. They also offer a free consultation to protect your rights and your record. Their firm is located in Charleston and defends clients' rights for DUI in Charleston, Berkeley, Beaufort, Dorchester, Georgetown, and Colleton Counties.
Are you looking for a dedicated and highly-skilled DUI attorney in Charleston, SC? Sahn Law Firm – Attorneys at Law will help you and your family build a strong defense against your case.
In South Carolina, it is not against the law to have a drink and then drive. It is only against the law to drive while you were “materially” and “appreciably” impaired. If you were arrested for drunk driving in South Carolina, do not plead guilty until you know all the facts and possible defenses
In South Carolina, when an individual gets stopped and pulled over by a police officer who suspects them of driving under the influence, that officer is already starting to build a case against that person.
The consequences of a DUI conviction are severe and can be life-changing. I will do everything in my power to ensure that you do not suffer the full brunt of the charges.
Nationwide, the average cost for attorney's fees for DUI is $1,500-$3,000. Attorney's fees for defense against misdemeanor DUI charges generally cost less than ...
Every state has a law against driving with a certain percentage blood alcohol concentration (BAC), typically 0.08% for drivers 21 and older. Minors under the legal drinking age can face DUI charges no matter how little alcohol they have had to drink. Here are the factors that affect the national average cost for a DUI lawyer.
A 1-year suspension is imposed on drivers who have one or more prior DUI convictions or APS actions within 10 years. Depending on the state you live in, the APS can carry harsher punishments if you refuse to take a sobriety test. The state of California has this to say about refusal of a BAC test:
In some states, such as California, you are guaranteed to lose your CDL for at least one year for DUI, regardless of whether this was your first DUI offense or you were driving in a noncommercial vehicle.
If your job depends on your commercial driver's license (CDL), it may be especially critical to hire a DUI attorney to help you deal with criminal charges. Each state has different regulations, so if you are a commercial driver it's important to know legal limits.
In many states, when you are arrested for a DUI, your driver's license is immediately suspended.
For many people, a DUI is the only time in their lives they may face criminal charges. It pays to work with an experienced pro. While hiring a DUI lawyer may be just one of many costs you'll be facing, working with a great DUI lawyer could save you money, reduce your criminal charges, and/or ease the process overall.
Though it’s not common, the defense of your case may require one or more expert witnesses at trial. For example, there are experts who can testify to the accuracy and operation of South Carolina’s breath test machine (the Intoximeter DMT). There are also experts who specialize in field sobriety tests.
An expungement is a court order that requires all records and evidence associated with an arrest to be destroyed. This order is eventually passed along to South Carolina Law Enforcement (SLED) and the FBI.
Sometimes, despite a lawyer’s best efforts, a guilty ruling cannot be avoided. And it’s important you’re prepared for potential costs involved if this is the case.
If you’re convicted of DUI, your insurance rate will be higher for the next three years. This is called SR-22 insurance, commonly referred to as “assigned risk,” and it’s a result of the driver’s license suspension from your DUI conviction.
If you’re convicted of DUI and it’s your first offense, you’re required to enroll in the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program ( ADSAP) within 30 days. That program must be completed within a year. Enrollment costs are about $500 plus fees for required treatment.
If you’re arrested for DUI, you may receive a personal recognizance (PR) bond. This means you are released from jail on your own “recognizance” without a requirement putting up money or property as collateral to secure your to return to court. A judge sets the bond, and it can vary widely based on charges.
A law that went into effect October 1, 2014 — known as Emma’s Law — now requires anyone convicted of DUI with a BAC of .15 or higher to enroll in the Ignition Interlock Device Program (IIDP). This program requires you to keep a device in your vehicle that won’t let your car start if you’ve been drinking.
Upon being arrested for driving under the influence in South Carolina, the arresting officer will confiscate your driver’s license and issue you a “Notice of Suspension” that advises you of your right to an administrative hearing and to obtain a temporary alcohol license.
South Carolina DUI Under 21 Years of Age. Anyone under the age of 21 who is stopped and found to have consumed alcohol or drugs and has a BAC level of .02% or higher will be arrested for violating South Carolina’s “zero tolerance” law regarding under age drinking and driving. The penalties for violating the zero tolerance law will include ...
A first offense conviction with a BAC of .16% or greater will result in a minimum jail sentence of 30 days up to a maximum of 90 days.
If an officer asks you to take the field sobriety test, just kindly refuse his request). The officer is then going to request that you submit to a breath test. Submitting to a chemical test is required by the South Carolina Implied consent law section 56-5-2950. If a driver refuses to submit to a chemical test, ...
South Carolina DUI law section 56-5-2930 states that it is against the law for any person to drive a motor vehicle in the state of South Carolina while they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08% or greater. It is not necessary for a person who has been stopped ...
Just the fact that a chemical test shows a blood alcohol concentration level of .08% or greater will get you arrested for DUI in South Carolina. It should also be noted that a person could still be arrested for driving under the influence in South Carolina even if their blood alcohol concentration level is below the legal limit ...
Nationwide, the average cost for attorney's fees for DUI is $1,500-$3,000. Attorney's fees for defense against misdemeanor DUI charges generally cost less than ...
Every state has a law against driving with a certain percentage blood alcohol concentration (BAC), typically 0.08% for drivers 21 and older. Minors under the legal drinking age can face DUI charges no matter how little alcohol they have had to drink. Here are the factors that affect the national average cost for a DUI lawyer.
A 1-year suspension is imposed on drivers who have one or more prior DUI convictions or APS actions within 10 years. Depending on the state you live in, the APS can carry harsher punishments if you refuse to take a sobriety test. The state of California has this to say about refusal of a BAC test:
In some states, such as California, you are guaranteed to lose your CDL for at least one year for DUI, regardless of whether this was your first DUI offense or you were driving in a noncommercial vehicle.
If your job depends on your commercial driver's license (CDL), it may be especially critical to hire a DUI attorney to help you deal with criminal charges. Each state has different regulations, so if you are a commercial driver it's important to know legal limits.
In many states, when you are arrested for a DUI, your driver's license is immediately suspended.
For many people, a DUI is the only time in their lives they may face criminal charges. It pays to work with an experienced pro. While hiring a DUI lawyer may be just one of many costs you'll be facing, working with a great DUI lawyer could save you money, reduce your criminal charges, and/or ease the process overall.