If you’ve been charged for DUI and it’s your first offense, you may be inclined to just pay the fine and get it over with. Don’t be too hasty! You could be subjecting yourself to future problems that an experienced DUI attorney can help you avoid. Collateral consequences of a DUI conviction All DUI convictions result in a driving license suspension of at least six months. Your insurance will either go up or be Read More
What a DUI Conviction Means for the Rest of Your Life
We all make mistakes, but certain ones can have an impact on the rest of your life. Driving under the influence (DUI) falls within that category. South Carolina shows little leniency to impaired drivers, and state law imposes a number of severe penalties for a DUI conviction. First offenders can expect to pay a $400 fine, spend up to 30 days in jail, and/or lose their license for six months. A second conviction Read More
What to Expect If You Refuse to Take a DUI Breath Test in South Carolina
When it comes to DUI, South Carolina has an “implied consent” law that basically states the following: if a law enforcement officer arrests you because they have reason to believe that you are driving while intoxicated, you automatically consent to a blood or breath test to check your blood alcohol content (BAC) and a urine analysis to test for drugs. If you refuse these tests, penalties apply. In most circumstances Read More
What Happens If You're Convicted of a South Carolina DUI?
South Carolina is tough on DUI violations: a first offense carries a mandatory six-month license suspension, and the penalties become more severe with each successive conviction. If there are aggravating factors involved, such as having a high BAC or driving with a child in the vehicle, the consequences are even more severe. If you’re convicted of a DUI in South Carolina, you face administrative and criminal Read More
What to Do If a Friend or Loved One Is Arrested
The phone rings at 3:00 a.m. You’re instantly alarmed: has there been a death in the family or a devastating medical emergency? When you answer, you find out that it’s something nearly as bad: a family member or friend has been arrested and needs your help. What do you do? Determine where they are First, ask where they are being held and by what police agency (i.e. local, state, FBI). Then tell them that you will Read More
There's Nothing Minor About a Misdemeanor
You’ve been charged with a misdemeanor that you didn’t even commit. Your friends suggest that it’s not worth hiring a lawyer to fight it. It’s only a misdemeanor, right? That’s a minor charge. Actually, it isn’t. Not where your future is concerned. Every year, people across the country plead guilty to misdemeanor crimes that they did not commit. Although miscarriages of justice, these incidents rarely make it into Read More
The Police Want to Search my Home. Should I let them?
Having the police knocking at your door is intimidating, even if you’ve never broken a law in your life. Whether you’re being investigated by the police or not, it’s a good idea to think through this situation and be prepared, so that you have a plan should you find police outside your front door. In this blog entry we go over the basics. No warrant – no entry Your home is entitled to the highest standard or privacy Read More
