A DUI conviction can be a life-altering event. Not only is it a criminal offense that could result in jail time and show up on your background checks, but it can also prove to make life very inconvenient and difficult for years after the fact. Many DUI convictions result in losing your driver’s license, regardless of whether you’ve already paid hefty fees or served jail time. In South Carolina, even your first DUI Read More
How Does Having a DUI Affect Your Car Insurance in South Carolina?
Maybe you were out celebrating a promotion or your friend’s birthday and you drove home after having a few drinks. During your drive you were pulled over and charged with a DUI. Once you’ve taken care of the legal fees, it’s time to start going back to normal life, yet you wonder how your car insurance will be affected moving forward. After all, you cannot drive in South Carolina without a minimum liability insurance Read More
South Carolina DUIs: 5 Eye-Opening Statistics
It sounds appealing to meet up with friends after work and have a few drinks, but when you’ve had one drink too many and decide to drive home, your entire evening can change. Drivers in South Carolina have to be careful when it comes to operating a vehicle under the influence, and can face some strict consequences if pulled over and charged with a DUI. Let’s take a look at some statistics that puts this life-changing Read More
How to Get a DUI Without Drinking a Drop of Alcohol
The term DUI is often synonymous with drunk driving, and leads people to think about getting in trouble for driving after drinking alcohol. In reality, DUI stands for driving under the influence, and this influence does not limit its definition to alcohol alone. Any substance that could cause you to engage in unsafe driving behavior can be considered grounds for a DUI if it is found in your system. Here are a few of Read More
A Penny in the Mouth & 4 Other Myths About Beating the Breathalyzer
You might have heard a story from a coworker or former college roommate that they were able to get out of a DUI by tricking the breathalyzer machine. It sounds too good to be true right? And it is. Today we’re going to address some of the more common myths out there regarding this tool police use to charge someone with a DUI. Myth - Putting a penny in your mouth will absorb alcohol This couldn’t be further from the Read More
What to Expect When Someone Else Gets a DUI in YOUR Car
A family member or friend asks to borrow your car, and being the good person that you are, you let them take it. No big deal, right? Well, what happens if they get charged with Driving Under the Influence while operating your motor vehicle? It is important to note that in South Carolina a person can be charged with DUI not only if they are driving while under the influence or alcohol, but also if they are under the Read More
What You Need to Know About South Carolina Sobriety Checkpoints
If you plan to operate a vehicle in the state of South Carolina, particularly if you are considering drinking any amount of alcohol beforehand, you should be acutely aware of the possibility of running into a police Sobriety Checkpoint. Alternately known as roadblocks, DUI checkpoints, and mobile checkpoints, this type of police tactic is perfectly legal in South Carolina, and is intended to weed out inebriated Read More
A Guilty Plea May Not Be Best: 4 Effective DUI Defenses
Many people mistakenly believe that, if they are charged with a DUI, their only option is to plead guilty. A DUI conviction nearly anywhere carries significant fines and penalties. A South Carolina DUI imposes fines between $400-$1000, jail time of 48 hours to 90 days, and license suspension for up to 6 months. Subsequent convictions carry much more serious penalties, and if there are other aggravating factors like Read More
Yes, It Can Get Worse: 5 Aggravating Factors That Can Lead To Harsher DUI Penalties
On its own, a DUI can lead to huge monetary fines, the loss of your license, community service, and even jail time—not to mention how it can affect aspects of your personal life like your job or your insurance rates. Nobody wants to face the strife of a DUI conviction, but as bad as these penalties seem, there are ways a DUI can get even worse. In South Carolina, certain aggravating factors can lead to even harsher Read More
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Refusing a Breathalyzer Test In South Carolina
So you’re out at your favorite watering hole to celebrate your new job. You have a couple of drinks then decide to call it a night. You hop in the car and start to head home when you notice lights flashing in your rear-view mirror. If the officer has any suspicion that you’ve been drinking then you will have a decision to make: should you refuse the pending breathalyzer test? This is one of the most common questions Read More