Jail time is sometimes a reality for first-time Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenders. A South Carolina DUI attorney can help you prepare a defense that aims for the best outcome possible.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense. A conviction can gravely impact your career, relationships, and future. The consequences upon conviction are too severe to leave to chance. If you were recently charged with your first DUI offense, representing yourself is risky. Instead, consider contacting a defense attorney to represent you.
While a frightening thought, jail is just one form of penalty under South Carolina DUI law. State laws and penalties range in severity based on factors such as driver age and blood alcohol content (BAC) levels.
Here is a closer look at legal limits per age:
The penalties for DUI charges in South Carolina include:
The extent of the penalties listed above depends upon whether you are a repeat offender or caused an accident involving severe injuries or death. Other factors can contribute to the outcome of your DUI case. For example, refusal to take a breath test or malfunctioning breath test equipment can impact your defense strategy.
A South Carolina DUI attorney is knowledgeable about state laws that affect DUI charges. A new law, The All Offender Law, requires convicted drivers to install an Ignition Interlock Device (I.I.D.) regardless of their BAC levels.
Avoiding a conviction for your first DUI offense is critical to protecting your reputation and other aspects of your life. Seeking help from a South Carolina defense attorney is worth considering and can ease stress.
A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a core career requirement for many South Carolinians. Delivery drivers, school bus drivers, and truck drivers are among those who rely on their CDL for employment.
Long hours behind the wheel of large vehicles can make them frightening weapons when the driver is impaired. For public safety, state law makes a BAC level of .04 percent or higher grounds for a DUI arrest.
This level is lower than the standard .08 for other drivers age 21 and older. State law also requires employers to report commercial drivers to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) who:
Defending your DUI charges is vital when driving is your profession and livelihood. A South Carolina DUI attorney familiar with CDL license requirements and state criminal law may be able to help your case.
If your DUI charges place your career at risk, consider contacting an attorney as soon as possible. Placing your case in the hands of a South Carolina defense attorney can ease your mind and possibly protect your future.
An accident involving great bodily injury or death while driving under the influence is a serious matter. Under South Carolina law, drivers face felony charges with harsh penalties if convicted.
Possible fines and imprisonment include:
Felony DUI charges can cause you sleepless nights as the weight of the charges weighs on your mind. The possibility of hearing a jail door close behind you is a frightening thought as your court date approaches.
If you face felony DUI charges due to an accident involving injury or death, you may want to contact an attorney. The charges and outcomes, if convicted, are too life-changing to leave to chance.
Managing your defense alone can be confusing and overwhelming. A misunderstood charge or a missed court date can change the outcome of your case. A South Carolina DUI attorney understands complex laws and prosecutor strategies. A defense attorney protects the best interests of defendants charged with a DUI offense. They put their skills and experience to work to secure the best possible outcome of your case.
At Whalen Montalvo Attorneys at Law, we evaluate the legality of your traffic stop, officer conduct, and your record. We do so to minimize the penalties you face. In some cases, we work to get the charges dropped.
A DUI conviction gives you a permanent criminal record. Whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, no one wants a criminal record. At a minimum, the suspension of your South Carolina driver’s license is a grave inconvenience, especially if driving is your career. A maximum charge for a DUI accident involving bodily injury or death gravely impacts your life, the lives of others, and your future.
If you were charged with DUI, let us help you with your criminal case. Attorneys James Whalen and Eric Montalvo work hard to keep their clients out of jail by building as strong a DUI defense as possible.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about our services and your legal needs. Call (864) 770-7710 without delay to start protecting your best interests during this most stressful and uncertain time.
I grew up right here in Greenville, South Carolina. Following highschool, I attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where I was an NCAA Scholar-Athlete for the Rhodes Lynx soccer program.
I completed my law degree at University of South Carolina School of Law, where I was on the mock trial team and an editor for the Journal of Law and Education. Following graduation, I served as a judicial law clerk for Senior Judge Robert H. Hodges, Jr. on the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. My experience in D.C. trial courts solidified my desire to become a trial lawyer.
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Get the best legal representation possible. Give the Greenville, SC attorneys at Whalen Montalvo a call today at (864) 770-7710 or use our online form.