Any DUI charges should be considered serious, but when the term felony gets placed on the table, you had better sit up and take notice. In South Carolina, those convicted of felony DUI can be sentenced to serve up to 25 years imprisonment depending upon the nature of the offense. Additionally, a felony DUI conviction can mean the defendant must pay thousands of dollars in fines.
Contrary to popular belief, a South Carolina resident can be charged with a felony DUI even if no car accident occurred. While most drinking and driving-related felonies occur following an accident resulting in “great bodily injury or death,” there are other circumstances that could lead to a felony charge. If the alleged offender has already been convicted of three DUI charges, the fourth and subsequent offenses will be treated as felonies.
If you are facing felony DUI charges, you need an aggressive defense in order to avoid the most serious penalties. According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, no portion of the mandatory sentences for felony DUI convictions may be suspended, including both prison sentences and fines. The key to avoiding the harsh penalties associated with felony DUI is to avoid the conviction and the best chance of accomplishing this goal is to work with an experienced attorney.
The Drennan Law Firm works out of the Charleston area and has helped many of the state’s citizens with felony DUI. In some cases, our clients were able to walk away without a conviction; in others, we were able to have the charges reduced. Please take some time to read our overview on Felony DUI for additional information.
