Drennan Law Firm Dui & Traffic Law Center
You're driving home after a night out with some close friends. You had a couple of drinks, but you're confident in your ability to drive safely. You're well on your way when suddenly the car in front of you slams on their brakes. You immediately brake and you quickly switch lanes to avoid a crash.
As your heart calms back down from the near-collision, you see red and blue lights flashing in your rear-view mirror. There's a police officer behind you, and you are being pulled over.
In South Carolina, like in most other states, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. While this limit applies to most motorists, you may wonder whether it is possible to receive DUI charges if your BAC is beneath it. In most circumstances, this outcome is unlikely to happen. Yet, if you are under age 21, or if you have a commercial driver's license (CDL), you can receive DUI charges with a BAC far lower than the legal limit.
Every year, the holiday season has many different foods and drinks that contain alcohol. What some people don't realize is that the alcohol could be so strong that they could end up with a DUI.
This year, it is important that you take some time to think about which items you eat or drink that might have hidden alcohol. For example, did you know that there are several kinds of eggnog? There are alcoholic eggnogs, and there are non-alcoholic eggnogs as well. Don't assume that all eggnog is going to have alcohol. Ask the host or make sure that you buy the kind that does not contain alcohol if you intend to drive after drinking it.
With the holiday season here, people may start to go out and socialize more than usual. It's imperative that anyone who's going to drive understands that they need to avoid alcoholic beverages. Enforcement for drunk driving increases around the holidays.
The best thing you can do if you think that you will consume alcohol at a holiday party is to ensure that you have a way to get home safely. This can be taking a rideshare, having a designated driver, using public transportation or finding out if you can just sleep off the alcohol at the house where you are.
It's easy to assume that men and women get intoxicated similarly and are likely to get DUIs at the same rate, but the reality is that one of the two genders is much more likely to drive drunk than the other.
According to statistics, men are more likely to be involved in drunk driving crashes. However, one study found that DUI arrests among men had decreased by 7.5% over the course of a decade compared to DUI arrests among women, which increased by a shocking 28.8%. Even with that gap narrowing, though, men are still more likely to offend than women.
You carry car insurance, which is the law, and you've always been cautious not to drink and drive. Still, you found yourself accused of driving under the influence, because you were nodding off behind the wheel. The officer believed that you'd been using drugs, though you knew you hadn't been. Since you couldn't pass your field sobriety test, they took you in and persisted in the claim that you were intoxicated.
Now, you're dealing with a DUI charge and are worried about what will happen if you end up being convicted. You know you'll keep your job, because you had a discussion with your employer, but what about other fees and fines?
Halloween is approaching, which means that there is going to be an increased risk of car crashes due to drunk driving. With so many Halloween parties and events going on, it's more likely that there will be alcohol around you.
Remember, even one alcoholic beverage could impact your ability to drive safely. When there are going to be children around the roads, people walking to Trick or Treat and to attend events, it's even more important for drivers to remain sober. Even being a little buzzed could lead to life-altering consequences.
If you are accused of a DUI, one of the most pressing issues may be what will happen to your job. The reality is that many employers will terminate an employee who is convicted of a DUI, because they represent a threat to the company. You may even have a clause in your employment contract that states that certain convictions or arrests will lead to the loss of your job.
It's not unusual for companies to have mandatory firing policies stating that anyone who is convicted of a crime could be terminated. It may also be your responsibility to let your employer know if you have been arrested, so they can plan the next steps.
Getting a traffic ticket is at best an annoyance and at worst the difference between you being able to drive and losing your license. Traffic tickets are not always given out for a good reason because sometimes an error of judgment is made and mistakes occur.
If you believe that you have been given a traffic ticket in error, you should take action to fight it. By doing so in a smart and effective way, you may be able to have the traffic ticket revoked. The following are five ways to potentially fight traffic tickers.
If you have more than one prior DUI conviction, you'll be facing serious consequences. You'll have your drivers' license revoked, and you may even be struggling to hold down a job as a result. Your DUI charges could have impacted your reputation among your family and friends, and you may be feeling more isolated than ever due to these charges.
If the previous DUI penalties did not stop you from drinking and driving again, you should consider other ways that you can prevent this type of dangerous and destructive behavior. One option is to give up alcohol completely, but those with alcohol dependence may not trust themselves to stay sober for a long period. This is why ignition interlock devices (IIDs) can be a useful tool that can prevent additional convictions and can save lives.
Leading DUI defense representation you can rely on for 24/7 responsiveness, tenacious advocacy and extensive legal knowledge.
Speak with a Charleston criminal lawyer today who will work with you directly, one-on-one.
Please call us at
843-352-4149 or email us to schedule a meeting or for prompt legal assistance.
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