South Carolina DUI Lawyers

We Win Tough Cases & Will Fight Your DUI Charges

DUI enforcement is extensive and aggressive in South Carolina. Your DUI attorney not only must be well-versed in the law, but must be aggressive as well. Ideally, your lawyer should have years of experience, with a strong track record of successful case outcomes.

Attorneys Handling DUI/DWI Charges Throughout South Carolina

Have you been caught up in South Carolina’s “Sober or Slammer” anti-DUI/DWI campaign? Were you arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol because you were snagged in a so-called sobriety checkpoint or field sobriety test trap? Did police consider you guilty before investigating the facts simply because you had alcohol on your breath? Were you subjected to a breath test? Is “buzzed driving” really drunk driving, as the publicity campaign states?

Protect Your Driving Privileges & Avoid A DUI Conviction

Get your driver’s license back now! Drennan Law Firm wins tough DUI cases occurring in Charleston and elsewhere. Our caseload includes tough felony DUI arrests. Drennan Law Firm is prepared to put up a fair and effective fight on your behalf. Our criminal defense attorneys take on tough DUI cases and win. We have extensive experience with DUI laws. From our law offices in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, we aggressively represent people throughout the region and elsewhere in the state who have been charged with DUI. We invite you to contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with one of our South Carolina DUI lawyers.

A Drunk Driving Arrest Does Not Equate To A Guilty Verdict!

One of the first topics of discussion during your free consultation is a review of this simple truth as it relates to your drunk driving arrest:

Being stopped or arrested or charged with driving under the influence of alcohol does not mean you have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not against the law to drink and then drive. Rather, it is against the law to drive while appreciably impaired: mentally, physically and materially. A prosecutor has the burden of proof as to your impairment. An effective DUI defense attorney takes up the challenge of protecting your rights through all phases of a drunk driving case.

You may believe that you “failed” a sobriety test because a police officer insinuated as much before arresting you. In fact, ordinary people routinely make common mistakes while performing ordinary actions during sobriety tests. A poor outcome during a sobriety test is not the equivalent of a guilty DUI verdict in a court of law.

DUI Resulting in Injury/Death

Odds are good that your case will be very difficult to defend. That’s exactly why you need a top-quality South Carolina DUI defense lawyer representing you. The stakes are higher in a DUI accident case, and the prosecution will be tougher and more determined to win. Prosecuting attorneys know that they can come down on you with the full force of the law if your defense is weak.

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You might feel even more helpless and frightened if the charge against you is felony DUI. Was someone injured in the accident? Was someone killed?

Regardless of the severity of the charges and consequences that you face, your case can be defended. It is quite possible to reduce the charges and perhaps get your case dismissed.

It’s Not Illegal to Have a Drink and Drive a Car

  • Was a field sobriety test performed?
  • Did you consent to a breath test? Was it properly administered?
  • Did police officers have grounds to search your vehicle?
  • Were you at fault for the accident?

If you were carried from the accident scene on a backboard, there is no way to prove that you were impaired at the time of the accident. Police officers make mistakes in protocol, and breath tests are not always accurate.

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At Drennan Law Firm, our DWI/DUI attorneys handle drinking and driving accident cases throughout South Carolina. Our team is very familiar with the breadth of South Carolina DUI laws. We are committed to high-quality, personalized representation, and we will guide through the legal process personally.

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We are here to relieve you of legal burdens and minimize the consequences that DUI accident charges have on your life.

Just Because You Had an Accident, It Doesn’t Mean You’re Guilty of DUI

In fact, South Carolina law explicitly states this. Your case can be defended. Your driving privileges can be protected, and you can have a future free of legal hindrances. We will fight for you.

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DUI accident cases are not typical DUI cases, and you should retain an attorney who is experienced in defending all types of drunk driving accident cases successfully. At Drennan Law Firm, we have had success reducing felony DUI charges to misdemeanors (e.g., reckless driving or disorderly conduct), achieving acquittal at trial, winning cases on appeal and getting cases dismissed.

Get DUI Defense Representation That Stings

Our South Carolina DUI attorneys are experienced, proven and accomplished litigators. We are fighters with extensive knowledge and resources.

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Please call us at 843-352-4149 or email us to schedule a free initial consultation with our Charleston-area defense team.

South Carolina DUI Laws & Penalties

South Carolina drivers face stringent penalties regarding drunk driving. The laws are designed to crack down on people arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Anyone who may get behind the wheel of a vehicle after even just one drink should be aware of the new laws. It can sometimes take far less alcohol than a person may believe to register a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.

New DUI laws make penalties tougher

South Carolina passed new DUI legislation to toughen the penalties for DUI convictions in the state. The new state DUI laws touch on multiple aspects of drunk driving arrests and consequences. Highlights of the laws include the following:

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  • Judges must now impose at least the minimum sentence for all drivers convicted of a DUI.
  • Both fines and penalties have been increased for any offender.
  • Ignition interlock device requirements are strengthened for all offenders.
  • Community service is allowable in lieu of jail time only for first offenders.
  • People with multiple DUI convictions will serve some amount of required jail time.

Such changes can have a dramatic impact on people charged with driving under the influence and make fighting a DUI harder but more important than ever before to avoid a conviction or minimize consequences.

The penalties at a glance

People charged with a first DUI will face different consequences based upon the registered blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of their arrest. Drivers with a BAC between .08 and .09 percent must serve either 48 hours of community service or jail time from 48 hours up to 30 days. They will also be assessed a $400 fine.

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For drivers with a BAC between .1 and .15 percent, the jail time would be between 72 hours and 30 days and the service hours for substitution increase to 72. The fine also increases to $500. Finally, drivers found to have a BAC of .16 percent or greater will be subject to jail time between 30 and 90 days or a total of 30 days of community service. They will also pay a $1,000 fine.

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Drivers with two or more DUI convictions face even stricter penalties. It must be remembered that convictions from other states will now count in this arena, potentially increasing the number of people who will face multiple DUI penalties when convicted in South Carolina.

Legal help matters

The toughened laws make the need for experienced legal help when facing a DUI conviction even more important than before. If you have been arrested and cited for drunk driving, contacting a South Carolina DUI/DWI attorney as early in the process as possible is your best bet for ensuring a fair and proper DUI defense.

Contact A South Carolina Drunk Driving Defense Attorney – Stay Out Of Jail

Do not let a police officer imply that your case is a sealed, slam dunk conviction before you have had your day in court. A strong defense in a DWI/DUI case begins with a carefully prepared appearance in an administrative hearing before the Department of Public Safety. Stop worrying and get your defense underway today.

Our experienced Charleston DUI lawyers welcome the opportunity to evaluate your case, with no further obligation unless you choose to proceed. Reach out to our law firm today about your DUI arrest to get the legal advice you need. Call 843-352-4149 or send an email inquiry to request a free consultation.