2nd, 3rd, & Multiple DUI Offenses in South Carolina
Accused Of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol? DUI?
You need to be ready for the fight of your life as you seek an outcome that keeps you out of jail, protects your financial stability, and allows you to maintain a presence in the lives of the friends and family members you love.
People with multiple convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) on their record might as well be wearing a target. Subject to society’s scorn, they are targeted by law enforcement officers and prosecutors who would love nothing more than to make an example out of a repeat offender. This is not the spirit of our criminal justice system; being a past offender does not change the fact that you are innocent until proven guilty and deserve a sound criminal defense.
Penalties increase substantially and get progressively worse for each additional DUI conviction. If you’ve tried using a DUI lawyer before and been disappointed with the result or if you think there is no defense that will reduce the consequences you face, you must reconsider.
Given the substantial escalating penalties that come with multiple DUI convictions, you owe it to yourself to every option for defending your reputation and protecting your constitutional rights. The first step is reaching out to a DUI defense lawyer with extensive experience and a track record of successful case outcomes.
You have legal options, and a committed, resourceful DUI defense attorney in the Charleston area who is familiar with defending against 2nd, 3rd, and multiple DUI offense charges can fight for your driving privileges, license, freedoms and future. DUI convictions are very serious and should not be taken lightly.
Don’t Plead Guilty — Consult an Experienced Charleston, SC Criminal Defense Attorney First!
Pressure to plead guilty or plea bargain can be strong, and prosecuting attorneys can be very convincing. If you have a public defender for an attorney, he or she will probably not have the time or resources to devote to your best possible defense and therefore will not be able to build a compelling case to protect your future. Your freedoms will be vulnerable, heavy penalties certain and fate all but sealed. Pleading guilty may wrap up your case more quickly, but it will only be opening the package of problems that come along with a criminal conviction for DUI.
One way to think about your DUI defense is to put yourself in the opposition’s shoes and consider what the prosecution would prefer to have happen. The prosecution’s interests are opposed to yours; they want to see you behind bars or paying substantial fines upon conviction, while you wish to limit your exposure to those outcomes as much as possible.
Who would be excited by a guilty plea? The answer is that the prosecutor would love it for you to plead guilty, providing them with a checkmark on their resume and ensuring that you are punished for DUI. On the other hand, the prosecutor likely dreads the idea of going to trial to face off with an experienced DUI defense attorney who will stop at nothing to get you the best possible outcome. By hiring a proven defense attorney from Drennan Law Firm you can choose the path that excites you and leaves the prosecution feeling anxious about the outcome.
Sign Up for a Less Costly Future — Sign Up to Protect Your Freedom
At Drennan Law Firm, we vigorously defend our clients. Our attorneys have testified to the many inaccuracies of the DataMaster DMT (the breath test machine used at police stations). Our firm will examine your permanent record and past case results and circumstances, alongside your current circumstances. We will forensically investigate your case and build a defense that challenges the prosecution at every turn.
Your past record of DUI convictions does not take away your presumption of innocence in your current circumstances. You deserve the same vigorous defense as someone who is facing their first DUI charge; good people can find themselves in bad situations and even people who are striving to improve their lives can make mistakes along the way. That doesn’t relive law enforcement of the requirement to follow proper criminal procedure or relieve the prosecution of the burden of proof.
What Penalties Are You Facing for 2nd, 3rd, or Multiple DUI Offenses?
Without our representation, the fines that you face may add up to $6,500 on a second DUI or $10,000 on a third DUI. You could be facing more than one year in jail. If this is the fourth DUI charge against you, the court will sentence you to one to seven years in prison upon conviction.
Add these severe penalties to a required ignition interlock device on all vehicles you drive (cost of $1,000 plus $130 each month for monitoring fees and other expenses); increased insurance premiums (again); alcohol intervention program attendance (at your expense); driver’s license suspension; a tarnished reputation; and significantly reduced job, educational and personal loan opportunities, and you’re looking at a world of hurt.
Imagine what a conviction would mean for you and your loved ones. Imagine being unable to give your children a ride to school due to your driver’s license being suspended. Imagine being unable to pay your bills on time because you have had to clean out your accounts to pay a five figure fine. Imagine going seven years without seeing the people you care about and having to reintegrate into society nearly a decade from now. These are serious consequences with lifelong consequences. Your defense is not to be taken lightly and you cannot afford to settle for anything less than the best possible outcome.
Don’t Hesitate to Speak With Our Lawyers: You Don’t Have To Go To Jail or Lose Your License
We provide all of our clients with individualized, one-on-one service. We will fight for your best possible outcome and work tirelessly to minimize the consequences you face. Many of our clients are able to get provisional driver’s licenses, avoid additional jail time, pay reduced fines and have the charges against them reduced if we cannot get their case dismissed entirely.
We cannot guarantee a specific outcome in your case, but we can guarantee that we will fight to limit your exposure to the harsh consequences of a conviction. No matter the outcome you will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you pursued an aggressive DUI defense and gave yourself the best chance to protect your livelihood, your reputation, and your freedom.
Please call us at 843-352-4149 or email us to schedule a free initial consultation with a Charleston area criminal defense attorney. Do not take a DUI conviction lightly. If you are afraid of additional jail time, now is the time to act. If you have an alcohol or substance abuse problem, now is also the time to get help. Our lawyers can help you.