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Facing DUI Charges in Myrtle Beach, SC?
You need a DUI attorney in Myrtle Beach, SC, who is familiar with the area and the local court system.
Make no mistake, a DUI attorney with strong knowledge of the legal system and the people involved can be very beneficial in bringing a favorable end to your DUI case.
Coastal Law has been protecting their clients’ rights since 2001.
The Myrtle Beach DUI lawyers at Coastal Law understand the hardship a DUI conviction can bring. It can be damaging not only to current and future employment, but also your family life.
There are several types of DUI charges in Myrtle Beach, including driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration (DUAC), felony DUI with death or great bodily injury, and South Carolina’s Zero Tolerance law for underage drivers.
Consequences of a DUI in Myrtle Beach
Unfortunately, DUI convictions can have serious consequences and can damage your reputation.
If you’re convicted, you may lose your job and have a difficult time finding a new one.
This is because DUI convictions show up on a background check and cannot be expunged from your record.
A DUI conviction can also damage your future education, including qualifying for loans, grants, and scholarships.
Your family life may also suffer due to the expense and stress that a DUI charge can bring.
The Basics of DUI Charges
Whether this is your first DUI charge or your 3rd, you most likely have several questions about what you are facing.
Your Myrtle Beach DUI lawyer at Coastal Law, LLC, can answer your questions and help you understand what to expect.
What’s required to be charged with a DUI?
A DUI traffic stop usually begins with a traffic violation.
If the officer believes that you have been drinking or that you are under the influence of drugs, they will ask you to perform field sobriety tests on the roadside and ask you a series of questions.
Once the officer decides that you were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are going to take you to jail.
Everything that the officer does after that point is calculated to create evidence to use against you in court.
What if I refused the breathalyzer?
You have the right to refuse a breathalyzer, and most attorneys recommend that you do not consent to a breathalyzer test.
If you refuse the breathalyzer, or if you take the breathalyzer and the result is greater than .15, your license will be automatically suspended.
We can then request an administrative hearing to challenge the suspension and you can get a temporary license that allows you to drive until the hearing.
Do I have to take DUI classes?
If you are convicted of DUI or if you have an implied consent suspension that is not overturned at the administrative hearing, you must enroll in ADSAP (Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program) before your license can be reinstated.
Does a DUI appear on my record?
Yes. DUI convictions do show up on a criminal background check.
Should I try to represent myself?
You are not required to have a Myrtle Beach DUI lawyer, but people who represent themselves (pro-se defendants) usually end up with convictions.
DUI laws are complex, and you will most likely have a trained prosecutor on the other side of your case.
Shouldn’t you also have a trained DUI attorney defending you?
How do I choose a DUI Lawyer in Myrtle Beach, SC?
When talking to a DUI lawyer in Myrtle Beach be sure to ask the right questions.
You want to make sure you are a good fit for each other. Your DUI attorney is someone you should feel comfortable talking to and can trust.
Here are a few questions that are good to ask:
- How many DUI cases have you handled?
- How many years have you been practicing law?
- Will you be the DUI attorney who represents me?
- What are your legal fees?
Now that you know what to ask, how do you get started finding an attorney?
There are many ways to go about finding a Myrtle Beach DUI attorney, including web searches, asking the local Bar association, and getting recommendations from people you trust.
However you choose to do it, make sure you do your research. Read reviews from past clients to see what they have to say.
DID YOU KNOW…?
Refusal of a breathalyzer test can have consequences, but it’s not necessarily worse than taking the test and failing.
While refusing the test won’t lead to criminal charges directly for the refusal, it will result in an automatic license suspension for refusing the test itself.
Refusing a breathalyzer test may result in a license suspension, which varies depending on whether it’s your first offense. This suspension is different from any suspension due to a DUI conviction.
We Handle All
Types of Charges
A first-offense DUI in South Carolina can result in the following charges:
- Fine: Up to $400 (expect it to be higher with assessments and surcharges)
- Jail time: 48 hours to 30 days, or the judge might allow you to serve community service instead (48 hours for BAC between 0.08 and 0.10, 72 hours for BAC between 0.10 and 0.16, 30 days for BAC of 0.16 or higher)
- Driver’s license suspension: Six months
The severity of the charges (within the ranges mentioned above) can depend on your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level at the time of arrest.
A second-offense DUI in South Carolina is a much more serious offense compared to a first offense.
The penalties can be harsher depending on your BAC level at the time of arrest.
Here’s a breakdown of the potential charges:
- Fine: $2,100 to $5,100 (expect it to be even higher with additional fees)
- Jail time: Five days to one year. The exact jail time depends on your BAC level:
- Less than 0.10 BAC: 5 days to 1 year
- 0.10 to 0.16 BAC: 30 days to 2 years
- 0.16 BAC or higher: Up to 3 years
- Driver’s license suspension: One year
In addition to these, a second-offense DUI might also require:
- Mandatory SR-22 insurance (high-risk insurance) for several years
- Completion of alcohol and/or drug counseling programs
- Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle for a certain period
A third-offense DUI in South Carolina is considered a serious offense with significant penalties.
Here’s a breakdown of the potential charges you might face:
- Fines: $3,800 to $10,000 (expect even higher amounts with additional fees and surcharges)
- Jail time: Minimum of 60 days, with a maximum of up to 5 years in prison. The exact jail time depends on your BAC level:
- Less than 0.10 BAC: 60 days to 3 years
- 0.10 to 0.15 BAC: 90 days to 4 years
- 0.15 BAC or higher: 6 months to 5 years
- Driver’s license suspension: The base suspension is for three years. However, it can be even longer depending on the circumstances:
- If your third offense occurs within five years of the first offense, the license suspension is four years.
- If your third or subsequent offense occurs within 10 years of the first offense, the vehicle you were driving might be confiscated.
Here are some additional consequences you might face:
- Mandatory SR-22 insurance: This is a high-risk insurance that can be very expensive. You’ll likely need to maintain it for several years.
- Alcohol and/or drug counseling programs: Completing these programs will be mandatory.
- Ignition interlock device (IID): This device requires you to blow into a breathalyzer before starting your car. You’ll likely be required to have one installed for a certain period.
A Felony DUI in South Carolina carries much harsher penalties compared to a misdemeanor DUI.
The severity of the charges depends on whether the DUI resulted in great bodily injury or death.
Here’s a breakdown of the potential charges:
Felony DUI with Great Bodily Injury:
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- Fine: $5,100 to $10,100 (expect it to be even higher with assessments and surcharges)
- Jail time: Mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail, with a maximum of up to 15 years in prison.
- Driver’s license suspension: The license will be suspended for the term of imprisonment, plus an additional three years.
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Felony DUI with Death:
- Fine: $10,100 to $25,100 (expect it to be even higher with assessments and surcharges)
- Jail time: Mandatory minimum of one year, with a maximum of up to 25 years in prison.
- Driver’s license suspension: The license will be suspended for the term of imprisonment, plus an additional five years.
Here are some additional consequences of a Felony DUI:
- Ignition interlock device (IID): You’ll likely be required to have one installed on your vehicle for a mandated period (three years for great bodily injury and five years for death).
- Criminal record: A Felony DUI conviction will leave a permanent mark on your criminal record, making it difficult to get a job or housing in the future.
