If you face charges for driving under the influence, please read on, then contact an experienced Chesterfield County DUI lawyer to learn if you will go to jail if you get a DUI in South Carolina.
Will a DUI lead to time in jail in South Carolina?
That will depend on the number of times, if any, you have previously sustained convictions for this or related offenses. Generally, for a first-offense DUI, you will face anywhere between 48 hours to 30 days in jail. That said, if you had a blood alcohol content of at least 0.10 percent but less than 0.16 percent, the minimum jail time is increased to seven days. If your blood alcohol content exceeded 0.16 percent, you will face between 30 and 90 days in jail.
If this is a second, third or subsequent offense, the periods of incarceration are as follows:
Second-offense DUI:
- BAC of 0.08 percent to 0.09 percent: 5 days to 1 year in jail
- BAC of 0.10 percent to 0.15 percent: 30 days to 2 years in jail
- BAC of 0.16 percent or higher: 90 days to 3 years in jail
Third-offense DUI:
- BAC of 0.08 percent to 0.09 percent: 60 days to 3 years in jail
- BAC of 0.10 percent to 0.15 percent: 90 days to 4 years in jail
- BAC of 0.16 percent or higher: 6 months to 5 years in jail
Fourth- or subsequent offense DUI:
- BAC of 0.08 percent to 0.09 percent: 1 t0 5 years in jail
- BAC of 0.10 percent to 0.15 percent: 2 to 6 years in jail
- BAC of 0.16 percent or higher: 3 to 7 years in jail
Whether this is your first, second, third or subsequent offense for driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol, you should reach out to a skilled Chesterfield criminal defense lawyer to discuss how to defend yourself.
How can a South Carolina DUI defense lawyer help you avoid time in jail?
A skilled Chesterfield County criminal defense lawyer might have any number of defenses to utilize on your behalf. First off, it might turn out that the police did not have probable cause to pull you over or subject you to sobriety tests and thus, anything they allegedly discovered might be deemed inadmissible. The equipment they used to determine your blood alcohol content could very well have been improperly calibrated or malfunctioning on the date of the incident. Your underlying medical conditions and the medications you use to treat them might be erroneously mistaken for inebriation. The strategy your legal representative employs will depend on your unique circumstances. Do not face these charges alone. Please give us a call today.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED SOUTH CAROLINA FIRM
Our legal team has significant experience helping clients through a wide array of legal matters, including those involving criminal law, personal injury law, divorce & separation, and family law. For competent and trustworthy legal counsel, simply contact The Cockrell Law Firm, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation with our legal team.
