What to Expect During and Immediately After a DUI Arrest in South Carolina

What to Expect During and Immediately After a DUI Arrest in South Carolina If you are driving home from a sports bar or gathering of friends after a night of drinking, the sudden reflection of red flashing lights in the rearview mirror can be alarming.  While this scenario offers the potential of severe penalties and a murky future, a driver’s contact with law enforcement after a night of drinking will not necessarily lead to a DUI conviction.  The way you handle the interaction with the officer and a prompt decision to retain an experienced Greenville DUI defense lawyer can improve your chances of a positive outcome.  In this blog, we examine the initial stop and arrest process, field sobriety and chemical testing, and the driver’s license consequences of a DUI arrest.   The Initial Stop A roadside traffic stop constitutes an inherently disturbing situation for people who have had little experience with law enforcement because the officer has the advantage of standing over you with a gun and the power of arrest.  The first priority for any motorist in this situation is not to panic because a level head and the full exercise of your rights can allow you to impact the way the encounter turns out.  The officer usually will have stopped your vehicle because of a traffic violation or perceived erratic driving. [DUI checkpoints that involve random...

Read More

Greenville DUI Attorneys Provide Overview of DUI Laws, Penalties & Charges

South Carolina has tough DUI laws that carry harsh penalties and potentially devastating long-term consequences.  When you are arrested for an alcohol-related driving offense, the precise charges that you face will depend on your unique circumstances.  Some of the factors that might affect the charge include the refusal of a breath test, blood alcohol concentration (BAC), any accident involvement, and injuries or deaths caused by the drunk driving.  In this blog, we provide an overview of DUI laws, offenses, and penalties in South Carolina. SOUTH CAROLINA DUI LAWS DUI [Section 56.5-2930] The basic charge that will be faced by an adult will either be DUI under Section 56.5-2930 or DUAC under Section 56.5-2933.  Although a motorist only can be convicted of one of these offenses, which are subject to the same penalties, the charges apply to different circumstances.  DUI will be charged when the police officer gathers evidence that a driver’s physical or mental driving abilities are impaired by drugs, alcohol, or both. This evidence might include a traffic violation, field sobriety tests, observations during a stop, or so-called erratic driving.  This form of DUI will usually be charged when the police do not acquire any BAC chemical testing results.  The lack of breath (blood or urine) results might be because of a refusal to comply with the informed consent law or the failure to blow an adequate amount...

Read More

Greenville DUI Lawyer

Greenville DUI Defense Lawyer A DUI charge has the potential to wreak havoc on your life. A DUI can cost you your job, your relationships, and your reputation. At the De Bruin Law Firm, our Greenville DUI defense lawyers are experienced in criminal matters and take pride in building strong defenses for our clients. An arrest does not necessarily have to result in a conviction, and our lawyers will work hard to protect your legal rights.   South Carolina DUI laws In South Carolina, a driver may be arrested for driving under the influence if the driver’s blood alcohol...

Read More

Important Issues Involving South Carolina DUI Driver’s License Issues

Drunk driving is an activity to be avoided because of the risk of a tragic accident, but millions of people are arrested for DUI annually.  The prospect of losing your driver’s license, paying significant fines and other costs, and spending time in custody can be frightening.  Suspension of your driver’s license also might make obtaining employment, or keeping your job, extremely difficult.  The damage to your personal and professional reputation could affect career prospects and rental housing options.  While the best way to protect your rights and future is to retain an experienced Greenville DUI defense lawyer, this blog...

Read More

Do I have to tell my employer if I get a DUI?

Getting a DUI can be extremely embarrassing whereas most people want to move on after such an unpleasant experience. However, you might be wondering whether your DUI will end up impacting your professional life. One thing that might cross your mind, and could cause you to lose sleep, is whether you have to tell your employer about your DUI. The answer is that it depends. There are certain situations where you might have to tell your employer, but in many cases, disclosing this information is not required. When would I have to tell my employer about my DUI? If you signed a contract with your current employer, take a look at it. Does it state that you have to disclose anything like a DUI, arrest, or conviction? If the contract requires your disclosure under the circumstances, then you should abide by its terms. Remember though, that if you are required to inform your employer of a conviction, and you were arrested, but not convicted, then disclosure would not be necessary. If you fail to notify your employer despite a contractual obligation to do so, you will be considered in breach of your employment contract. This could cause you to lose your job. Another scenario when you might have to disclose your DUI is if your job includes driving. For one thing, there is a greater chance that your contract...

Read More

Common Issues With Field Sobriety Tests

Field sobriety tests are used by police officers to evaluate a driver’s level of intoxication. Field sobriety tests are often used in conjunction with a Breathalyzer, which measures the amount of alcohol in one’s breath. Although field sobriety tests are commonly used in all 50 states, they are not always accurate. Officers may mistakenly arrest drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the driver is not actually intoxicated. The horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test When an officer asks a driver to complete the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the officer is studying the driver’s eyes. When...

Read More

How Much Does A DUI Attorney Cost?

An arrest for a DUI is an expensive ordeal. There’s bail to get out of jail, the SR-22 insurance that must be filed for three years, and the cost of taking a South Carolina Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. There may be other costs that cannot be quantified, like a loss of employment or damage to your reputation. Many individuals arrested for driving under the influence also worry about the expense of a defense attorney. In fact, the majority of Americans—a reported 63 percent—do not have the funds available to cover a $500 emergency. Taking your dog to...

Read More

The Breathalyzer Test in South Carolina

 In South Carolina, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. If you are stopped for suspected drunk driving, the police officer may use a Breathalyzer to test how much alcohol is in your system. The police officer will ask you to blow into the Breathalyzer for a few seconds. The Breathalyzer will then provide a reading of your blood alcohol content. When a person drinks alcohol, ethanol enters the bloodstream. The more alcohol that is consumed, the higher the concentration of ethanol will be. With each breath, a small amount...

Read More

What To Do When An Order Of Protection Is Filed Against You

If you have recently found out that an order of protection has been filed against you, you probably have many questions about how to proceed. When dealing with issues of this nature, it is essential to hire a competent domestic violence attorney for your defense. Representing yourself in court or hiring a lawyer who is not familiar with the complex domestic violence laws in South Carolina may end disastrously.

Read More

When A Police Officer Searches Your Car

As criminal defense attorneys in South Carolina, we often defend clients who were arrested after their cars were searched. When this happens, we must be diligent about ensuring that a client’s rights were not violated. Under the Fourth Amendment, American citizens are protected from illegal searches and seizures. Should a police officer obtain evidence against you illegally, we may be able to use it for your defense. If you have been charged with a crime because of evidence obtained from a search of your car, we will work with you to determine whether or not this search was legal...

Read More