South Carolina’s DUI Laws
What Are South Carolina’s Habitual Offender Laws?
As both criminal defense attorneys and DUI defense lawyers in Charleston, South Carolina we’ve helped drivers who’ve lost their license because the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) declared them to be Habitual Traffic Offenders (“habitual offenders”) under South...
What is the South Carolina Ignition Interlock Device Program?
As DUI defense lawyers in Charleston, we’ve been asked questions about the Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program in South Carolina. The IID Program is part of “Emma’s Law.” A significant part of this law concerns the use of Ignition Interlock Devices for certain...
Are DUI & License Checkpoints Legal in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, law enforcement may briefly stop drivers at a checkpoint or a roadblock for the limited purpose of verifying a driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. Also, authorities may set up checkpoints to detect drunk drivers. However,...
The Tyndall Effect – How an Airbag Can Effect Your Breath Test in a DUI
Over the years, our DUI defense lawyers in Charleston have handled many cases involving auto accidents. Under South Carolina law, Section 56-6-6170, "no police officer in investigating a traffic accident shall necessarily deem the fact that an accident has occurred as...
How Does a DUI in South Carolina Impact Your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)?
As DUI lawyers in Charleston, South Carolina, we represent commercial vehicle drivers who are accused of driving under the influence. If you have a commercial driver's license (CDL) and you are charged with a DUI, things are a bit more complicated than other DUI's. We...
What is Boating Under the Influence (BUI) in South Carolina?
At Futeral & Nelson, our Charleston attorneys handle boating under the influence (BUI) charges in South Carolina. In this article, we explain the laws and the penalties for BUI, felony BUI, and Reckless Homicide by Boat. We also explain the Afloat Battery Test...
What is a Reasonable Legal Fee for Lawyers in South Carolina?
In a family court case one of our lawyers was working on some years ago, a lawyer who practiced law for three years and had filed only four family court cases in Charleston asked the court to award $300 per hour for legal fees. To put this lawyer’s hourly rate into...
Does a High Breath Test Reading Mean You’re Guilty of DUI in South Carolina?
As Charleston DUI lawyers, we are sometimes asked whether a person is guilty of DUI if they gave a high reading (above .08) on a breath test. The short answer to this question is "no,' you are NOT automatically guilty. If a driver blows a 0.05% or less, then he or she...
What are the Alternatives to a Criminal Conviction in South Carolina?
As criminal defense lawyers in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most important things we try to do for our clients is keep their records clean. Convictions on your criminal record can haunt you for the rest of your life and cost you student loans, possible jobs,...
What is the Cost of a DUI in South Carolina?
As DUI defense attorneys in Mt. Pleasant and Charleston, we're often asked how much it costs if you're charged with a DUI. We recently saw some billboards around that had a picture of a State Trooper holding a breathalyzer up to a person being arrested for DUI. The...
How to Defend a DUI South Carolina
As a DUI defense lawyer in Charleston, South Carolina, I'm oftentimes asked about the "process," from start to finish, after someone is arrested for DUI. This article provides an overview of the process for someone charged with a DUI 1st offense. If it is a DUI 2nd...
How to Prepare for Court in South Carolina
As attorneys in Charleston, South Carolina, we write many articles about the law concerning personal injury claims, criminal defense, family court, and so many other legal topics. However, it occurs to us that sometimes we may overlook the “basics.” One of these...