Facing DUI Charges in Aiken, SC?
We aim to win your DUI case when you choose Kent Collins to represent you.
But what does that mean exactly?
It could mean your DUI case is dismissed, and we negotiate an outcome that doesn’t result in a DUI conviction, license suspension, or an acquittal at trial.
DUI attorney Kent Collins will do everything legally and ethically within his power to help you avoid the negative consequences of a DUI conviction.
Kent Collins has extensive experience representing clients on DUI charges, including:
- Driving under the influence (DUI),
- Driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration (DUAC),
- Felony DUI with great bodily injury or death,
- DUI license suspensions, implied consent hearings, and
- Child endangerment and other DUI-related charges.
While no Aiken DUI attorney can guarantee specific results due to the unique nature of each case, we assure you that we will strive to have your DUI charges dismissed, negotiate a favorable resolution, or represent you in a trial before an Aiken County jury.
What are the consequences if you are convicted of DUI?
A conviction, whether it is a guilty plea or a conviction at trial, could mean:
- Job loss
- A mandatory minimum jail sentence
- Steep fines and court costs
- SR-22 insurance requirements
- Inability to find meaningful employment
- ADSAP (alcohol and drug safety action program)
- License suspension or habitual traffic offender status
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle
- A permanent criminal record that cannot be expunged
The Process for a DUI Arrest and Prosecution in Aiken, SC
The state’s best evidence in a DUI prosecution is often 1) the roadside and Datamaster room videos, 2) admissions that the defendant makes to the officer during their arrest, and 3) blood alcohol test results.
The officer will usually try to get you to talk while they are placing you under arrest and transporting you to the jail or the Datamaster facility.
On the roadside, they will attempt to get you to perform field sobriety tests on the dashcam video. At the jail or police station, they will try to give you a breathalyzer test.
You were not required to undergo roadside field sobriety tests, but if you refused, you were likely to be arrested.
And if there was any chance that the video would hurt your case, you should’ve politely declined.
You also did not have to take the breathalyzer test.
You have the right to refuse the breath test, but when you do, your license will be suspended under SC’s implied consent laws.
Of course, if you take the breath test and the result is .15 or greater, your license will still be suspended.
You did not have to answer any questions or engage in small talk with the arresting officer or Datamaster operator.
In fact, it’s best not to talk to anyone about your case until you speak to a DUI lawyer in Aiken, SC.
Assuming you were charged with DUI or DUAC first offense in Aiken County, you were given an “initial court date” when you were released on bond.
Once you retain a DUI attorney and the attorney requests a jury trial, that court date is canceled, and you will probably not have another court date until your case appears on the jury trial roster.
Call DUI lawyer Kent Collins at the Kent Collins Law Firm immediately after your arrest, and get an experienced DUI attorney with a proven record of results.
Do not plead guilty if you’ve been arrested for DUI in Aiken, SC.
Do not agree to anything, do not plead guilty, do not speak to police or prosecutors about your case, and ask for your DUI attorney if they attempt to question you.
Make sure to contact Aiken County DUI lawyer Kent Collins before your initial court date to avoid missing important deadlines for your trial and hearing requests.
This is because your jury trial request, preliminary hearing request, or implied consent hearing request may have critical deadlines.
A Former Prosecutor and DUI Attorney in Aiken, SC
Although Kent Collins is a former prosecutor, he now helps ordinary people like you fight DUI charges in Aiken, SC.
He knows the local courts, prosecutors, judges, and many of the officers involved in DUI cases in Aiken.
Kent also knows how to challenge the allegations in a DUI case, including both the criminal case and the administrative case against you if your license has been suspended under SC’s implied consent laws.
Last but not least, Kent knows the tricks the police and prosecutor may use to get you to make damaging statements, provide evidence against yourself, or plead guilty to your DUI charges.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get my Aiken County DUI charges dismissed?
Can I get a DUI conviction expunged in South Carolina?
The only way to keep a DUI off your record is to fight the charges before you are convicted and:
- Get your DUI charges dismissed by the prosecutor or by the court,
- Negotiate a plea agreement that includes dismissal of the DUI charges or
- Win an acquittal at a jury trial.
What if I refused to blow in the Datamaster machine?
You can then file an implied consent hearing request, get a temporary alcohol license (TAL) from the DMV that allows you to drive until your hearing date, and ask a DMV hearing officer to reinstate your license at the implied consent hearing.
What if I did blow in the breathalyzer?
If you take the test and the result is .15% or greater, your license will be suspended. The implied consent procedure is then the same as it would have been if you had refused to take the test.
Experience Matters
Kent Collins is a former prosecutor with extensive criminal law experience, having worked as both a prosecutor and an Aiken County DUI lawyer in private practice.
His experience and qualifications include:
- Experience as a prosecutor in Orangeburg and Lexington Counties
- Years of experience defending clients against DUI allegations in private practice
- Handling thousands of criminal cases ranging from speeding tickets to murder charges and including DUI charges, DUAC charges, and other DUI-related offenses
- He is an active member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (SCACDL) and The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and
- He regularly attends training sessions for DUI defense, criminal defense, and trial practice.
Were You Arrested for DUI in Aiken, SC?
If you’re ready to speak with a DUI attorney in Aiken, please set up a free consultation by calling 803.808.0905 or filling out our online contact form.
READY TO SPEAK WITH AN ATTORNEY?
Get your case evaluated by a real attorney at no cost to you.