Facing a DUI Charge in Greenwood, SC?
A DUI charge in South Carolina can feel overwhelming, leaving you unsure of where to turn.
The consequences can be severe, impacting your driving privileges, finances, and freedom.
However, you don’t have to navigate this difficult situation alone.
You can fight the DUI charges and protect your rights by taking immediate action and seeking experienced legal representation.
DUI attorney Kent Collins can guide you through the legal process, explore potential defenses, and work toward the best possible outcome for your case.
Let’s explore the potential consequences of a DUI conviction in Greenwood, South Carolina.
A conviction carries serious consequences that may include:
- A prison sentence,
- Loss of your job,
- Difficulty finding a job in the future,
- Fines and court costs,
- License suspension and license revocation,
- Mandatory IID (ignition interlock device),
- ADSAP,
- SR-22 insurance, and
- A permanent record for DUI that cannot be expunged.
As you can see, the potential consequences of a DUI conviction in Greenwood, SC, are significant.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Greenwood, SC, DO NOT PLEAD GUILTY.
Before making any decisions in your case, before giving any statements to the police or prosecutors, and before appearing in court for your initial court date, be sure to call your Greenwood, SC, DUI lawyer to understand what options are available to you.
A Former Prosecutor Accepting DUI Defense Cases in Greenwood, SC
DUI attorney Kent Collins is a former prosecutor with experience handling DUI cases from start to finish on both sides of the fence.
First, Kent worked as an assistant solicitor in Orangeburg and Lexington, SC. Later, Kent became a criminal defense lawyer, representing clients accused of driving under the influence.
What’s more, Kent knows the courts, the prosecutors, the police departments, and the procedures for investigating, charging, and prosecuting driving under the influence cases.
How do you get your DUI charges dismissed?
Whether your DUI charges are dismissed depends on many factors, but the most critical include your DUI lawyer’s ability to:
- Investigate the allegations against you
- If the prosecutor does not dismiss or make an offer, you can accept, try your case to a jury
- Know the facts that may lead to the dismissal of your case, like constitutional violations or the officers’ failure to follow the requirements of SC DUI laws
Not to mention, police officers routinely make mistakes during DUI arrest and it’s these mistakes that can lead to a dismissal of your charges.
Implied Consent Hearings/ DUI Administrative Hearings
If you are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration (DUAC) in Greenwood, SC, you may also have what is called an “implied consent” license suspension.
If you refuse the breathalyzer, urinalysis, or blood test, your driver’s license is suspended. If you take the breathalyzer, and the result is .15 or greater, your driver’s license is suspended.
In either case, you can request an implied consent hearing within 30 days of your arrest to get an opportunity to have the suspension “rescinded” and your license returned.
Once you request an implied consent hearing, you can get a “TAL,” or temporary alcohol license, which allows you to drive without restrictions other than no alcohol until your hearing date.
If you win your implied consent hearing, your license is returned.
Suppose you lose your implied consent hearing or do not request one. In that case, you must enroll in ADSAP and either serve out your suspension, get a temporary license, or install an ignition interlock device (IID) depending on your circumstances.
Why Call Kent Collins’ DUI Defense Law Firm?
Kent Collins has extensive experience defending DUI cases and DUI-related offenses like child endangerment, felony DUI, open container in a vehicle, public intoxication, breach of peace, public disorderly conduct, and more.
Our DUI law firm routinely accepts DUI cases in Greenwood, SC, and the surrounding area, including:
- DUI first offense in the Greenwood County magistrate courts,
- DUI first offense in the Greenwood municipal court,
- DUI second, third, or fourth and subsequent offenses in the Greenwood County General Sessions Court, and
- Felony DUI charges in Greenwood, SC.
Kent Collins:
- Regularly handles DUI cases for clients
- Has experience as a former prosecutor in Orangeburg and Lexington, SC
- Has dealt with thousands of criminal cases of all types, from speeding tickets to murder charges
- Has years of experience defending people accused of crimes as a Greenwood, SC DUI lawyer in private practice
- Is an active member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (SCACDL) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
- Regularly attends training sessions for criminal defense law and trial practice
Call Greenwood, SC, DUI lawyer Kent Collins before appearing in court for your initial court date, before making any statements to police or prosecutors, and before making any decisions in your case.
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CLIENTS HAVE SAID
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Get My DUI Charges Dismissed?
We might be able to get your DUI charges dismissed, but we cannot guarantee a specific outcome in any case.
Why?
Because every case is different, and anything can happen in South Carolina’s criminal courts.
We do, however, routinely get DUI charges dismissed for our clients in situations where:
- The officer did not follow SC’s mandatory DUI laws during the investigation and arrest,
- The officer violated our client’s constitutional rights during the traffic stop and arrest,
- Our independent investigation uncovers facts that lead to the dismissal of the charges,
- The state does not have sufficient evidence to prosecute, or
- We discover any facts in our case or SC law that mandates dismissal in our case.
Can You Get My DUI Conviction Expunged in SC?
No.
SC does not permit the expungement of any traffic convictions, including DUI/ driving under the influence and DUAC/ driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration.
You need to fight your DUI charges before you are convicted – call your Greenwood, SC, DUI lawyer immediately after your arrest.
Can I Get PTI or Pretrial Diversion for a DUI in Greenwood, SC?
Prosecutors cannot send a DUI or DUAC charge to Pretrial Intervention (PTI) or any other pretrial diversion program in South Carolina.
Unlike some other states that have DUI-specific pretrial diversion programs, SC offers nothing for a first-time DUI offender.
DUI charges are not eligible for PTI. However, a prosecutor can rewrite a DUI ticket into a reckless driving ticket.
Is DUI a Misdemeanor or Felony Offense in SC?
“Felony DUI” in SC doesn’t exactly mean “a DUI that is a felony.”
Felony DUI is a felony offense, but it is not an “ordinary” DUI offense – to be convicted of felony DUI, the person must have negligently caused an accident while under the influence that resulted in great bodily injury or death.
An “ordinary” DUI can also be a felony offense if it is a fourth or subsequent offense (see SC Code § 16-1-90), but DUI first, second, or third offenses are classified as misdemeanors in SC (see SC Code § 16-1-10(C), SC Code Section 56-5-6190, and SC Code § 16-1-100).
Were You Arrested for DUI in Greenwood, SC?
If you’ve been charged with a DUI, you should speak with a DUI attorney in Greenwood, SC, immediately. Not every case ends in conviction. Some steps involved are time-sensitive, so you must not delay.
If you’re ready to speak with a Greenwood DUI attorney, 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.