Clemson DUI Lawyer

Driving under the influence (DUI) charges should always be taken seriously. These criminal offenses often carry class requirements, high fines, or even jail time. Depending on how serious the offense was in your case, you could face the higher end of these potential penalties, especially if you have prior DUI offenses on your record. To help prevent these possible penalties it is crucial that you consult an experienced lawyer familiar with DUI cases. If you face DUI allegations in Clemson, an experienced Clemson DUI lawyer is prepared to help you defend your case.

How Police Detect DUI

A charge of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol requires law enforcement and the prosecutor to prove that the defendant was intoxicated behind the wheel. Detecting intoxication requires law enforcement to determine whether a driver was under the influence of an intoxicating substance. To accomplish this, officers will use various testing methods to detect intoxication.

Breath tests are used to detect intoxication by alcohol. A roadside breath test can provide law enforcement an indication that the driver is drunk, and provide justification for an arrest. Ultimately, a breath test back at the police station may also occur. Roadside tests known as field sobriety tests are also used to look for intoxicated drivers. These include the walk and turn test, horizontal gaze nystagmus test, and the one leg stand test.

Police may also utilize blood or urine tests depending on the facts of the case. This is especially true when drug intoxication is suspected, as breath tests cannot determine drug intoxication.

Categories of DUI Charges Under State Law

South Carolina law provides for different types of DUI charges, as well as different levels of the offense. These include:

• Felony DUI
• Underage DUI
• DUI on a military base
• Flying under the influence
• DUI drugs
• Boating under the influence

There can be further variations of DUI offenses depending on the unique facts of the defendant’s case. However, in every case, a DUI conviction can have long-lasting negative effects on the defendant’s future. A proper criminal defense may reduce or eliminate the potential criminal penalties.

Penalties if Convicted of DUI

What the defendant may face depends greatly on the facts of the DUI case for which they are charged. Criminal penalties usually increase when the defendant has other DUI’s on their record, had a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC), or if the accident resulted in death or bodily injury.

If convicted, penalties a defendant may face include, but are not limited to:

• High fines
• Jail or prison sentences
• Inability to get a job or keep their existing job
• Be required to purchase SR-22 high risk insurance
• Possible addiction or driver safety classes
• Suspension or loss of defendant’s driver’s license

All of these penalties can have a significant impact on a defendant’s life. The loss of a driver’s license can make it difficult to get to work or engage in other daily activities. SR-22 insurance is incredibly expensive, and may make it difficult or impossible to continue to legally drive.

Defend Your Case: Contact a DUI Attorney in Clemson

To defend your case you need to find an attorney who is properly trained in defending DUI cases and has the years of experience to protect your rights. DUI charges should always be taken seriously, whether this is your first or fourth charge.

An experienced Clemson DUI lawyer has the years of training needed to build you a customized legal defense. Contact us today to get started.