Lexington DUI Charges

In South Carolina, driving under the influence occurs when someone’s mental or physical faculties are materially and appreciably impaired. Any substance that impairs a person’s ability to operate a vehicle could lead to a DUI charge. A driver could get a DUI due to alcohol or drugs.

It is not necessary to have a minimum blood alcohol content (BAC) level. If someone has a BAC above 0.08, the jury can infer that the person was impaired while they were driving. However, a BAC above 0.08 also applies to a different charge. This separate charge is called driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration, commonly referred to as DUAC. There is a big difference between a DUI and a DUAC, as the evidence needed to prove a DUI is significantly different than what would be needed to prove a DUAC. DUI charges require much more evidence than DUAC charges.

If you are facing Lexington DUI charges, you should seek the services of an attorney. Let an experienced DUI lawyer fight for you throughout the legal process.

Enforcing DUI Laws in Lexington

Lexington DUI laws are strictly enforced. Between state troopers, highway patrol, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Town of Lexington, DUI charges are aggressively enforced through multiple means. They use roadblocks, monitoring of high-traffic areas at peak times, and patrol after a sporting event or late at night.

Many times, a base-level traffic violation leads to DUI. Someone could be pulled over for speeding, having their high-beams on, following too close, or weaving in their lane. In any of these ways, a simple traffic stop could lead to a DUI arrest.

The police and prosecutors take DUI charges in Lexington extremely seriously. A few years ago, the death of a young girl due to a drunk driver led to stricter DUI laws in South Carolina.

Consequences of a DUI Charge

Most of the people who get arrested for a DUI have never been in trouble before, which is one of the reasons that DUI cases can be so intimidating. Lexington DUI charges carry significant penalties and long-term repercussions. A conviction could lead to jail time, expensive fines, a driver’s license suspension, and more. Losing the ability to drive legally can cause serious issues with getting to work or school. A DUI charge could impact a person’s job. Also, the individual could lose their standing in the community due to the stigma that surrounds a DUI charge. Therefore, it is crucial for a person who is facing charges to seek the services of a seasoned lawyer as soon as possible.

Call an Attorney About Lexington DUI Charges

A person who is facing Lexington DUI charges should hire an accomplished lawyer who knows the laws regarding DUIs, knows how to protect a defendant’s rights, has experience fighting DUI charges in court, and who could build a strong defense.

They need a lawyer who understands the tactics and techniques used by police and prosecutors to try to get a conviction in a DUI case as well as the tactics used by experienced defense lawyers in building the best defense possible. The latter includes challenging the state’s evidence, arguing whether the state has met the requirements of the statutes, challenging whether they met the reporting statute, making sure the field sobriety tests are audio and video recorded, and checking to ensure that the tests met the standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It is equally as important that the defense attorney knows the local prosecutors, can negotiate with them in these cases, and can try to come up with a deal or a compromise in which both parties are satisfied and the risk to the defendant is minimized.