Beaufort County DUI Defense Lawyers

In addition to the criminal penalties outlined above, people who are convicted of DUI in South Carolina face administrative penalties, most notably the suspension of their driver’s license. It is unlawful to drive on a suspended license, and doing so can result in significant penalties. 

In most cases, your driver’s license will be suspended for the following periods of time after a DUI conviction in South Carolina: 

• First offense: 6 months
• Second offense: 9 months 
• Third offense: 12 months 

If you are charged with felony DUI for a subsequent offense (i.e., a second, or third DUI within 10 years), you face a driver’s license suspension of up to three years. For a fourth DUI within 10 years, you face permanent driver’s license suspension. 

Having a suspended driver’s license can make it extremely difficult to get to work, take your children to school, run errands, and simply get around. Because of this, it is important that you explore all your options for having your driver’s license reinstated after a DUI arrest. 

Some of these options include: 

• Appealing your driver’s license suspension: If you believe that you were wrongfully arrested for DUI, you can appeal your driver’s license suspension. You only have 30 days to file an appeal with the appropriate administrative authority. This may be an option if you believe the arresting officer violated your rights during the arrest, did not have grounds to pull you over, or failed to properly administer a breathalyzer or chemical BAC test.
• Reducing the duration of your driver’s license suspension: You may be able to request that the duration of your driver’s license suspension be shortened by appealing your DUI charge. Depending on the circumstances, you may also be eligible to apply for a restricted license, such as a provisional driver’s license or restricted-route driver’s license.
• Applying for a provisional driver’s license: If this was your first time being cited for DUI, you could be eligible for a six-month provisional driver’s license. You will need to meet all eligibility requirements to receive a provisional license, including having had a valid South Carolina driver’s license, having had a BAC of 0.14% or below, having no other driver’s license suspensions after the DUI arrest (except for certain suspensions related to the arrest), being enrolled in the ADSAP, and meeting all other requirements for prior driver’s license suspensions and/or revocations. You will also be required to pay a $100 fee for your provisional license.
• Applying for driver’s license reinstatement after the duration of your license suspension: In South Carolina, your driver’s license is not automatically reinstated after the suspension period ends. Instead, you must apply to have your license reinstated. To do this, you will need to complete the ADSAP and file an application with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You will also need to pay a license reinstatement fee.