South Carolina DUI Laws

In the state of South Carolina, driving under the influence will cost you your freedom of a period of no less than 48 hours. If convicted, you face fines up to $10,000 (for multiple offenses) and you could lose your license for up to two years. Multiple convictions will result in permanent license revocation. The state of South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles also publishes a list of multiple DUI offenders. This means, your DUI convictions could cost more than your freedom – once you have served your time, a place on the list could cost you your job and you may not be able to obtain automobile insurance.

Like most other states, South Carolina has an implied consent law. What this means is, if you drive a motor vehicle on any South Carolina roadway, you are giving your consent to a blood, breath, or urine test if an officer suspects that you are driving under the influence. In the state of South Carolina, driving under the influence refers to driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both. In some cases, in addition to illegal substances, DUI may also include certain prescription drugs.

What is the blood alcohol content level (BAC) limit in the state of South Carolina?

In the state of South Carolina, it is a crime to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Sentence enhancements exist for cases involving a BAC of 0.15% or higher.

In the state of South Carolina what is the administrative license suspension period for a first offense?

In the state of South Carolina, if you get arrested for DUI, there is no set administrative license suspension period for first offenses. If your license is suspended, it is up to the courts to determine if you are eligible to have your driving privileges restored during any given suspension period as determined by the courts.

In the state of South Carolina, what are the penalties for a first DUI offense? Second offense?

In the state of South Carolina, first drunk driving offenses will result in license suspension for a minimum of 180 days, two days in jail, minimum up to 90 days maximum, and fines ranging from $400 up to $1,000. First DUI offenders may also have to complete 2-30 days of public service.

Second drunk driving offenses carry a minimum 5-day jail sentence up to 3 years depending on BAC, license suspension of 12 months, and fines ranging from $2,100 up to $6,500. If you are convicted of a third drunk driving offense, you will spend anywhere from 60 days up to 5 years in jail, you will have to pay $3,800-$10,000 in fines, and you will lose your license for 24 months. Fourth DUI convictions will result in permanent license suspension and a mandatory minimum of 1 year in jail up to a maximum of 7 years, depending on your BAC at the time of arrest. All South Carolina DUI convictions are subject to interlock at the driver’s own expense.