The state of South Carolina has enacted some stringent rules regarding DUI in Greenville. The regulations ensure that reckless drivers and those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are punished. Offenders will face criminal charges in court, and depending on the circumstances, they may have their driver’s license suspended or pay fines. In some situations, offenders will be obliged to install ignition lock devices monitored by authorities to avoid accidents and blunders on the road.
If you are being investigated for a possible DUI in Greenville, the authorities will determine the severity by BAC levels. If you refuse to give a breath sample or won’t let authorities do their job, your driving license will undergo a six-month suspension with immediate effect. Let us look into the consequences of your first offense DUI in Greenville, SC.
Consequences of Your First Offense DUI
You will be asked to cooperate and provide a breath sample, and if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is less than 0.10 percent, you will be sentenced to jail for 48 hours to a minimum of 30 days. You will also be required to pay a total of $400 in fines, not including court expenses and assessment. If you’re lucky, you’ll be assigned community service, which you must complete.
If the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) falls between 0.10 and 0.15 percent, offenders may face jail terms ranging from 72 hours to a minimum of 30 days. They must also pay a total of $500 in fines, as well as court fees and assessments. If the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is greater than 0.15 percent, the situation becomes quite severe, and offenders may face a sentence of 30 to 90 days in prison. The penalty increases dramatically, as they must pay a total of $1,000 in fines as well as court costs and assessments.
Additionally, their driver’s license will be suspended for six months. Additionally, they will have their driver’s license undergo a six-month suspension, and authorities will decide whether or not an ignition lock device is required.
If the offender continues to be charged with DUI in Greenville, the court will decide if the ignition lock device should be recommended for the rest of his life. The offender’s driver’s license might be suspended, and he could face a seven-year prison sentence.
What Happens When an Offender Refuses to Submit to the Blood Alcohol Test?
If you refuse to cooperate with authorities and submit to a Blood Alcohol Test, your driver’s license will be suspended for a period ranging from 6 to 15 months, with immediate effect. The number of DUI charges you have been convicted of in the last decade influences how long your license will be suspended.
Keeping that in mind, if you comply and submit to the rest of the process, your license will most likely not be suspended for months. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.15 percent or above after taking the test, your license will be suspended. However, the length of your sentence is determined by whether or not this is your first offense.
Your license will be suspended for a month if it is your first violation and you have a BAC of 0.15 percent. Your license will be suspended for six months if you decline the test despite having no prior DUI charges. If you have had more than three DUI offenses in the last decade and have a BAC of 0.15 percent, your license will be suspended for four months. This is only if the individual cooperates; if the offender refuses, then his license will undergo a 15-month license suspension.
Applying for a Temporary Alcohol License or Route-Restricted License
If you want to proceed further and request an administrative hearing, you can do so for $200. You are permitted to apply for a temporary alcohol license once the process has begun, and your hearing has been sought. You can obtain it by paying a fee of $100 to the DMV. This temporary alcohol license is only good for the duration of the hearing.
The validity of this license will be determined after the hearing, depending on whether you are found guilty or not. The suspension will be lifted if you are not proven guilty. If the hearing does not finish in your favor, your temporary license will be canceled, and the suspension will take effect.
You are most definitely eligible to apply for a route-restricted license. On the other hand, the route-restricted license will only enable you to travel to specific areas, such as work or university.
If you are charged with a DUI in Greenville, SC, cooperate with the authorities at first to avoid further complications. Keep your cool and contact an attorney to help you handle the situation. The best you can do is pay attention to what the authorities say and cooperate.