What Happens to My License if I Get a DUI in Spartanburg?
Spartanburg DUI License Suspension
DUI License Consequences in Spartanburg South, Carolina: In South Carolina, you can be subject to both criminal and administrative penalties, including fines, jail time and license suspension if you are convicted of driving under the influence, or driving with an unlawful amount of alcohol in your system. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case and the severity of the offense, you can receive fines, jail time and other penalties. Circumstances include the percentage of alcohol in your blood, whether it is your second DUI, whether you were involved in an accident, or whether you caused serious injuries.
Remember also that South Carolina has an implied consent law which means that you automatically consent to a test of your breath, blood or urine after you have been arrested for suspicion of DUI. Although you can refuse the test, if you choose to do so you will be subject to more penalties, including driver’s license suspension and may result in more DUI license consequences in Spartanburg.
If you have been arrested for DUI and fail a chemical test, or refuse one, chances are your driver’s license will be suspended for a period of time. How long depends on the particulars of your case. If you refuse a test, your driver’s license can be suspended for anywhere from 6 months to 15 months, depending on how many DUI convictions you have received in the last 10 years. Under the implied consent law, if you decide to submit to a test, your driver’s license will be suspended if your blood alcohol concentration is 0.15 percent or greater. License suspensions for blood alcohol content of 0.15 or more range from one month to four months, depending on your prior DUI convictions in the past 10 years.
If your license is suspended under the implied consent law, you will have the opportunity to request an administrative hearing, and you may qualify for a temporary alcohol license that will allow you to drive until you receive the results of your administrative hearing. If your hearing is successful, then your license suspension ends. However, if your hearing is not successful, your license suspension remains. It is possible to qualify for an alcohol license so that you can still go to work or school, but in order to drive again, you will likely also be required to enroll in a rehabilitation program and pay reinstatement fees to have your license reissued.
It is important to note that the license suspension consequences under the implied consent law are separate and in addition to any license suspensions as a result of a DUI conviction.
License suspensions are typically 6 months for a first time DUI. For a second offense DUI, you get a 1 year license suspension. A third DUI offense can result in a 2 year license suspension, but if your conviction happens within 5 years from the date of your first offense, your license can be suspended for 4 years. A fourth or subsequent DUI is considered a felony and can result in permanent revocation of your license as a more extreme DUI license consequences in Spartanburg. It is possible to qualify for a restricted provisional license, but to be eligible you must meet certain requirements.
Under South Carolina’s implied consent law, losing your right to drive is a serious consequence of a DUI conviction. Your driver’s license can be suspended for at least 6 months; it makes no difference whether you’re a first time DUI offender or have a history of driving under the influence. Losing your ability to drive can have consequences in other areas of your life as well, especially if you are unable to qualify for a provisional or restricted license. Without a driver’s license it will be difficult to get to work or school, or even the grocery store.
If you have been arrested and charged with DUI or under the implied consent law, we at The Bateman Law Firm recommend that you consult with an experienced DUI attorney right away to avoid DUI license consequences in Spartanburg. Call us today at 864-402-2556 for a FREE case evaluation.
