South Carolina DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in South Carolina is 0.08% per se
(effective from Aug 19th 2003)

(If you’ve been charged with South Carolina DUI, the law allows 10 days for your South Carolina DUI Lawyer to make a request with the South Carolina DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) for a hearing to save your driving license)

South Carolina DUI Laws and BAC limits

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of South Carolina it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.04% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in South Carolina and implied consent laws are enforced.

South Carolina BAC Calculator

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for DUI - Drunk Driving in South Carolina

South Carolina is a state with a ten-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after ten years. If it is ten years and one day since a driver was convicted of DUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a DUI within ten years of the first DUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

First DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a first DUI - drunk driving conviction in South Carolina:

• $400 fine
• 48 hours to 30 days in jail
• possible community service in lieu of jail time
• 6 months drivers license suspension
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a second DUI - drunk driving conviction in South Carolina:

• $2,100 to $5,100 fine
• 5 days to 1 year in jail
• possible community service in lieu of jail time
• 1 years drivers license suspension
• ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement
• possible alcohol intervention program
• SR22 insurance requirement

Third DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - Misdemeanor

The penalty for a third DUI - drunk driving conviction in South Carolina:

• $3,800 to $6,300 fine
• 60 days to 3 years in jail
• 2 years drivers license suspension
• 4 years drivers license suspension if convicted within 5 years of first DUI conviction
• possible permanent driving license revocation under certain circumstances
• ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement
• possible vehicle forfeiture
• SR22 insurance requirement

If a person is convicted of a fourth or subsequent offense, then the offender will be sentenced to prison for a minimum of one year and could have to serve up to 5 years. This is considered to be a felony DUI.

Implied consent LAWS

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in South Carolina and implied consent laws are enforced.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in South Carolina

If you refuse to submit to a chemical test in South Carolina, your drivers license will be immediately suspended for at least 90 days. In addition you can still be charged and convicted of a DUI without a chemical test if the peace officer convinces the court that you were intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle.

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South Carolina SR22 insurance (High Risk DUI SR22 Insurance)

South Carolina auto insurance quotes ENTER ZIP CODE:

South Carolina SR-22 auto insurance is usually required for a period of 3 years after a DUI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider.  Some insurance companies will not even do an SR22 insurance filing. Get a FREE SR22 DUI auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for South Carolina auto insurance in a matter of minutes.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of South Carolina

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of South Carolina for private passenger vehicles is (25/50/25). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $50,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $25,000 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE DUI / DWI Case evaluation & by local South Carolina Lawyer

OR

Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer South Carolina DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your South Carolina drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local South Carolina Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in South Carolina? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in South Carolina? • Does South Carolina have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with South Carolina laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in South Carolina? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local South Carolina criminal defense attorney specialising in South Carolina drunk driving laws today.

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Disclaimer: While every effort is made to keep all information up to date, the South Carolina drunk driving laws change frequently and the information provided should not be construed as legal advice. Drinkdriving.org shall not be held responsible for any actions a person may take as a result of information gathered from this web site. Consultation with a local South Carolina DUI lawyer is recommended in all cases.

Useful South Carolina DUI Links:

DUI - Drunk Driving Laws in South Carolina

South Carolina Drivers Manual

South Carolina SR22 Insurance Requirement

South Carolina DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)

South Carolina Department of Transportation

South Carolina Insurance

South Carolina Courts Judicial Department

South Carolina DUI Lawyers

South Carolina DUI discussion forum

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