South Carolina DUI Laws & Drunk Driving Penalties


Overview of the penalties upon conviction of DUI in South Carolina

South Carolina DUI Laws, BAC limits, fines, jail times, IID requirements, suspension/revocation periods and SR22 insurance requirements for first time and repeat offenders with multiple DUI's.

If you've been charged with DWI in South Carolina, the law allows only 10 days for a South Carolina DWI Lawyer to make a request with the South Carolina DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) for a hearing to help save your drivers license.

What are the penalties for DUI in South Carolina?

The penalties for driving under the influence in South Carolina will depend upon the exact circumstances of each particular case and the number of previous offenses (if any) a person has.

SC DUI Penalties

South Carolina is a state with a 10 year 'washout period' also known as a 'look back period'

1st DUI Offense / Conviction - Misdemeanor

The penalty upon conviction of a first DUI offense in South Carolina:

BAC of 0.08% to less than 0.10%

BAC of 0.10% to less than 0.16%

BAC of 0.16% or above

2nd DUI Offense / Conviction - Misdemeanor

The penalty upon conviction of a second DUI offense in South Carolina:

BAC of 0.08% to less than 0.10%

BAC of 0.10% to less than 0.16%

BAC of 0.16% or more

3rd DUI Offense / Conviction - Misdemeanor

The penalty upon conviction of a third DUI offense in South Carolina:

BAC of 0.08% to less than 0.10%

BAC of 0.10% to less than 0.16%

BAC of 0.16% or more

4th (& subsequent) DUI Offense / Conviction - Felony

The penalty upon conviction of a fourth (& subsequent) DUI offense in South Carolina:

BAC of 0.08% to less than 0.10%

BAC of 0.10% to less than 0.16%

BAC of 0.16% or more

Top of Page


Implied Consent (Chemical Testing) Laws

South Carolina Chemical Testing Laws

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

If a person refuses to submit to a chemical test in South Carolina, their drivers license will be immediately suspended for at least 90 days.

In addition they can still be charged and convicted of a DUI and the evidence of the refusal can be used against them in court to help secure a DUI conviction.

Top of Page


What is the legal alcohol limit in South Carolina

The maximum legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limits in South Carolina for driving are as follows:

ADULT DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of South Carolina it is an offense for adult drivers to drive any regular motor vehicle with 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in his/her blood.

DRIVERS UNDER 21 - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
In the State of South Carolina it is an offense for drivers under the age of 21 (minors) to drive any motor vehicle with 0.02% or more, by weight, of alcohol in his/her blood.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
In the State of South Carolina it is an offense for drivers who drive commercial vehicles to drive any commercial motor vehicle with 0.04% or more, by weight, of alcohol in his/her blood.

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

Cities in South Carolina

Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Bennettsville, Bluffton, Blythewood, Camden, Charleston, Cheraw, Chester, Clemson, Clover, Columbia, Conway, Darlington, Dillon, Easley, Edgefield, Florence, Fort Mill, Gaffney, Georgetown, Goose Creek, Greenville, Greenwood, Greer, Hampton, Hartsville, Hilton Head Island, Irmo, Johns Island, Kingstree, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, Loris, Manning, Marion, Moncks Corner, Mount Pleasant, Mullins, Myrtle Beach, Newberry, North Augusta, North Charleston, North Myrtle Beach, Orangeburg, Pawleys Island, Pickens, Ridgeland, Rock Hill, Seneca, Simpsonville, Spartanburg, Summerville, Sumter, Union, Walterboro, West Columbia, Winnsboro, York.


Counties in South Carolina

Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg, York.


DUI Laws - Drinkdriving.org

DrinkDriving.org
Your DUI Law Information Resource
LOOKING FOR CHEAP SR22 INSURANCE? - Compare Rates Today
States/Abbreviations AK
AL
AR
AZ
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
HI
IA
ID
IL
IN
KS
KY
Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Iowa
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
LA
MA
MD
ME
MI
MN
MO
MS
MT
NC
ND
NE
NH
NJ
NM
NV
NY
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
North Carolina
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Nevada
New York
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WI
WV
WY
DC
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington State
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming
Washington DC