When Does a DUI Get Your License Suspended?
If you are facing a DUI charge, you likely have concerns about whether or not your license will be suspended. After all, losing your license can directly affect your ability to do your job and advance your career, to care and provide for your children, and to live your life to the fullest. The legal and social consequences of a DUI conviction are so serious that having an experienced Greenville DUI defense attorney on your side is always advised.
The Penalties of a DUI Charge
In South Carolina and elsewhere in the nation, DUI – or driving under the influence refers to legally impaired driving. If you reach the legal limit of a .08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC), your impairment will be inferred. If, on the other hand, there is evidence that your driving is impaired and you blow a BAC of .05 to .08 percent, you can still be charged with DUI.
A First DUI Offense
If you are facing a first DUI offense in the State of South Carolina, a conviction not only means fines and penalties but also an automatic driver’s license suspension of six months.
Refusing to submit to a breath or blood test upon arrest results in an automatic driver’s license suspension of 90 days for a first offense. This is extended to an automatic 180 days if you have a prior suspension or have a DUI conviction within the last ten years on your record.
South Carolina has an implied consent law, which means that everyone who gets behind the wheel agrees to take a breath or blood test if the officer has reasonable suspicion to pull them over. Although you can decline, you’ll face the automatic driver’s license suspension mentioned – even if you’re not ultimately convicted of DUI.
The Length of Your Driver’s License Suspension
How long your driver’s license will be suspended depends on your prior record. Consider the following:
- A first conviction carries a 6-month driver’s license suspension.
- A second conviction carries a 1-year driver’s license suspension.
- A third conviction carries a 2-year driver’s license suspension – or it carries a 4-year suspension if your third conviction happens within five years of your first.
- A fourth or subsequent conviction can lead to a permanently revoked driver’s license.
It’s important to note here that an ignition interlock device may be an option if facing a driver’s license suspension.
Our Experienced Greenville DUI Defense Attorneys Provide the Help You Need
The dedicated Greenville DUI defense attorneys at Ryan Beasley Law appreciate how seriously a driver’s license suspension can affect your life. We have the experience, legal insight, and focus to help guide your case toward an advantageous outcome that minimizes or eliminates your consequences. Learn more by contacting us online or calling 864-679-7777 today.