Under South Carolina law, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. People who are found guilty of driving with a blood alcohol level that is too high may be fined or imprisoned. Here is the possible penalties for DUI in South Carolina. To learn more contact our DUI Lawyer about your case.
For blood alcohol levels of .08 to .10 percent, the following penalties apply:
| Offense Number | Imprisonment or Public Service and Fines | License Suspension |
| One | A fine of $400 or a minimum imprisonment of 48 hours to a maximum of 30 days. The court also has the option of ordering public service instead of the 48-hour minimum sentence. | Six Months |
| Two | A minimum fine of $2,100 to a maximum fine of $5,100 and imprisonment for a minimum of five days to a maximum of one year. The court may not suspend the fine by less than $1,100. | Indefinite |
| Three | A minimum fine of $3,800 to a maximum fine of $6,300 and imprisonment for a minimum of 60 days to a maximum of three years. | Indefinite |
| Four or More | Imprisonment for a minimum of one year to a maximum of five years. | Indefinite |
For blood alcohol levels of .10 percent to .16 percent, the following penalties apply:
| Offense Number | Imprisonment or Public Service and Fines | License Suspension |
| One | A fine of $500 or a minimum imprisonment of 72 hours to a maximum of 30 days. The court also has the option of ordering public service instead of the 72-hour minimum sentence. | Six Months or indefinite if greater than a blood alcohol level of .15 |
| Two | A minimum fine of $2,500 to a maximum fine of $5,500 and imprisonment for a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of two years. The court may not suspend the fine by less than $1,100. | Indefinite |
| Three | A minimum fine of $5,500 to a maximum fine of $7,500 and imprisonment for a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of four years. | Indefinite |
| Four or More | Imprisonment for a minimum of two years to a maximum of six years. | Indefinite |
For blood alcohol levels greater than .16 percent, the following penalties apply:
| Offense Number | Imprisonment or Public Service and Fines | License Suspension |
| One | A fine of $1000 or a minimum imprisonment of 30 days to a maximum of 90 days. The court also has the option of ordering public service instead of the 30 day minimum sentence. | Indefinite |
| Two | A minimum fine of $3,500 to a maximum fine of $6,500 and imprisonment for a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of two year. The court may not suspend the fine by less than $1,100. | Indefinite |
| Three | A minimum fine of $7,000 to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for a minimum of six months to a maximum of five years. | Indefinite |
| Four or More | Imprisonment for a minimum of three years to a maximum of seven years. | Indefinite |
At the De Bruin Law Firm in Greenville, South Carolina, our criminal defense attorneys can represent you if you are accused of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or
higher. Contact the De Bruin Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our DUI Attorneys.
