The Trusted Advocacy You Need To Navigate DUI/DWI Charges
Facing criminal charges for intoxicated driving can be stressful and scary. A lot is on the line: your reputation, your driver’s license, your finances, and potentially your freedom and career prospects.
At Parker & Bain, LLC, our lawyers understand what’s at stake. You can rely on us to help you through the process, protecting your rights each step of the way. We have extensive experience in court, handling a broad array of criminal charges. We know how to find the right angles for pursuing a strategic defense, whether that means negotiating for a favorable plea bargain that mitigates the impact on your life, or taking the case to trial and forcing the prosecution to uphold their high burden of proof.
What Are The Potential Penalties For A DUI Conviction?
Depending on whether the conviction is a first or repeat offense, or a felony or misdemeanor, you could face possible consequences such as:
- Jail time or probation
- Automatic suspension of your driver’s license
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device
- Community service
- Mandatory drug or alcohol rehab
- Significant fines
- Significantly increased insurance premiums
- Loss of your commercial driver’s license
Felony DUI offenses carry particularly harsh penalties, including loss of your voting rights and a lifetime ban on your ability to own or carry firearms.
What Are Some Common Defenses Against DUI Charges?
Potential defenses include:
- Insufficient evidence
- Inaccuracy of breath tests of field sobriety tests
- Violations of your rights
- Lack of proper legal grounds for initiating the traffic stop
You may have these or other defenses available to you, depending on your situation. Our lawyers can evaluate your case and provide realistic guidance on your best options.
DUI — To Blow Or Not To Blow
If you are charged with DUI, you will be offered a breath test to determine the amount of alcohol in your system. The police will take you into a room with the machine. They will videotape the entire procedure, so be careful what you say or do. Getting into an argument with the officer is the last thing you want to do.
You will have the choice to take the breath test or not. If you do not take the test, your driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days. Under DUI law, your license will also be suspended if you blow.16 or higher. In addition, if you are convicted of DUI, the penalty goes up for higher breath readings. Therefore, if you really only had two beers, then take the test. If you had more than you can remember, don’t take the test. For anything in between, you’re probably better off not taking the test.
Get Help Weighing Your Options For A Strong DUI Defense
We are committed to minimizing the impact of a DUI charge on your rights and freedoms. To learn more about how we can help, call our office in Gaffney at (864) 761-4124 . We handle DUI cases in South Carolina as well as North Carolina.