Any marijuana in a driver's blood can trigger DUI charges
There is no 'dope-alyzer' for driving while high
What is a "felony DUI" in South Carolina?
Felony DUI is that worst case scenario.
Driving under the influence is typically a misdemeanor offense. Any DUI is a serious charge because of the many consequences. But when a DUI is charged as a felony, the stakes are even higher, with the real possibility of prison time.
The DUI Stop: Should You Submit To Breath And Field Sobriety Tests?
The risks of driving while drugged
Driving while under the influence of drugs brings to mind a scary boogeyman or reckless college student. However, the reality is far blander. The decriminalization and legalization of formerly illegal substances have led to a rise in drugged driving arrests. There is no uniform reporting and assessment system, so it is difficult to track the trends; each state is utilizing its own strategy to tackle the problem. This article will go over the risks of drugged driving and how you may break the law without even realizing it.
Drivers underage 21 subject to zero-tolerance drinking laws
Young people are subject to a different set of rules when it comes to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Put simply, you cannot legally drink until you are 21 years old. As such, the legal limit for blood alcohol content is lower for underage drinkers than it is for adults. Every state and the District of Columbia have enacted "zero-tolerance" laws, which basically means that any underage driver caught with a BAC above 0.00 percent is subject to a DUI charge.
The consequences of a DUI charge
A driving while under the influence charge involves the operation of a vehicle while you are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or some other substance that impairs reaction time or judgment. A person who is convicted of a DUI charge most likely faces some sort of criminal punishment including and up to time in jail.
What is Emma's Law?
Charges of driving under the influence have always been serious business in South Carolina. On Oct. 1, 2014, Gov. Nikki Haley signed new legislation into law that considerably strengthened the penalties for drunk drivers. This legislation, known as Emma's Law, is named for a girl who died in an accident involving a repeat DUI offender. Now penalties for drunk driving in South Carolina are stiffer than ever.
How common are DUI arrests?
Throughout South Carolina, countless individuals have been charged with drunk driving at one time or another. Some have escaped conviction, whereas others were not that fortunate. In either case, the preceding process is much the same. Officers attempt to determine your blood alcohol concentration and find out whether it is in excess of the legal limit.
An excessive BAC may be it all takes to be charged
You may know your limits, but if they are above the legal level of 0.08 percent, you could still get into trouble, no matter how confident you are behind the wheel. A single mistake on the part of any road user can result in an accident. However, if you are involved in that accident and also found to be over the limit, you could face serious consequences even if you did not cause the crash.
What elements are involved in a drunk driving charge?
Most drivers in South Carolina know that being charged with a drunk driving offense can be highly problematic and could lead to serious consequences. Even if no one is hurt in the incident, you may still be charged if your blood alcohol concentration is found to be over the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent.
