Driving under the influence (DUI) charges in South Carolina can lead to jail time, big fines and the loss of your driving privileges. It can also lead to numerous secondary consequences,
Especially if you work in a professional field, a criminal conviction on your record could also limit your career opportunities. Many people accused of an impaired driving offense in South Carolina plead guilty because they assume they have no way to prove their innocence.
A guilty plea means facing whatever penalties the judge chooses to assign and coping with a criminal record in most cases. However, some defendants in Florence County accused of impaired driving defense might qualify for the DUI court program instead of criminal court proceedings. Are you eligible for DUI court instead of criminal court?
Non-violent offenses can lead to alternate solutions
Issues with a substance abuse disorder could be the reason that someone gets behind the wheel after drinking too much. In fact, they could drink heavily so frequently that they don’t really experience impairment despite being over the legal limit for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Alcoholics may face technical charges based on breast test results rather than on how they behaved at the wheel or a crash that they caused. The penalties are the same whether someone is simply over the legal limit or shows signs of poor judgment and impaired motor skills at the wheel.
If someone goes through the DUI courts, they can connect with drug and alcohol education and support as they seek to achieve sobriety. The DUI courts typically require a commitment of more than a year, but they can help people overcome substance abuse issues.
If you successfully complete DUI court, you can avoid official criminal consequences and even a criminal record that would follow you for life. To qualify, you need to be 17 years of age or older without any felony charges pending. Violent or sexual charges on someone’s criminal record will usually prevent them from qualifying for drug court proceedings.
Demonstrating that issues with alcoholism contributed to your DUI arrest is often a crucial early stop for those hoping to go through the DUI treatment course instead of the criminal courts in South Carolina.