South Carolina's New DUI Laws

• Driving under the influence is illegal in South Carolina.report drunk drivers sign (closeup) image by Paul Marcus from Fotolia.com
  
  Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of controlled substances and/or alcohol is against the law in South Carolina. Drivers who are found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.10 grams or more are subject to penalties outlined in the South Carolina Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways. This law was addended by the South Carolina state legislature in February of 2010. The new version of the law increases the severity of penalties according to blood alcohol content at the time of arrest.
  
  

First Offense

• First time offenders found to have a blood alcohol content less than one-tenth of a gram are subject to a fine of $400 and between two and 30 days incarceration. As an alternative to jail time, convicted drivers may be required to complete 48 hours of court mandated community service. These penalties increase gradually with the blood alcohol level of convicted drivers, even on their first offense. Drivers with alcohol levels between 0.10 and 0.15 are fined $500 and required to serve between 30 and 60 days behind bars or 30 days of community service.
  
  

Second Offense

• Repeat DUI offenders in South Carolina face fines ranging from $2,100 to $5,100 and receive a minimum jail sentence of five days to one year. Convicted drivers found to have blood alcohol content between 0.10 and 0.15 grams receive a minimum of 30 days incarceration that can go up to two years. Drivers with a blood alcohol level exceeding 0.16 grams can face 90 days to three years incarceration and up to $6,500 in fines.
  
  

Third Offense

• Three-time convicted drunk driving offenders have their penalties increased with the rate of their blood alcohol content. Every three-time offender is subject to fines of up to $6,300 and 60 days to three years behind bars. Three-time offenders found to have a blood alcohol level between 0.10 and 0.15 grams can have these terms increased to $7,500, with 90 days to four years behind bars. Repeat offenders found with levels exceeding 0.16 grams are subject to up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.