If you are facing a DUI charge in South Carolina, you cannot ignore it—it is not simply going to go away. If you do choose to ignore your DUI, you will almost certainly be convicted, and the judge will have little choice but to accept the prosecutor’s sentencing recommendations. As a result, you may face fines, jail time, probation, and a variety of other penalties, and you will face the life-altering consequences of having a DUI conviction on your permanent record.
Now, what if you don’t ignore your DUI?
If you choose not to ignore your DUI, the outcome of your case will depend on several factors. Along with the underlying facts of your case, these will include your choice of legal representation and how you choose to approach your defense, among many others. Generally speaking, DUI cases in South Carolina have four potential outcomes. While there are no guarantees, hiring an experienced DUI defense lawyer to represent you will give you the best chance of obtaining a favorable outcome in light of the circumstances.
4 Potential Outcomes of a DUI Case in South Carolina
What are the potential outcomes of a South Carolina DUI case? While every case is unique, the potential outcomes generally include:
1. A “Guilty” Verdict in Court
Even if you choose to fight your DUI, there is still a chance that you could face a “Guilty” verdict in court. This is true regardless of whether you were driving under the influence during your arrest. At this stage, it is up to you to defend yourself, and if you don’t protect yourself effectively, there is a genuine chance that you will face the life-altering consequences of a conviction.
If you are found guilty of DUI in South Carolina court, your case will proceed to sentencing. At the sentencing stage, you can face various penalties—specific penalties that are at stake depending on your particular charge (or charges), your criminal history, and certain other factors. Generally speaking, however, the potential penalties in South Carolina DUI cases include:
- Jail (or prison) time
- Probation
- Fines
- Assessments and surcharges
- Driver’s license suspension or revocation
As we’ve mentioned already, these are not the only potential consequences of a DUI arrest in South Carolina. If you receive a “Guilty” verdict in court, your conviction could have additional financial, professional, employment-related, education-related, and immigration-related consequences.
2. A “Not Guilty” Verdict in Court
A “Not guilty” verdict is a genuine possibility as well. If you have strong defenses against your DUI charge and assert these defenses effectively, you may be able to prevent the prosecution from proving your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If prosecutors cannot meet their burden of proof, they are not entitled to a conviction. To the contrary, you are entitled to walk free, and you are entitled to face no further consequences as a result of your drunk driving arrest in South Carolina.
With that said, even if you have strong defenses available, successfully avoiding a conviction at trial takes work. To assert your defenses effectively, you will need an experienced DUI defense lawyer on your side. With this in mind, regardless of the facts of your case, it is firmly in your best interests to speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
3. Pre-Trial Dismissal
If you hire an experienced DUI defense lawyer to represent you, your lawyer may also be able to protect you without needing to fight for a “Not guilty” verdict at trial. One way to do this is by securing a pre-trial dismissal.
A pre-trial dismissal may be warranted in several circumstances. In most cases, however, seeking a pre-trial dismissal involves showing that a trial is unnecessary because prosecutors won’t be able to meet their burden of proof—regardless of whether you present an effective defense. For example, if the prosecution’s evidence is inadmissible because the police violated your Constitutional rights, then there is no way for them to prove that a conviction is warranted.
4. Plea Bargain
Another way to resolve your South Carolina DUI case without going to trial is by negotiating a plea bargain. While negotiating a plea bargain doesn’t allow you to avoid consequences entirely, it does prevent many consequences you would otherwise face at trial. This is because DUI plea bargains typically involve reducing the defendant’s charge to a “wet reckless,” which is a form of reckless driving.
An experienced DUI defense lawyer can help you decide whether seeking a plea bargain is your best option. If it is, your lawyer will then be able to negotiate with the prosecutor’s office on your behalf. Here, too, there are no guarantees. However, in our experience, prosecutors will be willing to consider plea bargaining in most South Carolina DUI cases.
Discuss Your Case with an Experienced DUI Defense Lawyer in Rock Hill, SC
Do you need to know more about the potential outcomes of your South Carolina DUI case? If so, please get in touch with us promptly for a free and confidential consultation. To discuss your case with an experienced DUI defense lawyer in Rock Hill, SC, as soon as possible, call 803-328-8822 or tell us how we can reach you online now.