Drivers convicted of a felony DUI may face administrative penalties in addition to criminal charges. These can vary depending on individual circumstances, but an example of such a penalty is license suspension. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles may issue a license suspension of as long as 6 months to revoke the driving privileges of a first time DUI offense. A subsequent offense will result in an indefinite license suspension for the driver.
South Carolina law provides sentencing guidelines for felony DUI charges by establishing a range of prison time. The penalties for a conviction will differ depending on whether the DUI resulted in serious bodily injury or death.
For cases involving serious bodily injury, the law dictates jail time ranging from a minimum sentence of 30 days to a maximum of 15 years in addition to a fine of between $5,000 and $10,000. In addition to the prison time and fine, the South Carolina DMV will suspend the driver's license for 3 years beyond the incarceration period and require the installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on the driver's vehicle before the suspension is lifted.
In the event of a DUI resulting in death, state law establishes mandatory imprisonment with a minimum sentence of 1 year and a maximum of 25. It also sets a range for a fine with a minimum payment of $10,000 and a maximum of $25,000. The driver will not be eligible for parole in these circumstances. The individual's license will be suspended for the entire incarceration period plus 5 additional years, and they will be required to install an IID on their vehicle.
In addition to facing penalties from the state, a driver convicted of a DUI will face penalties from insurance companies, most commonly in the form of higher insurance premiums. The driver may also need an SR-22 insurance certificate to get their license reinstated at the end of the suspension period.
A felony conviction will be listed on an individual's criminal record, which can create issues with finding housing and employment.
Facing DUI charges, and particularly felony charges can have massive repercussions. If you find yourself in that position the best thing you can do is contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to begin building a compelling defense for your case.