South Carolina DUI Laws

In the state of South Carolina you will be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) if your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is 0.08%, the minimum BAC known to impair everyone.

First South Carolina DUI Offense

• BAC under 0.10%
  • 2 to 30 days imprisonment or 48 hours public service
  • $400 fine
  • 6-month license suspension
• BAC 0.10% to 0.16%
  • 3 to 30 days imprisonment or 72 hours public service
  • $500 fine
  • 6-month license suspension
• BAC above 0.16%
  • 30 to 90 days imprisonment or 30 days public service
  • $1000 fine
  • 6-month license suspension

Second South Carolina DUI Offense

• BAC under 0.10%
  • 5 days to 1 year imprisonment
  • $2100 to $5100 fine
  • 1 year suspension
• BAC 0.10% to 0.16%
  • 30 days to 2 years imprisonment
  • $2500 to $5500 fine
  • 1 year suspension
• BAC above 0.16%
  • 90 days to 3 years imprisonment
  • $3500 to $6500 fine
  • 1 year suspension

Third South Carolina DUI Offense

• BAC under 0.10%
  • 60 days to 3 years imprisonment
  • $3800 to $6300 fine
  • 2 year suspension
• BAC 0.10% to 0.16%
  • 90 days to 4 years imprisonment
  • $5000 to $7500 fine
  • 2 year suspension
• BAC above 0.16%
  • 6 months to 5 years imprisonment
  • $7500 to $10,000 fine
  • 2 year suspension

Fourth South Carolina DUI Offense

• BAC under 0.10%
  • 1 to 5 year(s) imprisonment
  • Permanent suspension
• BAC 0.10% to 0.16%
  • 2 to 6 years imprisonment
  • Permanent suspension
• BAC above 0.16%
  • 3 to 7 years imprisonment
  • Permanent suspension

South Carolina’s implied consent law means that if you are pulled over for suspected DUI and you refuse to submit to a test, your license will be suspended for at least 90 days. Furthermore, if the court is convinced you were intoxicated at the time, you can still be convicted of a DUI.