Guides to a DUI in Beaufort and South Carolina
One question per page, answered from the S.C. Code and the official offices that handle DUI cases in Beaufort County. Each guide lists its sources and the date it was last reviewed.
Your license
The DMV hearing and the 30-day deadlineHow to request a DUI contested-case hearing with the SC Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings within 30 days, the $200 fee, and the $100 temporary alcohol license.Refusing the breath test (implied consent)What SC's implied consent law says about refusing a DUI breath test: the required warnings, suspension lengths, video rules, and your right to your own test.SR-22 insuranceWhen SC requires an SR-22 after a DUI, how your insurer files it, how long it lasts, and what to know if you live out of state, from S.C. Code Title 56.Ignition interlockWho needs an ignition interlock after a South Carolina DUI, how long it stays on, the point system, costs, the $100 restricted license, and the penalties.ADSAP in Beaufort CountyWhat ADSAP is, who must complete it after an SC DUI, enrolling at Nexus Care in Beaufort or Bluffton, what to bring, the cost cap, and how long it takes.
The court case
Beaufort County DUI, step by stepHow a DUI case moves in Beaufort County, SC: booking on Ribaut Road, bond hearings, the DMV deadline, which court hears it, and what follows.Bail and bondsmenHow bond works after a Beaufort County DUI arrest: twice-daily bond hearings at the detention center, posting bond, the 15% bondsman fee cap.DUI penalties, first to fourth offenseFines, jail, interlock and license rules for a first, second, third, and fourth SC DUI or DUAC by BAC tier, plus felony DUI, summarized from the S.C. Code.
Getting help
Choosing a DUI lawyerHow to find and choose a DUI lawyer in Beaufort, SC: the SC Bar referral service, the Fourteenth Circuit Public Defender, what a lawyer reviews, what to ask.Out-of-state driversArrested for DUI in Beaufort with an out-of-state license? How SC suspends your privilege, what your home state is told, court dates, and ADSAP.
Other situations
Boating under the influence (BUI)South Carolina's BUI law for boats, jet skis, and sailboats in Beaufort County: penalties, boating suspensions, the 180-day refusal rule, ADSAP, SCDNR.Expungement and your recordWhat SC law says about DUI expungement: no provision for a conviction, but dismissed or not-guilty charges can be cleared. Fees, timing, and what stays on file.
These guides are general information, not legal advice. Penalties and requirements can change; confirm with the court or a licensed attorney.