At the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC, our main goal for anyone facing a DUI charge in South Carolina is to get the entire case dismissed and help them avoid serving any criminal penalties. However, there are some cases where it can be possible to obtain a significant favorable reduction, without having to go through the risk and uncertainty of a trial.
Reckless Driving is the Most Common Reduction to a South Carolina DUI
While reckless driving is the most common reduction available to a South Carolina DUI, it's not necessarily the only option. Depending on the circumstances of the case further reductions may be available including to lesser tickets such as too fast for conditions or equipment violations. Further, we only recommend our clients accept ANY reduction when they feel doing so is in their best interests. Otherwise, we want to fully contest the case in court.
Despite the evidence against you, if you are a first-time offender, your blood alcohol content (BAC) level was either precisely at or just below the legal limit, or you were polite and cooperative to the law enforcement officials during their investigation, the prosecution may offer you a plea bargain to reduce your DUI charge to a reckless driving offense.
Another reason why a DUI might be reduced is if there are some technical problems with the way the police officer conducted the arrest, or there is a lack of a full and complete video recording.
Reckless driving is defined as operating a vehicle with total disregard for the safety of others or property. A conviction for reckless driving results in 6 points, and a fine of $440. Although this is a serious ticket, it is significantly better than a DUI.
The following are several reasons why a reckless driving charge is better than DUI/DUAC:
No automatic driver’s license suspension
No SR22
No ignition interlock device (IID) installation
Cheaper fines
Less significant increase to your insurance rates
No criminal record
Our legal team can investigate your arrest, collect and examine the evidence, expose any weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and help you either get your case thrown out altogether or your charges/penalties reduced. If we can develop a strong and personalized legal defense, the prosecution will be more willing to reduce your DUI charge to reckless driving.
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Lexington or Columbia, call the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC at (803) 359-3301 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation. Serving clients throughout South Carolina since 2004!