Kershaw County, SC DWI Lawyer

Being charged with suspicion of driving while intoxicated in South Carolina can be stressful and confusing. You may not be sure of what to do next. Be aware that the penalties and consequences of being found guilty of SC DWI can impact the rest of your life.

However difficult the situation may seem, you still have rights. Hiring a qualified and experienced DWI defense attorney will ensure that those rights are protected and that you get the best possible result from your case.

Time is extremely critical when defending against a charge of DWI in South Carolina. There is a limited amount of time to try to save your driving privileges. Repeat offenders have only 10 days to request a very important court hearing. Hiring an attorney quickly will provide time to thoroughly research your situation and to build the most appropriate defense.

Kershaw County, SC DWI Lawyer Brad Baker practices criminal law and he will use his experience and knowledge to help you with your case. With his understanding of the court system and South Carolina DWI laws, he will aggressively challenge the argument put forward by the prosecutor and police. If reasonable doubt can be established, there is a chance your charges can be reduced or the case dismissed.

Call Now for a Free DWI Consultation

Camden DWI Attorney Brad Baker offers a free, no obligation, review of your arrest and the charges filed against you. He will then be able to discuss your legal options and his fees. To schedule a meeting with Attorney Baker, fill out the form to the left or call (803) 356-2800. You will get the help you need with both your license and your criminal case.

Penalties for DWI in SC

Should you be convicted of drunk driving in Kershaw County, South Carolina, you could be facing jail, significant fines, court costs, loss of driver's license, and mandatory enrollment in an alcohol/drug abuse program.

Some of the more long-term consequences of being found guilty of DWI include the need to purchase expensive, high-risk auto insurance and, with a criminal arrest record, difficulties finding or keeping a job.

While drunk driving is never condoned, an arrest for DWI in South Carolina does not mean you are guilty.

Kershaw County DWI Attorney Brad Baker knows that good drivers can make mistakes, but so can the police. Attorney Baker will thoroughly investigate your arrest, including questioning probable cause for a traffic stop, challenging any evidence, reviewing calibration and maintenance records of the breath and blood testing equipment, studying videotapes and the arrest report for errors in police procedure, analyzing whether field sobriety tests were conducted within established guidelines, and interviewing witnesses.

It is important to contact Camden DWI Lawyer Brad Baker as soon as possible so he can secure statements from any witnesses while their memory of the incident is still fresh, and to begin creating a defense before the prosecution establishes an advantage.

About Your Driver's License

If you refused to submit to a test for blood alcohol content or you were tested and registered a BAC above .15% during an arrest for driving while intoxicated in Kershaw County, your driver's license will be suspended.

There is a thirty-day window of time when you can request an Administrative Hearing with the DMV and try to save your driving privileges. If you do not take advantage of this opportunity, you will definitely lose both your license and any further right to challenge the suspension. This is a separate case from the criminal DWI charges, and only the DMV can suspend or reinstate a license.

Camden, SC DWI Attorney Brad Baker provides complete drunk driving defense. He can petition the DMV on your behalf and represent you at the license hearing. During the hearing he will not only have the ability to argue for keeping your driving privileges, he will be able to listen to the police officer's version of the arrest and prepare for the criminal case.

If you submitted to a breath, blood or urine test and registered a blood alcohol content above the legal limit but below .15%, your license is subject to suspension only if you are found guilty of DWI in South Carolina.

Requesting a DMV license hearing is an important part of your DWI defense. Contact Kershaw County DWI Lawyer Brad Baker now for further information.

The South Carolina Court System

Under DWI laws of South Carolina, first offense arrests are handled in either a Municipal Court or a Magistrates Court. On the second, and any additional, DWI offense, the case is heard in the State Courts of South Carolina, in what are called General Sessions.

If you are a repeat offender with a case pending before the General Sessions, it is extremely important to realize that you have only 10 days from the date of your arrest to request a preliminary hearing.

During the hearing, the arresting officer will present evidence and try to establish probable cause for making a drunk driving arrest. If a magistrate agrees, then the State will be allowed to continue with its criminal case.

You should always take advantage of your right to a preliminary hearing. It would provide Attorney Brad Baker with an opportunity to learn more about the charges filed against you, and it is possible for a key witness to not appear at the preliminary hearing. Without testimony, your DWI could be dismissed.

Camden, South Carolina DWI Attorney Brad Baker is allowed to practice law in all South Carolina courts, including before General Sessions of the State Court. Contact him and ask about your legal rights and DWI defense opportunities.

About Attorney Brad Baker

Kershaw County South Carolina DWI Lawyer J. Bradley Baker assists those accused of driving while intoxicated in SC. In addition to professional legal services, Attorney Brad Baker will extend personal service during the disposition of your DWI. He will be available to answer your questions regarding your case and address your legal concerns you may have.

Brad Baker is a native South Carolinian. He received an undergraduate degree from The University of South Carolina, and a law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Attorney Baker is permitted to practice law before all courts of South Carolina, including municipal courts, Magistrates Courts, State Courts, the South Carolina Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

South Carolina DWI Lawyer Brad Baker is a member of the Lexington County Bar Association, the South Carolina State Bar, the South Carolina Association of Justice and the American Association for Justice.

Request a Free Initial Review of Your Case

Following an arrest for DWI in Kershaw County South Carolina, you need to act quickly. For information on saving your driving privileges or possibly winning your case, contact Kershaw County DWI Attorney Bradley Baker by calling (803) 356-2800 or filling out the form to the left. The initial consultation is free and there is no further obligation, so schedule a meeting today.