Charged with DUI? Get Help Now from a Charleston, SC DUI Lawyer!
If you’re serious about fighting your DUI charges, you need an attorney whose experience speaks for itself.
Timothy Kulp, Charleston DUI Attorney has over 40 years of investigative, courtroom, jury trial, and appellate work and is board certified in criminal trial advocacy.
As a former Judge, Prosecutor and FBI Special Agent, Timothy Kulp has a unique perspective which allows him to look at your case from a different angle to give you a full analysis of your case.
This experience is not something that many DUI attorneys in Charleston and surrounding areas can claim.
Consequences of a DUI Conviction in Charleston
A DUI conviction in Charleston carries severe penalties, which can increase with repeat offenses or aggravating factors such as having a minor in the car or causing injury or death. The consequences of a DUI conviction can include:
1. Fines and Court Fees
Fines can range from $400 to over $1,000 for a first offense. Repeat offenses lead to steeper fines, while third offenses potentially cost up to $10,000. Court costs and additional fees are also a factor. Click here to learn more about fines, penalties and jail time.
2. Jail Time
A first-time DUI offender with a BAC up to .15% may face between 48 hours to 30 days in jail. For second and subsequent offenses, jail time can increase significantly, with a second offense with a BAC less than .10% leading to 5 days to 1 year in prison and a third offense with a BAC less than .10% resulting in 60 days up to 3 years behind bars.
3. Driver’s License Suspension
A DUI conviction will result in a suspension of your driver’s license. A first-time DUI offender can lose driving privileges for six months.
Failure to provide a breath sample, also called a refusal, can result in a 6 month suspension administratively which is separate from any DUI conviction suspension.
A breath or blood test result of .15% of 1% or more results in a 30-day administrative suspension.
However, those persons whose license or privilege to drive is suspended administratively can request a hearing challenging the suspension, which allows them to obtain a TAL or temporary alcohol license enabling them to drive until that administrative hearing.
Repeat offenders face longer suspensions, ranging from one year to permanent revocation. Click here to learn more about DUI license suspensions.
4. Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
Persons convicted of first offense or greater must install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicle at their expense.
This device prevents your car from starting unless you pass a breathalyzer test. Those convicted of a first offense must maintain the IID for six months. This requirement results from the amendment of our DUI law effective May 19, 2024.
Also, during this period of suspension and requirement for an IID, the driver can no longer avoid an IID by obtaining a provisional license.
5. Increased Insurance Rates
A DUI conviction will increase your insurance premiums. South Carolina requires drivers convicted of DUI to file an SR-22 certificate, demonstrating high-risk insurance coverage. This can result in significantly higher insurance costs for several years.
6. Criminal Record
A DUI conviction will remain on your criminal record for life, which can affect your ability to secure employment, housing, and professional licenses. South Carolina does not allow DUI convictions to be expunged from your record.
7. Community Service and Alcohol Education Programs
Courts may also impose community service and mandatory participation in alcohol or drug education programs as part of your sentencing. These programs often come with additional costs and time commitments. Every person convicted of a DUI offense must enroll in and complete the ADSAP Program within a year.
If you’re serious about fighting your DUI charges, you need an attorney whose experience speaks for itself.
Timothy Kulp, Charleston DUI Attorney has over 40 years of investigative, courtroom, jury trial, and appellate work and is board certified in criminal trial advocacy.
As a former Judge, Prosecutor and FBI Special Agent, Timothy Kulp has a unique perspective which allows him to look at your case from a different angle to give you a full analysis of your case.
This experience is not something that many DUI attorneys in Charleston and surrounding areas can claim.
” Mr. Kulp was a class act, all the way. He took what could have been the worst moment of my life and turned it into an opportunity to reexamine how DUI law is prosecuted in Charleston County. Every step of the way he kept my spirits up and ceaselessly took action to win our case and have my record expunged. Well worth the price! “
– Anonymous, DUI client
Why Fight Your DUI Charges
Don’t leave your freedom and reputation in the hands of a less experienced DUI lawyer in Charleston, SC.
Whether it’s your first, second or third DUI charge, a well planned legal strategy can help you:
- Avoid jail time
- Minimize fines
- Get your driver’s license back
- Keep your job
- Maintain your professional license
At Kulp & Elliott, we go above and beyond what our clients expect. We won’t shuffle you through an automated answering system or hand you off to a clerk or paralegal you’ve never met.
In fact, our clients continue to endorse us due to the level of individualized attention they receive.
7 Questions We ALWAYS Get Asked
About DUI Charges
It’s very common to feel lost when faced with a DUI charge. If you’re like most clients, you probably have a lot of questions about your DUI case. So we’ve taken the time to answer the most common questions below:
Here’s What Our
Charleston DUI Lawyers
Will Do For You
Charleston DUI Lawyers
Will Do For You
While a DUI charge can feel overwhelming, you don’t have to face it alone. Working with the Charleston DUI attorneys at Kulp & Elliott can provide several key benefits in your defense: By hiring us you will receive experienced legal representation with EVERY aspect of your case. We will:
1. Challenge the Evidence
We will thoroughly examine the evidence against you, including the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, and chemical test results. We can identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, such as improper police procedures, faulty testing equipment, or lack of probable cause for the stop, which may lead to the dismissal or reduction of charges.
Mr. Kulp has personally prosecuted and defended thousands of DUI cases. He has lectured at legal seminars around the country on breath alcohol testing.
He also attended a technician’s class in Mansfield, Ohio, at the factory that manufactures South Carolina’s breath alcohol testing machine, the BAC DMT Datamaster.
2. Negotiate for Reduced Penalties
In some cases, we may negotiate with prosecutors to reduce your charges to some other traffic violation, such as reckless driving, which carries lighter penalties than a DUI conviction and does not require a license suspension unless it is a second reckless conviction within five years.
This could help you avoid jail time, reduce fines, and potentially preserve your driving privileges.
3. Minimize the Impact on Your Life
Our goal is to minimize the impact of the charges on your life. Whether that means fighting for a not-guilty verdict, securing alternative sentencing options like probation, or helping you regain your driver’s license, our DUI attorneys can help protect your future.
The top objective is to work to avoid jail time, avoid license suspensions, and seek a disposition of the case that has the least impact on the client. We approach every DUI from the start as if it will have to be resolved by jury trial.
4. Guide You Through the Legal Process
Navigating South Carolina’s legal system can be complex, especially with DUI charges. Our experienced Charleston DUI attorneys will guide you through each step, ensuring you understand your options and making the process as smooth as possible.
Not Many DUI Attorney’s Can Make This Claim
Tim Kulp’s Qualifications: What sets him apart.
- Over 36 years of legal experience
- Speaker, educator and mentor to other DUI attorneys throughout South Carolina
- Licensed to practice in local, state and federal courts
- One of seven in SC who is Board certified in Criminal Trial Advocacy
- Previous experience as a Judge, Prosecutor, and FBI Special Agent
- Has represented thousands of individuals charged with DUIs in SC courts
- A Founder of the National College of DUI Defense
Charleston DUI Lawyer, Timothy Kulp frequently assist clients with DUI and Driving with Unlawful Alcohol Consumption charges in the Charleston, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mt. Pleasant, Folly Beach and surrounding areas in SC.
Contact us today, and let’s discuss your case, your options, and the necessary steps to get your life back on track.
Tim Kulp’s Qualifications:
Not Many Can Make This Claim
Here’s what sets him apart:
- Over 36 years of legal experience
- Speaker, educator and mentor to other DUI attorneys throughout South Carolina
- Licensed to practice in local, state and federal courts
- One of seven in SC who is Board certified in Criminal Trial Advocacy
- Previous experience as a Judge, Prosecutor, and FBI Special Agent
- Has represented thousands of individuals charged with DUIs in SC courts
- A Founder of the National College of DUI Defense
Charleston DUI Lawyer, Timothy Kulp frequently assist clients with DUI and DUAC charges in the Charleston, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mt. Pleasant, Folly Beach and surrounding areas in SC.
Contact us today, and let’s discuss your case, your options, and the necessary steps to get your life back on track.
Extremely Happy
“ I am extremely happy with the legal service provided by both Mr.Kulp and Mr. Elliot. I would recommend their legal counsel to family and friends. “
Courteous and Professional
“ I also wanted to thank all of you for your courtesy and professionalism throughout all of this without you our son may not have been able to fulfill his dream of a career in the United States Marines. I don’t think any other attorneys could have pulled off this amazing result. Thank you, Michael Armstrong, soon to be the proud Father of a US Marine. “
* The Rules of Professional Conduct require disclosure that this is a “Testimonial” about the attorney. Please be aware that any result achieved on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
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