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1720 Main St, #301 | Columbia, South Carolina 29201-2850
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Defending Against Charges of Alcohol-Related Crimes

South Carolina’s penal code includes a variety of crimes that relate to the possession or use of alcohol. These alcohol-related crimes are strict-liability offenses. They do not require proof that the accused intended to break the law. The act itself is enough to support a conviction. However, in many cases there are viable defenses.

These are the most commonly charged alcohol-related crimes in South Carolina:

  • Operating under the influence — This means operating a motor vehicle while one’s faculties are impaired due to the effects of alcohol or drugs. An impairment conviction does not require proof according to an objective standard such as blood alcohol content (BAC). A police officer can charge an impairment based solely upon the driver’s conduct. However, BAC testing is often used. If a driver has a BAC of .08 or higher, there is a strong inference that he or she is legally impaired. Even a BAC of .05 is an indicator that the driver may be impaired. A first offense of operating under the influence may result in up to 30 days in jail and a $400 fine.
  • Driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration — This crime entails an objective standard that does not require proof of actual impairment. Driving a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 or higher is a misdemeanor. A first offense may result in up to 30 days in jail and a $400 fine.
  • Felony driving under the influence — A driver commits a felony by operating under the influence and causing “great bodily injury” or killing someone. If a victim is severely injured, the driver faces 15 years in prison and a fine of $10,100. A driver who causes a death faces 25 years in prison and a fine of $25,100.
  • Open container in a motor vehicle — Possessing an open container of beer or wine in the passenger compartment of a vehicle while on a public roadway is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.
  • Transportation in a motor vehicle — Transporting liquor (distilled spirits) in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, if the container is open or the seal is broken, is a misdemeanor with potential penalties of 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.
  • Public disorderly conduct — A “grossly intoxicated” person who acts in a belligerent or disruptive manner while in public can be charged with a misdemeanor carrying a possible 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.

Effective defenses to these alleged crimes depend on analysis of the facts. For example, a defendant may be able to disprove that driving under the influence was the direct cause of bodily injury or death. In addition, defects in the procedures police use to determine impairment can undermine the state’s proofs.

Jack B. Swerling is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney based in Columbia, South Carolina. He vigorously represents defendants against charges of alcohol-related crimes. Feel free to contact the office online or call 800-701-0599 for an initial consultation.

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  • Columbia Office
    1720 Main St
    #301
    Columbia, South Carolina 29201-2850
    Phone: (803) 765-2626
    Fax: 803-799-4059
  • Highest Level of Professional Excellence Award
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Jack Swerling In The News >>

  • Jack Swerling, Derrick Mobley and Alissa Wilson were successful in having a Judge rule after an extensive hearing, that the defendant was immune from prosecution based on the “Stand Your Ground” law in a murder prosecution. The Judgment was handed down on March 29, 2021.
  • Jack Swerling, Gregory Harris and Alissa Wilson obtained a Not Guilty Verdict in Lexington County on March 3, 2022. An Orthopedic Surgeon was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of a friend.
  • “When Jack is on my docket, I tell my law clerks, ‘You do not want to miss this. You are seeing one of the greatest trial lawyers in the state’s history.'” -South Carolina Circuit Court Judge
  • Jack was selected to Super Lawyers Magazine Top Ten List for 2019. Each year Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in South Carolina via a selection process involving peer evaluations, independent research and professional achievement. The South Carolina lawyers who receive the highest points during this selection process are further recognized in the South Carolina Super Lawyers Top Ten List.
  • USA v. FRANK*: In a child pornography case, Swerling was successful in obtaining a 22 level variance reducing the defendant’s sentence from 8 years to 6 months.
  • STATE v. BORIS: The defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a case where the defendant was involved in a shoot-out with 3 police officers.
  • STATE v. TYGER: Jack Swerling obtains a not guilty verdict in a criminal sexual conduct case in Beaufort County.
  • Pre Trial Dispositions: STATE v. DWAYNE: Mr. Swerling successfully argued for the dismissal of stalking and unlawful use of telephone charges brought against a prominent businessman in Florence County.
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