Newberry County, SC DUI Lawyer

If you have been charged with suspicion of driving under the influence in South Carolina, you should seek the professional advice of a qualified and experienced DUI defense attorney as soon as possible.

Facing a SC DUI can be very stressful and confusing. What should be very clear however is that you still have the right to a defense. Time is very important, and acting quickly could make a difference in keeping your driving privileges.

Newberry County, SC DUI Lawyer Brad Baker understands the complex court system and DUI laws of South Carolina. He will use his experience and knowledge to build the most appropriate and aggressive defense for your case. In some cases, there could be a basis for having the charges against you reduced or dismissed.

To request a free, no obligation review of your DUI arrest and learn more about your legal options, contact Newberry DUI Attorney Brad Baker by filling out the form to the left or calling (803) 356-2800. For immediate help with your license and with your criminal case, call now.

If you are found guilty of drunk driving in Newberry County, you will subject to many life-changing consequences. You could be sentenced to jail, be required to pay significant fines and court costs, lose your driver's license, be required to purchase expensive, high-risk auto insurance, and forced to complete a drug/alcohol abuse program.

A conviction for DUI in South Carolina would also lead to a criminal arrest record that could impact your employment and limit your ability to open a credit account or apply for a mortgage.

An arrest for DUI in South Carolina does not mean you are guilty.

While drunk driving is never condoned, Newberry County DUI Attorney Brad Baker understands that the police can make mistakes. There may not have been probable cause for a traffic stop. There may be innocent reasons that lead an officer to suspect impairment. Blood and breath testing equipment may not be properly maintained and calibrated. The field sobriety tests may not have been conducted according to strict guidelines. You may not have been advised of your rights.

These are just a few of the things that Attorney Brad Baker will investigate while conducting your SC DUI defense. It is important to contact Brad Baker as quickly as possible so he can begin to challenge the prosecution and police version of your arrest, and secure statements from any witnesses while their memory of the incident is still fresh.

If you refused to submit to a breath test or registered a BAC above .15% during an arrest for driving under the influence in Newberry County, your license will be automatically suspended. You have the right to petition the Department of Motor Vehicles and try to save your driving privileges. You must file the appropriate paperwork, however, within 30 days of the date of your arrest. If you do not, you lose the right to challenge the suspension.

Newberry SC DUI Attorney Brad Baker can petition the DMV on your behalf and represent you at the Administrative License Hearing. In addition to possibly saving your driving privileges, the hearing provides Attorney Baker with an opportunity to hear the arresting officer's statements and to better prepare for the criminal case.

Note that if you submitted to a breath test and registered a blood alcohol content above the legal limit but below .15%, your license will be subject to suspension after a conviction for DUI in South Carolina.

The license hearing is important in your defense. Contact Newberry County DUI Lawyer Brad Baker and ask for his help.

A first offense of DUI in South Carolina will be handled in a Municipal Court or a Magistrates Court. For those accused of a second or additional DUI offense, the case should be heard in the State Courts of South Carolina, in what are called General Sessions.

If your charges are pending before the General Sessions, you have just 10 days to request a preliminary hearing. At the hearing the arresting officer will be required to show probable cause for making a drunk driving arrest and allowed to present evidence to substantiate his decision. A magistrate will then decide whether the State should be allowed to continue with their criminal case against you.

You should always take advantage of your right to this important hearing.

Newberry, South Carolina DUI Attorney Brad Baker can use the hearing as a discovery tool to learn more about your case. It is even possible for the prosecuting witness to not appear, and without testimony the charges against you could be dismissed.

Attorney Brad Baker is permitted to practice law in all South Carolina courts. For more information regarding your rights and legal opportunities during a drunk driving defense, contact him now.

Newberry County, South Carolina DUI Lawyer J. Bradley Baker practices criminal law, including the defense of those accused of driving under the influence. Mr. Baker will personally handle your case, remaining accessible for any legal questions or concerns you may have during the disposition of your DUI. He is committed to getting you the best possible result.

Brad Baker is a native South Carolinian. He graduated from The University of South Carolina, and earned a Juris Doctorate Degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Attorney Baker is permitted to practice law before the South Carolina Supreme Court, all State Courts of South Carolina, the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He is a member of the South Carolina State Bar, the South Carolina Association of Justice (Formerly the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association), the American Association for Justice (Formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association) and the Lexington County Bar Association.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Newberry County, South Carolina, you need to act quickly. If you want to see if your driving privileges can be saved and you are interested in hiring an attorney who will work hard to present a solid defense, contact Newberry County DUI Attorney Bradley Baker. Call (803) 356-2800 or simply fill out the form to the left to schedule a free, no obligation meeting.