Law Offices of Attorney Steve Sumner
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UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA DUI DEFENSE LAWYERS
Being arrested for DUI can be a traumatic experience. We realize the loss of one's freedom for even a short amount of time can be stressful. We invite you to immediately contact us and provide us with the specifics of your situation. We will review this information and be in contact within 24 working hours. Remember our initial consultation is free. Steve Sumner offers the following tips that may be of benefit to you during this period:
- Remember an arrest is not a conviction. All that is needed to arrest or charge someone is suspicion on an officer's part that a crime occurred. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is required for a conviction. The standard of proof is much higher than the suspicion standard needed to justify an arrest.
- If your vehicle was towed, make sure immediate arrangements are made to have it picked up. Storage fees can accumulate very quickly.
- If your license was seized due to a refusal or registering over a .15 on the breathalyzer, you will need to request a hearing in order to obtain temporary driving privileges. Contact our office immediately for assistance in proper procedure. You have only a 30 day window to request this hearing.
- Information found on the internet in regards to DUI is for general information only. There is no substitute for the experience and advice of competent legal counsel. Be advised that each state has different laws/punishment for DUI and many sites are not kept current. Each case has its own characteristics.
- If you choose to go to your court date without counsel, a bench trial can be held at that time and you will most likely be convicted on the spot. The laws in South Carolina regarding DUI/DUAC are very complex and we highly recommend that you visit with an attorney who is familiar with these areas well in advance of the court date.
If you, or someone you know, has been charged with DUI/DUAC in the Upstate, you need to be aware that the South Carolina 2009 DUI Reform Act is now in effect and carries more severe penalties than its predecessor. South Carolina’s new DUI law establishes a “tiered” system of penalties with stiffer penalties and fines for higher blood alcohol levels (BAC), as well as longer license suspensions for those who refuse to take a breath test.
A suspension or conviction can result in consequences that you may not have even considered, including, but not limited to:
- A permanent criminal record
- Jail time
- Heavy fines
- Extensive community service
- Losing your job, especially if you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or operate a company vehicle
- Losing educational scholarships
- Increased car/health insurance
- Inability to enter secure facilities such as airports or federal buildings
- Losing your right to enter foreign countries (including Canada)
- Electronic monitoring of you and/or your car
- Mandatory court supervised car ignition locks
Steve and his staff will leave no stone unturned in an effort to save you from the negative consequences of a DUI conviction in South Carolina. Our firm focuses on those accused of DUI in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson as well as other counties, towns and municipalities located in Upstate South Carolina. We’ve had the pleasure of representing more than 1,000 clients accused of DUI.
This site serves as a basic primer on a DUI arrest in South Carolina and some of its consequences. However, we strongly suggest you contact our office to schedule a free consultation so we can review your facts and discuss possible options available to you.
Attorney Steve Sumner
Steve completed both his undergraduate and graduate education in his home state of South Carolina, graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1992. While at the USC School of Law, Steve was inducted into the academic honor society of the "Order of the Wig and Robe" for superior academic achievement.
After graduating from law school, Steve became a state prosecutor. His primary case load consisted of prosecuting DUI, felony DUI, reckless homicide, and vehicular offenses, as well as other drug and alcohol related charges. This experience not only gave Steve the opportunity to develop and enhance his court room skills in the trial of driving related offenses, it also gave him a valuable "insider's knowledge" of how the prosecution approaches these cases.
In 1995, Steve opened his own practice as a criminal defense attorney, with a special focus on defending clients accused of DUI and other driving offenses.
Since then, Steve has developed a reputation as a knowledgeable, skilled, and aggressive DUI lawyer. He is very familiar with the nuances of the South Carolina DUI/Implied Consent laws, which can be quite complex.
Steve has been a guest lecturer for magistrates, judges, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, law school students, and business associations in the area of DUI law. Steve has also appeared numerous times on television, radio, and newspapers regarding DUI topics from the defense perspective.
Steve currently represents clients in over 25 courts in Upstate South Carolina. These courts include Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Pickens and Laurens counties; as well as the city/municipal courts of Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Simpsonville, Greer, Fountain Inn, Easley, Clemson, Central, Laurens as well as other areas of Upstate South Carolina.
Scotty Roberson - Staff Investigator
In 2003, Scotty joined Steve after spending 14 years in law enforcement, with his final 10 years at the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Scotty’s area of specialization was alcohol and drug related offenses. He was awarded the A.C.E. Distinction in 2000 by the Office of the Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. In 2001, he was awarded the Traffic Safety Officer (TSO) designation by the Office of the Governor of South Carolina.
Scotty is a sought after guest instructor for various law enforcement agencies. He has consulted in the areas of DUI, field sobriety testing, and breath testing devices, along with their proper implementation for both the prosecution and defense. He has testified in numerous courts as an expert on DUI and proper breath testing procedures. He is nationally certified (NHTSA) as an instructor in field sobriety testing, and has received advance training at the National Patent Factory in Ohio for the Datamaster breath testing. This instrument is used exclusively in the state of South Carolina for breath testing.
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