Getting pulled over for a suspected DUI in South Carolina is stressful. Once the stop is over, whether you were arrested or released, your decisions in the hours and days that follow can dramatically affect your case.
Every choice you make after the officer leaves matters. Even small missteps during this time can ripple into major consequences. This can affect your license, finances, and future.
These mistakes routinely cause the most damage after a stop. However, they’re all avoidable when you know what to do. Here are the 3 costliest mistakes you can make immediately after an SC DUI stop.
Mistake #1: Talking About the Stop to the Wrong People
Immediately after the driving under the influence stop, many drivers want to explain what happened to friends, family, or on social media. Whether it’s a text to a spouse, a message to a friend, or a post venting frustration, anything you say can be used against you in court.
South Carolina officers and prosecutors can subpoena messages, social media posts, or statements you make to others. Unfortunately, those casual conversations may be used as evidence in ways you do not expect. For example, joking about how buzzed you felt or describing the events at the scene could be twisted to appear as an admission of guilt.
Instead, you want to limit discussions about the incident to your lawyer. Write down what happened while it’s fresh in your memory, including details like the time of the stop, officer behavior, environmental conditions, and your own actions. Avoid sharing these details with anyone else, even if they seem harmless.
Mistake #2: Missing Deadlines and Administrative Steps
If you refused a breath test or registered a high blood alcohol content (BAC), South Carolina’s implied consent laws have strict deadlines for administrative actions, such as requesting hearings to challenge your license suspension. Not acting quickly can result in automatic license suspensions and missed opportunities to contest evidence.
Another common post-stop mistake is failing to preserve evidence that could support your case. Dashcam footage, witness statements, or photographs of the scene may be gone in hours or days. You want to collect these immediately after the stop, while they are still available.
Mistakes like misfiling paperwork, ignoring the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles notices, forgetting to record exact times, or failing to note witnesses, can snowball into bigger problems if left unattended. In many cases, what happens in the hours and days following the stop can set the tone for how defensible your case will be in court.
Mistake #3: Failing to Contact an Attorney
Some drivers wait too long before seeking legal help. Many times, they think they can handle the aftermath on their own. Delaying contact with an experienced South Carolina DUI attorney can mean missed opportunities to challenge weak evidence, request administrative hearings, or negotiate early resolutions.
Waiting to involve a lawyer can also increase stress and confusion. That can leave you vulnerable to procedural mistakes or misinterpretations of your legal obligations. Early consultation helps you make better decisions rather than reacting impulsively under pressure.
The Right Defense Makes the Difference
These 3 costliest mistakes after a SC DUI stop can affect your license, finances, job, and future. But one stop does not have to define what comes next.
At Truslow & Truslow, PA, we help clients every day who have made quick decisions during and after a stressful traffic stop. We help clients understand which actions strengthen their case, which mistakes to avoid, and how to recover control after a DUI stop.
If you have been charged with DUI in South Carolina, reach out for a consultation. We can help make sure your next moves strengthen, rather than weaken, your defense.