Need South Dakota DUI information and help?

An experienced South Dakota DUI Lawyer can make a huge difference for you

If you face a drunk driving charge in South Dakota, you are probably worried about going to jail, losing your drivers' license, and having to have an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. Thoughts of the potential damage to your job or career, your family and your financial security may bother you during the day, and keep you up at night. If you are like most people who have been in your situation, you are probably overwhelmed by how complicated South Dakota DUI law and process is. You have every right to be afraid, because you are facing an ordeal, the outcome of which can cause you great discomfort now, and can affect the rest of your life.

Even if nobody got hurt and this is your first ever arrest and prosecution, you need rock-solid legal advice and support from an experienced professional. The information here will help you learn what you need to know in order to find and hire the best South Dakota DUI lawyer, and to make sure you get the most out of your case.

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South Dakota DUI Penalties: The punishments for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in South Dakota are harsh, but the right attorney can make all the difference between having to do jail time or not, or between a long and a short sentence.

In additional to possible incarceration, there are heavy fines, alcohol classes, license consequences and other serious consequences that a lawyer will protect you from and help you minimize and negotiate. There are also many "collateral consequences" that stem from a SD DUI charge that an attorney can help you avoid or prepare for. These include issues like immigration and travel restrictions, insurance struggles, professional license and occupation limitations and procedural hoops to jump through and much more.

There is too much at stake in any South Dakota drunk driving case. You need the help of a seasoned professional to make sure that you come out of this okay.

South Dakota DUI Law: In South Dakota, there are three ways to commit the crime of impaired driving. You can 1) have a 0.08 percent or greater alcohol content, 2) be under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drug or any legal drug used improperly, or 3) be under the combined influence of alcohol and an illegal sutance, or multiple drugs.

For people under the age of 21, it is illegal to drive with a 0.02 percent or greater alcohol level.

South Dakota DUI law is a complex web of statutes, administrative codes and judge-made case law. While this website gives an overview of what to expect and is meant to help you get started towards to best result in your case, there is no substitution for the advice of an experienced South Dakota DUI lawyer.

Warning: Don't go to court without an experienced attorney who concentrates on South Dakota DUI defense

South Dakota DUI Process: Navigating the criminal court process can be daunting in any case, but is especially so in DUI cases. This is because, due to the high volume of charges that the courts and prosecutors must process, and due to the fact that a South Dakota drunk driving charge is truly the "every-man's" charge, prosecutors and judges may see your case as "routine" and less than serious unless you have a strong voice in the courtroom pointing out that this event and its outcome will have a lasting impact on your life and the lives of those you care about.

In addition to the criminal court process which will determine your guilt or innocence, as well as your sentence and terms of probation, you will also need to navigate the civil license and driving aspects of your SD DUI case. That means dealing with an even more crowded system: The South Dakota DMV. You deserve a lawyer who regularly handles South Dakota DUI license suspension hearings and issues, and who knows how to navigate the DMV and court systems for you.

The South Dakota DUI case against you may not be as strong as it seems

Were you given a chemical test for drugs or alcohol? South Dakota DUI chemical testing is not foolproof. There may be holes in the science and in the police procedure. A good South Dakota DUI lawyer will be on top of all of the latest issues that might benefit your case. If you are not represented, or if you choose the wrong lawyer, you may never learn about scandals within police departments, evidence contamination issues, breath machine failures, missing, disciplined, injured or retired police officers, and many other things that could literally make the difference between your conviction and acquittal or dismissal.

How a South Dakota DUI lawyer can help

If you are not a lawyer well versed in South Dakota DUI law, criminal procedure, alcohol forensics and courtroom advocacy, it should be apparent to you that you should look into getting professional help. A good South Dakota DUI lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. The best way to find out what a lawyer can do for you is to contact that lawyer to schedule a free initial consultation. That first meeting will establish whether you and that lawyer are a good match for the very real partnership that is necessary to successfully navigate and defend your South Dakota DUI case.

Find your South Dakota DUI Attorney now by selecting the county of your arrest below: