Charleston Municipal and Magistrate Court Criminal Lawyer
South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney
Municipal and Magistrate Courts handle criminal misdemeanor charges. These offenses carry the potential penalty of up to one year in jail. Many Municipal and Magistrate Court charges have a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a fine. Sometimes the accused is issued a ticket for the offense and give in a court date. Many people do not realize that paying the fine is equivalent to pleading guilty. Paying the fine without proper legal representation sometimes can create dire consequences to the individual. Many Municipal and Magistrate Court offenses can result in a suspension of the person's driving privileges. The following is a list of a few Municipal and Magistrate Court charges in which a conviction will result in a suspension of driving privileges.
- Dishonored check
- Possession of marijuana
- False ID
- Driving Under Suspension (DUS)
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI or DWI)
- Failure to stop for a blue light
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Unlawfully passing a stopped schoolbus
It is important to contact my office or another attorney prior to paying any fines in Municipal or Magistrate Court because such payment could result in a driver's license suspension. Also, in the electronic world in which we live, any conviction in Municipal and Magistrate Court will be on your permanent record and follow you in the future.
