Greenwood police will be operating DUI checkpoints this week, returning to an approach they haven’t used in a while, said Greenwood Police Department Public Information Officer Jonathan Link. Link said the department hasn’t run their own checkpoints in a while but are trying this as a different approach to monitoring traffic and trying to catch […]
The first thing one has to understand is that DUI charges are no trivial matter. Even if it is the first offense, the conviction is almost always associated with some penalties that may include the following: Temporary license suspension A monetary penalty that may range from $500-$2,000 Incarceration for a period that may range from […]
Underage drinking is now at an all-time high in South Carolina. It is estimated that nearly 80-90 individuals under the age of 21 die from alcohol abuse in this state. The cost of underage drinking to South Carolinians is over $1 billion annually. Recent data indicate that at least 3/4th of 12th graders have tried […]
In most states, a first time DUI offense is classified as a misdemeanor, but this does that mean that you take a DUI charge lightly. This offense should never be underestimated. Most people are under the impression that a first DUI is like getting a traffic ticket, but they are absolutely wrong. If you are […]
About 20 years ago, there was no legal standard on the blood alcohol level that defined alcohol intoxication. Each state has its own BAC limits to determine the state of intoxication. However, it was President Clinton in 1998 who set the National standard to define the concept of legal intoxication. Today, universally in all states, […]
As far as the use of the ignition interlock device is concerned, it is mostly in the hands of the judge. In the event of a DUI charge and arrest, a judge may order an ignition interlock device if you have had more than one DUI conviction. In some states, if the BAC is more […]
When a police officer suspects that you are driving drunk, they have the authority to pull you over. When they do so, they will tell you why you were stopped. You will be given a breathalyzer test, and in some cases, you may have to undergo field sobriety tests. If your blood alcohol level is […]
You have been stopped for drunk driving by a police officer in South Carolina. You fail the breathalyzer test, are arrested on the spot and taken to jail for the night. Later, you bail out and are asked to come to court. What happens if you show up and the police officer who arrested you […]
When you have been arrested for DUI in South Carolina, your driving privileges may be suspended until you go to trial. However, in some cases, it is possible to plea to the court for a temporary reinstatement of your driver’s license while your case is pending. This motion of plea is made following a request with the […]
Sometimes a motorist is stopped at a DUI checkpoint and arrested for DUI, even when they have had no alcohol. When this happens, there might be other reasons for their intoxication. There are many medical conditions and medications that can present with symptoms that are very similar to being drunk. In some cases, the driver may […]
In South Carolina, once you get convicted for drunk driving, not only is there a criminal component but there is also an administrative penalty. The criminal component deals with a monetary penalty and/or incarceration. The administrative aspect deals with the loss of the driver’s license for a set amount of time. Once you have a […]
There was a time when motorists with DUI charges out of state did not have their record of conviction transferred to the state where they originally got their driver’s license. Today, however, with the availability of high tech and digital technology, all law enforcement agencies and the Department of Motor Vehicles in all states share data. […]