In many cases, a DUI arrest arises from an individual who has had too much too drink and attempted to drive. To be sure, some people may find themselves in this situation if they simply had one too many beers after work and hopped in the car to go home. In other cases, however, those […]
Category Archives: The Bateman Law Blog
Under traditional tort theories like respondeat superior – employers are responsible for the negligent acts of their employees – and negligent entrustment – owners are responsible for the negligent acts of persons who borrow their property – it would seem that Budget, U-Haul, and other similar companies would be responsible for damages if their vehicles […]
The Federal Constitution grants defendants important rights to protect them from government interference and improper prosecution. By setting out important personal rights in the Bill of Rights the Framers of the Constitution intended to put limits on the Federal and state governments. These rights protect individuals from government overreach and requires government agencies, such as […]
Under the United States Constitution, it is illegal for the government to make what are legally considered to be “unreasonable” searches and seizures. A search must be made with either a warrant issued by a judge or be based on the law enforcement officer’s reasonable belief that evidence of a crime is present. Warrants The […]
In South Carolina and every other state, the blood alcohol content level of a driver is generally a major factor in determining the guilt or innocence of a driver and even the severity of a given sentence. South Carolina law prohibits individuals from driving a car while under the influence of alcohol to the extent […]
Police departments across the country have been increasing their reliance on cameras, either dashboard-mounted or personal cameras attached to uniforms, to use as evidence in driving under the influence (DUI) cases. South Carolina is no exception. However, recently there has developed a debate surrounding whether these police videos should be deemphasized or not in court […]
If you are accused of a crime you are guaranteed certain rights under the United States Constitution. Each of the first ten amendments to the federal Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, provides important rights for individuals to be protected from government overreach. Some of the most important legal rights as a criminal […]
What is a Sobriety Checkpoint? Sobriety checkpoints are roadway screening processes where the police will initiate a roadblock on a given road and stop all cars passing through the road and briefly interview or otherwise investigate the driver of each vehicle to determine whether each driver is sober or not. Often these checkpoints may be […]
A major crash in the Greenville area has led to the arrest of a young area woman. Ashley Bridges has been accused of DUI in a September 28 crash that injured a pregnant woman and caused the death of her unborn child. The crash occurred on the 28th, a Friday, at about 7 PM. Bridges, […]
The long-running police reality television show, Cops, often featured people who claimed to have driven after drinking “two beers.” Invariably, it was “two beers” no matter how inebriated the person appeared to be. Assuming some of these people had only two beers, the idea that two beers would not intoxicate some people is a faulty […]
While the concern over driver and passenger safety is always on the mind of South Carolina local police and state troopers, law enforcement officials often step up their efforts on holidays. Police increase their scrutiny over safe driving, particularly DUIs, during holidays due to the high number of people who are traveling on the roads […]
South Carolinians may have heard about a law passed in 2014 called “Emma’s Law.” But, what is it, and how does it impact drivers and potentially drunk drivers in the state? History of the Law The namesake of South Carolina’s Emma’s Law is Emma Longstreet. Longstreet, a six-year-old girl, was killed by a drunk driver […]