Mar 15, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
Drivers Beware! St. Patrick’s Day has long been one of the most dangerous holidays on the roads, and data shows that drunken driving violations skyrocket when the holiday falls on a weekend, as it does this year. St. Patrick’s Day is in honor of St. Patrick, one of the most commonly recognized patron saints of Ireland, and was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century; now it is observed by many denominations commemorating the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.
However, the day also involves public parades and festivals, the wearing of green attire or shamrocks, the Lenten eating and alcohol consumption restrictions are lifted, and most importantly “green beer.” For some people, St. Patty’s Day, with all of the festivities associated with the vibrant holiday, can be taken farther than a day of celebration, and become one of drunken foolishness. As a night of drinking and celebrating metamorphosis’s into the phrase “it’s cool guys, I’m OK to drive,” it is important to take into consideration the implications that can be coupled with such a decision.
Police officers in the state of South Carolina will be out in full force during the entire St. Patty’s Day weekend ripping tickets and taking people to spend the night on the cold shameful bed of the “drunk tank.” While the weekend is an excellent time to enjoy the incoming spring season, and enjoy the holiday, it is also a great time to make bad decisions. These bad decisions can turn into a night in the county’s detention center, fines, and criminal charges. To avoid such consequences, it is important that one, who is partaking in the consumption of alcohol, makes the decision to find a sober driver to drive them home.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Therefore, if you have been charged with DUI, Felony DUI, or any other drinking charge, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. We have criminal defense attorneys who have experience in dealing with such cases, and we would be happy to schedule a consultation. You can call our Baxter Village office in Fort Mill South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 14, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A Rock Hill woman was charged earlier this week with driving under the influence after her blood alcohol concentration registered a .31 on the breathalyzer test. She stated that it was her cheating husband that drove her to consume alcohol. Police were called to a parking lot after reports of the woman sitting in her car with smoke pouring from the hood.
The woman claimed that her husband had been cheating on her, which she says was the cause of her intoxication. Thereafter, the police attempted to administer a field sobriety test; however, the woman refused. A breath-test was taken by the officers, and it allegedly read .31 on two occasions that evening. The woman was charged with violation of an open container law, and driving under the influence.
In South Carolina, criminal charges related to driving under the influence greatly increase based on the level of alcohol intoxication. When a person is charged with his/her first DUI conviction, there are various levels of punishment at play. When the person has a BAC under .10 this equates to the following penalties: six month license suspension, $400 fine, 48 hours – 30 days in jail, and 48 hours of public service employment. However, when the BAC content is above a .16, the penalty increases. Such penalties include: a license suspension of six months, a $1000 fine, a minimum of 30 days in jail and up to as much as 90 days, and 30 days of public service employment.
Family problems are no excuse for one to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming intoxicating libations. Police officers are entrusted to keep intoxicated drivers from driving, and it is no concern to them what personal issues one is confronted with that put that person on the road. What they are concerned about is one’s level of alcohol concentration. This is why it is so important for you to stay off the road when you have been drinking.
Unfortunately, people who are arguing with family are more likely to drink, and those who drink are more likely to have decreased inhibitions. With those decreased inhibitions comes more of a willingness to drive. This combination leads to a greater potential for one to receive a charge of driving under the influence. If you have been charged with a DUI, and the charges have been exacerbated by a higher BAC, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation. You can contact our Baxter Village office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 14, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
Police report that a Columbia, South Carolina man was charged with Felony DUI after an accident that left one person dead. The accident occurred at the corner of Meeting Street and Sunset Boulevard.
According to the Lexington County Coroner’s office, the victim was from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and died from his injuries at the Lexington Medical Center. Thereafter, the driver was transferred to the detention center where he will face charges.
If you have been involved in a drunken driving accident, it is possible that you face criminal penalties for the situation. When the accident causes an injury to another party, the punishments become even more severe. It is likely that the person at fault will be charged with a felony for the incident. When “great bodily injury” is caused to an individual as a result of a DUI-instigated accident, the felony DUI conviction brings a mandatory 30 days to up to 15 years in prison. Also, you may be charged with a fine of $5000 to up to $25,000. Further, if someone dies, the individual charged with DUI will face heightened prison time.
If you or someone you know has placed themselves in the position of being charged with a DUI or Felony DUI, make sure you are adequately represented. Our staff has a combined 75 years of experience in handling client cases, and we would be happy to help you with your current predicament. For a consultation, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 12, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A South Carolina state legislator has stated that he faces a drunken driving charge as a result of a stop that took place on Interstate 77 last year. He is reported to have been stopped after the South Carolina-Georgia Football game on October 6, 2012.
The legislator did not submit to the breathalyzer test, and will face an automatic license suspension. He has stated that he has been able to obtain a provisional license that allowed him to drive to work until the license is fully restored.
A DUI can impact anyone from every single walk of life. South Carolina football is huge, and it is easy for someone to consume one too many alcoholic beverages while attending a game and decide to get behind the wheel of a car. This is also something that is difficult to judge; so, if you have consumed more than one or two drinks before you are supposed to drive, you may be in danger of a DUI charge. Therefore, we recommend you consume nothing before driving. However, if you do we can try to help you. Call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation on your DUI charge. You can reach us at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 12, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
The state of South Carolina’s sixteen county prosecutors are asking the state for an additional $1.6 million to pay for prosecutors to handle the state’s 28,000 DUI cases per year. Governor Nikki Haley has even included the money in her proposed budget submitted early last month.
However, State Representative Mike Pitts, who is chairman of the committee that oversees the law enforcement budgets of South Carolina has stated that he does not “know that we will have the money to honor it this particular year.”
The problem the state is confronted with now is that State Troopers may have to argue these cases. This is a problem because the troopers rely on prosecutors to argue motions and other documents that usually require legal training.
Two years ago, almost 50 percent of all driving deaths in South Carolina involved an alcohol impaired driver. That number has fallen by about 10 percent this year, but it is still one of the highest in the United States. This is related to the high rate of DUI prosecution in the state. This high rate of prosecution inevitably demands from the state budget. Because of such a high number of DUI’s, and the lack of budgetary funds, an inadequate number of attorneys will be prosecuting such cases. It will now rest on the state police officers.
The fact that many state troopers may have to argue motions that a lawyer would typically be arguing demands a certain level of efficiency within state government. With untrained professionals arguing something that trained professionals should argue, it leaves open channels for abuse of discretion. It is important that one who has been charged with a DUI has competent legal counsel.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI in the state of South Carolina, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. We are here to make sure an offender’s rights are taken into full account when a person is being prosecuted. You can reach our Baxter Village office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
