May 1, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
Police in Rock Hill, South Carolina have arrested a man while he was riding on his scooter. The 
man was thereafter issued his fourth DUI.
According to the Police Report, officers were at a red light at the intersection of Cherry Road and Oakland Avenue when they reported to have viewed a man on a scooter stop at the light, pass the white line, and then proceed to run through the red light.
The officers, who were sitting at the intersection, arrested the 26-year-old man, who informed them that he had just left from a Rock Hill bar. The man was subsequently taken to Moss Justice Center where they registered his B.A.C. at 0.17, which is more than double the legal limit for adult drivers.
Here, the fact that the man was on a scooter does not affect his status as a DUI offender. If someone is driving on the roads in South Carolina, while intoxicated, they will receive a DUI regardless of what they are driving or riding. Therefore, it is imperative to attack the procedure surrounding the DUI, and whether the police were acting within the confines of the South Carolina DUI procedural rules.
For competent legal consultation, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, & Hightower, LLP. We have defended many DUI cases, and understand the procedures surrounding such a charge. You can reach our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 30, 2013 | Drug Crimes and Controlled Substances Defense, DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A York County, South Carolina Council member was arrested last week, and held at the Moss Justice Center after an incident that included an open bottle of Crown Royal found within his car. The man allegedly registered over a .10 after breathing into the breath-test, according to the York County Sheriff’s report. The next morning he was released on his own recognizance.
The incident took place around midnight when a York County Sheriff Deputy noticed a Toyota Corolla swerving several times as he traveled north on Chester Highway. When the deputy pulled the man over, he found an open whiskey bottle in the man’s passenger seat, according to the report.
The man initially told the officer that he had consumed a couple of beers; however, when the bottle of whiskey was found the man stated 
that he may have consumed more than he had thought. When he was administered field-sobriety tests, his speech was allegedly slurred, and he did not count correctly, according to the officer. Further, his breath-test registered .03 over the legal limit.
The man stated that he was at an “after hours” event, had a couple of beers at the event, and then stated that he stopped to purchase a small bottle of liquor. The man has no prior criminal history in South Carolina. Further, he has recently lost his father, which is apparently the underlying cause of his drinking.
As we have stated in many previous blog pages, anybody is susceptible to a DUI charge. It is difficult for one to judge just how much they have consumed; therefore, it is important to know your own limitations. If you do not know your limitations, you may end up with a DUI on your record. At Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP we recommend that you never drive after consuming any amount of alcohol just to be safe. However, if you do, make sure you do so within the confines of your personal limitations, which is typically one or two drinks.
We handle DUI cases in South Carolina, and DWI cases in North Carolina. Therefore, if you or a loved one has been charged in one of these states, schedule a consultation with us. You can reach our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 704-499-9000. Further you can contact us toll-free at 877-374-5999. We will be pleased to assist you.
Apr 30, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
At Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP we understand that each and every DUI case in the state of South Carolina is unique, and must be 
treated differently than a previous DUI case. In South Carolina, a DUI can be classified as a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Felony DUI’s typically result when one’s decision to drive under the influence results in some sort of accident that ends up in “death” or “great bodily injury.”
Here, a 30-year-old South Carolina resident was operating his vehicle, which contained three passengers; a 29-year-old woman, and two children, when his vehicle collided into a tree. The woman and the children were taken to the hospital where the woman was pronounced dead hours later. This is a very tragic situation that could have been prevented had the man not been drinking. However, it is also important to ensure that the man’s rights are also taken into account when prosecuting him.
A felony DUI conviction can mean some incredibly serious penalties for the defendant; especially if a death has resulted. Fines can be as much as $25,000, and jail time as much as 25 years. Therefore, it is extremely imperative that one being charged with such a crime consults with competent defense counsel.
At Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP we will take the necessary steps to ensure that the accused is receiving the proper defense. We have a combined 75 years of experience in handling client cases, and will bring that experience to the table for every one of our clients. For a consultation, you can reach us at our Fort Mill, South Carolina office at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Apr 29, 2013 | Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, General, Uncategorized
In almost four months, two specific York County deputies have charged alm
ost 40 people with DUIs int he state of South Carolina. That means that those two deputies average almost 5 DUIs a month, a piece.
As this firm has discussed before, in December of last year, York County created a DUI Enforcement Team to begin the statewide crackdown on drinking and driving. The whole reason of this teams being is to target drivers who consume alcohol and then drive a car, truck, or even motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s office has released statements saying that “ the initiatives have paid off and makes the county roads safer,” thus making the Enforcement team all worthwhile.
Moreover, in addition to the 39 DUI charges, the two deputies have issued nearly 500 traffic citations. These citations range from simple seat-belt violations to speeding coupled with reckless driving.
Accordingly, the new grant money for the DUI Enforcement Team helps pay for the deputies new patrol cars, salaries, and police equipment.
There were a total of 239 DUIs issued last year, and the sheriffi’s office has reported that this is a 61% increase in DUIs from the year before.
Of the 39 DUI charges given thus far, 33 of those people have gone to court and pled guilty to either drunk driving, or a mitigated lesser charge. Sadly, these 33 people went to court without the proper legal representation.
Don’t get caught up in the court system and feel like you need to go at it alone. Sometimes it seems easier to plead guilty and have the whole thing put behind you, before you have time to really think. At Reeves,Aiken, and Hightower, LLP, we are equipped to do all the thinking for you. We can go to court for you and fight for your rights against your DUI or other traffic citation charges.
Instead of pleading guilty, contact us today at 877-374-5999 and let us do the worrying for you. Your first consultation is free.
Apr 26, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A Lexington, South Carolina man, who was accused of striking and killing another man
while he was walking down Lake Murray Boulevard this past January, has just been released from jail. This occurred about a week after the judge denied his bond, which was denied the day following the accident.
The man was released on a bond that was set at $250,000, when a Lexington County judge ruled that this amount would be sufficient, according to court records. Further, his conditional release stipulates that the man does not have any contact with the victim’s family, he must submit to random drug tests, and he must stay within a close proximity to Columbia, South Carolina.
The driver is employed as a Family Practice physician in Lexington. When officers inquired as to what caused him to hit the victim, he replied that he was swerving; and, that he blacked out, like narcolepsy, as he was trying to get home. This is according to the incident report. The man further stated that he had not been drinking that evening, although the officers report that his eyes were “bloodshot, watery, and droopy.”
After this, police had the man engage in a series of field sobriety tests, of which he allegedly performed poorly. However, alcohol was not present in the breath-test. He was taken to the Lexington Medical Center for further testing.
If you or a loved one has been charged with driving under the influence, or driving under the influence with great bodily injury or death, you must contact competent legal representation. The results of the drug and alcohol tests above have not been released to the public. If they come back negative, the man may have been being truthful when he stated that he was suffering from a form of narcolepsy. However, if they come back positive, he will likely be charged with DUI resulting in death, which can carry a stiff sentence.
Call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP if you have any questions regarding a pending DUI charge in South Carolina. You can reach our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-4444. We will be pleased to assist you in any way we can.
Apr 25, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
Four Hartsville, South Carolina Children have tragically died in a fire that took place in the mobile home they were residing in at the time. The
firefighters found the bodies on Wednesday afternoon after extinguishing the blaze.
The tragic accident did not seem to scorch the outside of the home; however, the inside was allegedly damaged to a greater extent. It appears as though the children died of asphyxiation from the smoke, but reports have not been filed at this point.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident of any kind, and there is a question as to whether somebody or some company were negligent, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation. You can reach our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We know tragedies such as this one can alter the life of everyone involved, and we are here to help where we can.
man was thereafter issued his fourth DUI.
