Mar 15, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A South Carolina man has been charged with driving under the influence in a car accident that resulted in the death of his wife. The couple’s Dodge van veered from the side of the road and sideswiped a telephone pole, finally ending up in an embankment.
The man was airlifted to Palmetto Heath Richland with serious injuries. However, his wife did not survive the accident, and was pronounced dead on the scene. The man was arrested a couple of days later and charged with Felony DUI resulting in death.
The death of a loved one can be extremely painful to all of those involved. It is not anyone’s intention to be involved in a car accident; especially one that results in death. However, when a person decides to consume alcohol, they become more likely to put themselves behind the wheel of an automobile. The problem with this is the reality that when someone decides to get behind of a car while intoxicated, and it results in death, it will still be considered manslaughter. Further, the circumstances surrounding the situation may exacerbate the charges.
If you have been charged with DUI, Felony DUI, or any other drinking related charge contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation. You can reach our Baxter Village Office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
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
A Columbia, South Carolina police officer is reported to have “blown” a DUI case when he failed to follow the proper breathalyzer test procedure. An order was therefore issued stating that the breath test results could not be used as evidence in trial. The reason being, that the officer ordered the suspect to “blow hard” when he was administering the test.
During the administration of the test, the officer ordered the man to “blow hard” several times; however, the instructions for the devise advise against that stating that uneven breaths can tamper with the results. Therefore, such an instruction is considered to be improper.
So, why are we discussing this right now? The reason is that this order may affect other DUI cases. This order may cause other defense attorneys to take a look at the procedure used to administer such breath tests. The hope is that prosecutors throughout the state will notice this, and ensure that proper breathalyzer procedure is followed.
The science of the machine notes that the most accurate results of the test come from deep lung air. Officers are taught to ensure that suspects blow as long as they can into the machine, not as hard as they can. Therefore, if you have been charged with a DUI, and you suspect the results are skewed as a result of an improper administration of the breathalyzer test, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. We have experienced attorneys who understand the inner-workings of the testing system. For a consultation, 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
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 13, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A Columbia, South Carolina man was charged with unlawful conduct towards a child according to police report, after he was driving his 13-year-old daughter and friends with a blood-alcohol level two times the legal limit. The man was also charged with speeding.
The officer who charged the man stated that the man was driving almost 80 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone. After the officers pulled the man over, they report that there was a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the driver. The officer offered him a breath test, and it is alleged to have registered a .16 which is double the legal limit. The man was thereafter taken to the Alvin S Glenn Detention Center.
If you or someone close to you has been charged with DUI, Felony DUI, or any charge associated with DUI, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation. You can reach our Baxter Village office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
