Mar 28, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A 33-year-old Lancaster man is facing felony charges after allegedly slamming his SUV into a motorcycle while under the influence of drugs. 
The man who was driving the motorcycle was taken to the hospital after suffering four leg fractures, two broken ribs and a collapsed lung. The driver faces up to 15 years in prison and over $25,000 in fines for DUI resulting in great bodily injury.
A DUI itself can change the life of one who has been involved in such a charge. However, when you add a traffic accident and great bodily injury, or death, the life of everyone involved can turn around in a split second.
If you or someone close to you has been charged with a DUI or Felony DUI, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. For a consultation, call our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 27, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A Laurens, South Carolina man is being charged with DUI after a crash that landed seven people in the hospital. The 40-year-old man has been charged with two counts of Felony DUI with great bodily injury, according to the 7th Circuit Solicitor.
The Solicitor said the crash occurred on Highway 221 while the man was driving his 1998 Ford truck, while attempting to pass a Geo at a speed of 70 m.p.h. which was 25 miles over the speed limit. The impact caused the Geo to hit a mailbox, smashed through a tree, finally stopping at a fence. The driver sustained a head injury, while her brother, as passenger sustained a broken shoulder, ribs, and vertebrae.
All in all, the crash injured all 7 people who were involved in the accident. Even the driver was rushed to the hospital. Further, when the S.C. Highway Patrol investigated the crash, the troopers said that the driver of the Ford truck was allegedly under the influence of Valium, OxyContin, and Marijuana.
In South Carolina, a driver can be charged with Felony DUI in South Carolina if, while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, that person causes great bodily injury or death to another person while operating a motor vehicle. This is a serious charge, and if convicted, will land the driver in jail. This is why it is so important to have knowledgeable attorneys to ensure your rights are protected and penalties are minimized.
If you or someone you know is convicted of a Felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury, the punishment may include the following:
- A mandatory fine of not less than $5,100, nor more than $10,100;
- Mandatory imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 15 years;
- Driver’s license suspension during the term of imprisonment plus 3 years.
However, if you are convicted of Felony DUI that results in a death, the punishment includes the following:
- A mandatory fine of not less than $10,100, nor more than $25,100;
- Mandatory imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 25 years;
- Driver’s license suspension during the term of imprisonment plus 3 years.
The law further states that no part of these mandatory sentences may be suspended. This is why it is so important for you to have competent counsel on your side. Therefore, if you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI, Felony DUI, or drinking related charge, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP at our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina for a consultation. You can reach us at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 21, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
Since 2012, South Carolina has laid down new laws, which counts DUI convictions in other states as previous convictions under South Carolina law if they happened within 10 years of the most recent DUI offense. Further, DUI charges are now determined by a person’s BAC, and with this, the new laws carry higher penalties with regard to fines and jail sentences. South Carolina law also requires both first time and subsequent offenders to complete an alcohol counseling program as part of the sentence; further, they will be required to pay for such a program which may cost as much as $2000.
If the offense is the persons first DUI charge, if the person has a BAC or .08% to .09%, he may be facing up to 30 days in jail or 48 hours of community service, and a $400 fine. For a first offense with a BAC or .1% to .15%, the offender may face up to 30 days in jail, or 72 hours of community service, coupled with a $500 fine. However, if the first DUI offender has a BAC or .16% or higher, he or she will face 30 to 60 days in jail or 30 days of community service, with an increased fine of up to $1000.
If the offense is not the person’s first DUI offense, offenders may also be required to surrender the registration and license plates of any vehicles they own, may be required to spend 5 to 30 days in jail at a minimum (depending on the level of BAC). Also, the offender will not be able to substitute community service hours for jail time. With regard to the fines a person is to receive, if the BAC is .1% to .15%, he or she may face up to 2 years in jail, and the fine could increase to $2500 to $5500. Finally, with a BAC or .16% or higher, there is a minimum of 90 days in jail to 3 years, and the fine may increase to between $3500 to $6500.
Therefore, due to the fact that the South Carolina Legislature is strengthening their DUI system, it is even more important to retain competent counsel. If you or a loved one has been charged in your first DUI, and even subsequent DUI’s, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. You can contact our Baxter Village office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 20, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A mother is being charged with the January death of her 8-year-old child after a single vehicle crash in Gaffney, South Carolina. The 27-year-old woman was driving on Corinth Road when she veered off the right side of the road and hit a tree. She is being charged with Felony DUI after she was treated for injuries at Upstate Carolina Medical Center.
The girl was apparently sitting on the lap of a passenger when the mother hit a tree and the child was ejected from the vehicle. The girl was transferred from Upstate Carolina Medical Center to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center as the condition worsened. She died the following day of her injuries. There were seven people in the car, the little girl is the only reported death.
If you or someone close to you has been charged in connection with a DUI or Felony DUI, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. For 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 20, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A 30-year-old driver, who lost control of his pick-up truck resulting in the death of his passenger, is being charged with Felony DUI by the SC Highway Patrol. The crash occurred on US 15 south of Sumter, South Carolina.
Troopers report that the man and his passenger, a 36-year-old Manning man were traveling south on US 15 when he lost control overturning the pick-up truck. Both the driver and the passenger were ejected from the vehicle; however, the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
A felony DUI charge in South Carolina requires that the person be proven to have (1) operated a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both, and (2) did something else against the law, whether traffic law or duties imposed by the court, and (3) proximately causes great bodily injury or death to a person other than himself, including passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists.
Great bodily injury is an injury that “creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.”
If you or someone you know is facing a charge of DUI with the aggravating factor of “great bodily injury” attached to such charge, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. We are here to assist you with your legal question and invite you to schedule a consultation. Just call our Baxter Village office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 19, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
Boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a criminal offense in the state of South Carolina, and may be punishable of up to a $6000 fine, and/or up to three years imprisonment. Further, an operator may lose the privilege to operate for up to two years. Felony BUI penalties may carry penalties of up to a $25,000 fine, and as much as 25 years imprisonment. This is very similar to driving under the influence laws in the state of South Carolina.
The next condition one may have to fulfill when charged with BUI is the mandatory and successful completion of a South Carolina Boating Safety course and an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action course. These are required at the operator/violators expense.
Boating under the influence is similar to driving under the influence as to what is considered a BUI. BUI is defined as being under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent that you cannot operate in a safe manner. The state of South Carolina considers a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher to be under the influence of alcohol. Further, if a person is under the age of 21, they may not operate the boat if they have a .02 concentration or over.
By boating on South Carolina waters, you are deemed to have consented to alcohol testing by the DNR. If you or a loved one has been charged with such an offense, 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.
