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.
Mar 13, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A Kershaw, South Carolina man has been charged with felony DUI after a crash that killed one person. The Highway Patrol has stated that the 27-year-old driver was driving a 2006 Toyota that collided with the victim’s 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle.
The 56-year-old driver of the motorcycle died on the scene, according to Police. Further, the man had been a volunteer firefighter for almost 35 years, and had been promoted to lieutenant the previous Tuesday. When the collision occurred, he had been driving to Columbia, SC. The deceased firefighter has left behind a wife and four children.
A deadly accident can change the life of everyone involved. When you have had one or two drinks too many, the likelihood of an accident increases exponentially. It is extremely important, for your life and the lives of those who may potentially be injured, for you to never get behind the wheel of a vehicle once alcohol has been consumed. If you or someone you know has made the life altering decision to drive while intoxicated and been charged with a DUI or Felony DUI, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. You can reach our Baxter Village, Fort Mill South Carolina office at 803-548-4444, or toll free at 877-374-5999.
Mar 13, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A 46-year-old man has been charged with hit-and-run after he struck and killed another man while he was walking on the sidewalk along Lake Murray Boulevard in Irmo, South Carolina. The pedestrian was pronounced dead on the scene.
The driver was charged with felony driving under the influence; according to police the suspect was driving a 2006 Land Rover eastbound when it struck the pedestrian who was walking westbound. The pedestrian was walking along the sidewalk, according to the police report.
According to the police, witnesses report that the suspect allegedly had been weaving across the road just before the collision. The man is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center.
In South Carolina, a person will be charged with a felony for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both; and, while operating the vehicle under the influence, the person causes “great bodily injury” or death to a person other than himself including a passenger, pedestrian, and/or another driver.
Great bodily injury is defined by the state of South Carolina as bodily injury, which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious or permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. Further, if the injured person dies from related complications within three years of the DUI-related injury, the driver may be implicated in the death.
If you or someone you know has been charged with DUI or Felony DUI, it is extremely important for you obtain competent representation as soon as possible. At the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP we have over 75 years of combined experience in dealing with criminal clients, and we are here to assist you. For a consultation, call our Baxter Village office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444 or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
