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Reckless driving

DUIwise South Carolina.

As per the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over four thousand people die due to drunk driving accidents in South Carolina. The statistics are for years between 2003 and 2012. The most vulnerable group are people between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-four. The numbers paint a picture so glum sending shivers down the spine of other road users. About 1.4% of the people in South Carolina report of driving or having driven under the influence.

Such a glaring and startling revelation is a warning to each one to exercise extreme caution while on the roads. Always be on the lookout for any signal of intoxication among other drivers on the road. While you are driving, pay close attention to individuals driving at high speed, making erratic movements or swerving. On seeing such, it is of utmost importance that you call 911 for assistance and keep your distance. Such an action may save someone’s life.

In South Carolina, it is illegal to drive with 0.8% or above Blood Alcohol Concentration. There are lower limits for drivers under twenty-one and heavy commercial vehicle drivers. Sobriety checkpoints are the norm on the road in South Carolina these days. In cases where a driver causes an accident under the influence, the driver is liable under the theory of negligence per se. The driver is guilty of the injuries arising from the crash. The victim doesn’t necessarily have to prove negligence in courts as long as the driver failed the sobriety test.

What to do at a checkpoint

Getting arrested or stopped for drunk driving isn’t a pretty sight. You may be harassed or even manhandled by the police officer in some instances. When stopped by a police officer at a checkpoint, it is prudent that you pull over and stop at a safe side of the road. Always comply with police officers instructions about getting out of the car and giving him your driving license. You are under no obligation to answer any other questions that aren’t related to the issue at hand. Nevertheless, total compliance is of great value in this case. It isn’t mandatory for you to comply with the tests.

The officer will ask you to perform a roadside sobriety test and blew into a handheld breathalyzer machine known as the AlcoSensor. You need to do as requested, a charge sheet is filled and given to you. You can either be accused of drink driving or arrested for the same. In any eventuality, it is advisable you get in touch with an attorney or a public defender will be provided just in case. Getting in touch with a good defense attorney is essential in this case. The attorney will assist you to understand how the law applies to your case. He will advise on action to take, and in some cases, he may be able to negotiate a plea bargain for a lower charge of reckless driving.

Consequences of drunk driving

At DUIwise.com we provide you with facts about drunk driving including outcomes and other helpful information. South Carolina is one of the states with the toughest laws against DWI/DUI. The sentences to each offender vary from DWI Level one to five. The misdemeanor level one indicates a very dangerous offender while level five is a minor offender. Penalties for the offense can either be Administrative or Criminal penalties.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation imposes administrative penalties. Imposing administrative penalties to first-time offenders is the law in South Carolina. In this case, revocation of the driver’s license happens, and this can be a civil suspension at the time or arrest or a criminal suspension after conviction.

A driver who refuses to undergo a breath test at a checkpoint or has a BAC of 0.8% or higher may get an immediate thirty days license revocation. After a judge hears and determines the case, irrespective of the outcome, the driver gets a one-year suspension. Though, in this case, the driver may be given limited driving privileges after a mandatory six month period. On conviction, the driver’s licenses are revoked for one year with limited opportunities available after ten days. He is allowed to drive at certain hours for work purposes. Reinstating of the licenses is only possible when the offender undergoes drug and alcohol test plus treatment.

The courts impose criminal penalties to an offender. The penalties vary from level one to level five. They range from jail time, fines, substance abuse treatment or probation. Jail time varies but is always between 24 hours to 60 days for level five up to two years for a level one offender. Fines, on the other hand, range from $200 to $4,000 also from level five to level one respectively. A judge can grant Probation instead of jail time for offenders of level three to five. The probation may include limited jail time, or community service and participation in an alcohol and drug evaluation program. A judge isn’t allowed to grant probation to level two and one offenders under South Carolina laws.

The DUIwise site shows that driving under the influence will not only land you in jail but also lead to deaths and permanent injuries. These aren’t selective; they affect both the offender and the other road users.

Drunk driving is a dangerous phenomenon and requires the concerted efforts of all parties involved. Some of these strategies can help reduce or prevent DUI accidents: drunk driving laws, sobriety checkpoints, ignition interlocks, multi-component interventions, mass media campaigns, administrative license revocation or suspension laws, alcohol screening and brief interventions and school-based instructional programs. Each of these approaches will require different resources for implementation and have varying levels of impact.

In a nutshell dedicated efforts are leading to a reduction in the rates of drunk driving and alcohol-involved fatal crashes in recent years. Nevertheless, this isn’t the end of the road; this menace needs to come to an end. Though victims get compensated, money isn’t to the life of a person killed by a reckless, negligent and reckless behavior of one another.

Hundreds Arrested for DUI Infraction at the Super Bowl

DUI or DWI infractions are frequent during festivities. The lively atmosphere during the festivities provides an enabling environment for many members of the public to intoxicate themselves without necessarily making arrangements for a designated driver. For many, it is an opportunity to take cover in the multitude of people and the stretched public monitoring and enforcement agencies to willfully engage in DUI or DWI infractions. These individuals put their lives and that of the general public in grave danger. The potential damage to property as a result of DUI or DWI infraction can run into millions. One such event that is renowned for its festivities is the Super Bowl: a global sporting event that comes with more than just a baseball game.

The Super Bowl: A Carnival of DUI/DWI Infractions

There is an uneasy yet conventional relationship between alcohol and sports, and baseball is no different. And at the grandest stage of all, when the baseball champions of the world are being crowned, there is always a spike in incidences of DUI and DWI infractions. While the last edition of the Super Bowl has held miles away in Houston, Texas, law enforcement officers in major cities in Colorado had their hands full throughout the weekend of the Super Bowl. The weekend was one of the busiest for the law enforcement departments especially in major cities such as Denver had to work around the clock to ensure that the general public was safe.

During the weekend of 3rd and 6th February, the officers nabbed a staggering 273 individuals. This is an average of 91 individuals payday for the three days. The arrests were made by close to 100 law enforcement agencies spread across the state from Aurora, Denver, and Colorado Springs among others. The well-coordinated operation saw the officers heighten their highway patrol activities. They also cast their net far and wide to cover every inch of the cities to ensure that revelers who have been intoxicated during the Super Bowl festivities do not endanger the lives of others.

The operation mounted by officers was well calculated as it was built on last year’s experience where over 300 individuals were also arrested for violating the Colorado DUI/DWI laws. Having established the correlation between festivities and a spike in the number of DUI/DWI cases, the state security apparatuses have launched major operations targeting such festivities. After the Super Bowl festivities arrests, they have now trained their eyes on the upcoming public holidays including St. Patrick’s Day where they planned a week intensive patrol.

Dangers of Impaired Driving

The highest number of road fatalities result from impaired driving, which is a daily occasion along the roads of Colorado and other states. This is the primary reason why DUI and DWI infractions are severely in the state and other jurisdictions. The social and economic implications of accidents resulting from impaired driving are usually huge. The mental trauma associated with accidents especially if the injuries are serious or permanent is usually hard to deal with.

In many states, the burden of proof of responsibility while pursuing insurance claims arising from such accidents is usually with the claimant. For the victims of accidents arising from impaired driving, this burden of proof is easy to meet. Their claims, with the help of legal experts, will easily sail through. However, for the drivers at fault due to their impaired driving, they may be required by law to take responsibility for the insurance claims arising from their reckless driving. It would be double tragedy if they were also injured or lost their valuables during the accident.

Causing a road accident involving injuries and any fatality while driving under the influence can set off a chain of events whose nadir can be jail time. In case of fatalities, you may be charged with vehicular manslaughter. If convicted, your weekend of festivities may metamorphose into several years in a state penitentiary, the lost source of income or job and a damaged reputation. In some cases, your night or evening of driving and subsequently driving under the influence can cost you your driving license. The inconvenience of being banned from driving is palpable and sometimes very costly. For many, driving is an almost mandatory requirement to successfully fulfill their daily career obligations, without which holding down their jobs might be impossible.

If you escape jail time, then you will hit with heavy fines or forced to attend classes for alcoholism and substance abuse management. As a social drinker, the last thing you need to worry about is a probation officer always on your case checking on you in case you violate your probation.

Caught While DUI/DWI Driving?

Drinking is one of the most common social norms not only in Colorado but worldwide. A bottle of two might seem harmless. You might even feel comfortable behind the wheel. However, the key is not the number of bottles but how alcohol reacts with your system. Instead of facing a license revocation, time behind bars, fines, and other inconveniencing penalties, ensure that you do not pass the set alcohol limits by having portable personal breathalyzers to check your blood alcohol levels. This can help make an informed decision whether to drive or take a taxi home instead of putting other people’s lives. Having a patch or a phone app that can automatically detect your blood alcohol levels can also do the trick. For the app, some can call predetermined numbers in case your blood alcohol levels to help you out. Optionally, it is always advisable to have a designated driver who you can always take charge.

In the eventuality that you are caught by the law enforcement officers like in the case of those revelers during the Super Bowl weekend, you will need a DUI/DWI lawyer. Since DUI/DWI infractions are treated seriously across all states, chances of you escaping the arms of the law with a DUI/DWI are very limited. Before settling for any attorney to represent you, carry out research on your case on online platforms such as DUIwise to get to the grips of your case. For highly qualified DUI/DWI attorneys with an excellent track record of winning trials and who will ensure that you receive a reduced sentence, kindly visit DUIwise.com.

 

Oregon man charged with DUI and manslaughter in fatal crash

A Portland man was killed in a single-car accident in the early morning hours of Feb. 16. The driver involved was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges including manslaughter.

The accident took place at the intersection of Fremont Street and Northeast 102nd Avenue at about 6 a.m. when a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix struck a utility pole. The right rear seat passenger died at the accident scene. In all, there were six people in the car. Two other passengers suffered minor injuries and were treated.

Upon the driver’s release from the hospital, he was taken into custody and charged with reckless driving, second-degree criminal mischief, failure to perform the duties of a driver, two counts of second-degree assault, DUI and cocaine possession. In addition to the accident-related charges, the driver had an outstanding warrant for failure to perform the duties of a driver, reckless driving, drunk driving, and cocaine possession. Police are continuing their investigation of the fatal accident and are searching for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have information about the incident.

A passenger was also taken into custody after receiving treatment for minor injuries. He had an outstanding warrant for violating post-prison supervision, interfering with public transportation, carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, third-degree escape, interfering with a police officer and third-degree theft of services. Investigators suspect that a sixth individual fled the scene before paramedics and law enforcement arrived.

Two of the individuals in this story are facing multiple serious charges that may result in prison time if they are convicted. One option for someone facing multiple charges may be to accept a plea bargain. A prosecutor might be willing to combine or drop some of the charges if the defendant is willing to plead guilty to the remaining charges. A Portland area defense lawyer may help to negotiate the terms of the prosecution.

Indiana man taken into custody following chase, crash

A 30-year-old Greenwood man faces charges of drinking and driving among other charges after a police chase and an accident on Nov. 27 in Greenwood in which two people were seriously hurt, according to authorities. He was taken into custody on Dec. 9 for two counts of drinking and driving with a prior conviction with serious injury, two counts of resisting arrest with serious injury, one count of reckless driving and one count of criminal reckless driving. He was detained on a $72,000 bond at the Johnson County Jail. When authorities detained him, the driver’s blood alcohol content level allegedly registered .243 percent, more than triple the .08 maximum limit allowed in the state.

Events began Nov. 27 at approximately 9:25 p.m. when authorities stopped a Ford Explorer driven by the accused man. When the officer exited his vehicle, authorities allege, the motorist fled the scene. He pulled around a vehicle at an intersection and drove through a red light before colliding with a Dodge Caliber that held three occupants. The male driver and a female passenger, both 35, were seriously hurt, but the third occupant, a minor, was not injured. The man was listed in critical condition at a hospital while the woman was treated and then released.

When someone faces charges for impaired driving, he or she could face serious criminal DUI penalties, such as time in jail, probation, community service hours, court fees and alcohol counseling, if convicted. In addition, convicted individuals might receive additional points on their license, lose their driving privileges, face serious restrictions or need to pay increased insurance rates as well.

A DUI defense lawyer might be able to help an accused person in a case like this one by raising doubt about the client’s blood-alcohol-test results or other pieces of evidence in the case that might not have been properly obtained or obtained with inadequately calibrated equipment. If the prosecution’s case is strong, the lawyer might try to negotiate a plea agreement on the client’s behalf in order to reduce the sanctions that he or she faces.