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Binge drinking is a serious problem

Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking alcohol designed to get you drunk and your blood alcohol content above the legal limit. Binge drinking is a common, excessive and potentially deadly act in the United States. The last study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2015, found that those ages 18-24 and 25-34 binge … Read more

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You do not feel impaired. Could you still face DUI charges?

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No one wants to end up pulled over by a police officer after having a fun night out. Of course, officers have a job to do, and you could be the one who ends up in their line of sight for whatever initial reason. If an officer stops your vehicle and suspects that you are … Read more

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Reasonable defense options when fighting a DUI in South Carolina

Perhaps you were out with friends or headed home from a nice dinner when you noticed flashing lights behind you. When an officer pulls you over for suspected drunk driving, it can be frightening, but it can be especially overwhelming to find yourself facing DUI charges. Whether it is your first offense or you have … Read more

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How law enforcement agencies target drivers on I-85

The number of stories is almost staggering. Search for “drug charges I-85” online and you’ll get page after page of results from recent years. There are many stories and press releases about officers arresting individuals for drugs after traffic stops on Interstate 85. It’s not an accident. As a story by the Greenville News makes … Read more

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Consequences of a DUI for underage drivers

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Facing DUI charges can be terrifying for anyone. Whether it’s your first offense, you refused to consent to a breath test or more, the consequences can be steep and you may wonder how the penalties may affect your life. For underage drivers, the effects of a DUI conviction can be even more devastating. While South … Read more

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Bias in field sobriety tests

Even if you have never been pulled over for a DUI before, you have likely seen some version of a field sobriety test on a movie or in other media. Some of them seem relatively easy, while others look impossible to complete even when sober. When an officer pulls someone over for suspected drunk driving, … Read more

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What really happens if you refuse the Breathalyzer?

If you are pulled over for DUI, you are required to submit to testing. Right? That’s not quite true. Under South Carolina law, you can legally refuse to provide a breath, blood or urine sample. But if you do so, you are automatically subject to certain consequences, namely license suspension. The question is not can … Read more

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‘Officer, I swear I was not drinking *while* driving.’

A Florida driver who was caught with an open bottle of bourbon had a novel defense to a DUI arrest. He claimed he was only drinking at stop signs. So, you know, he wasn’t drinking while driving. That would be irresponsible. Obviously, his brilliant legal excuse did not prevent his DUI arrest. It does emphasize … Read more

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Sloppy turn signal is not basis for stop, search and conviction

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A Texas appeals court has thrown out the drug conviction of a man who was pulled over on the shaky excuse of being tardy in signaling a lane change. The appellate court said that the trumped-up traffic violation did not justify a traffic stop and warrantless vehicle search that ultimately led to the man being … Read more

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There is no ‘dope-alyzer’ for driving while high

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Any marijuana in a driver’s blood can trigger DUI charges Marijuana possession has become legal in nine states and a lower priority for law enforcement elsewhere. But driving under the influence of marijuana or other drugs remains illegal in every state, including South Carolina. Unlike alcohol, there is no blood or breath test for marijuana … Read more

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