South Carolina Begins Sober or Slammer Campaign to End DUI Accidents and Deaths

South Carolina will step up law enforcement presence beginning Friday, August 15th, running through Labor Day in September, as part of the Sober or Slammer campaign working to prevent DUI accidents and deaths on SC’s roads.  South Carolina DUI charges are serious and have serious consequences.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has partnered with hospitals, first responders, and law enforcement agencies all over the state as part of the anti-DUI campaign. Not only will law enforcement presence ramp up, according to the Sober or Slammer campaign, but the SC Department of Transportation will display alerts on electronic message boards over highways informing drivers of DUI crackdowns in progress.

The message boards have been used throughout the summer to alert drivers on DUI crackdown weekends, including Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

The Sober or Slammer campaign will also put up a series of advertisements across the state, informing the public about the anti-DUI campaign and offering hotline information for drivers who notice a potentially intoxicated driver. South Carolina residents are encouraged to call *HP or *47 to alert police to a potential drunk driver.

Statistics released by the SCDPS show that 141 people have been killed in DUI accidents across the state since Memorial Day, which marks the beginning of summer. While the statistics are down from last year’s total – this time in 2013, 168 people had died in DUI-related accidents – the number is still disturbingly high, and the Sober or Slammer campaign aims to prevent more DUI accidents and deaths. Statistics show that 348 people died in 2012 in accidents related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Last summer, police in South Carolina made 27,000 DUI arrests.

New App Gets DUI Suspects In Contact with Strom Law

South Carolina has some of the strictest DUI laws in the nation. First offense DUI, if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is only between .08 and .09, can result in at least 48 hours of jail time (with a maximum of 30 days), up to a $400 fine before court costs and fees, and suspension of your driver’s license for six months. If your BAC is .16 or higher on your first offense, you could spend up to 90 days in jail, pay up to $1,000 in fines, and may be forced to take an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP). Multiple DUIs can result in felonies, with high fines and long jail sentences. You also face a 36 months with SR22 insurance, which can be very pricey.  Importantly, a DUI conviction can never be expunged.

If you are pulled over for a suspected DUI, you may be subjected to a field sobriety test or a Breathalyzer test. These tests must be videotaped by the police officer, and the officer must inform you of your right to refuse a Breathalyzer. However, the efficacy of both of these tests is constantly in question, and you should contact a DUI defense attorney to help you sift through the evidence. The sooner you contact a DUI lawyer for help, the better, as more evidence can be preserved – which is the beauty of mobile apps like Strom Law’s DUI Lawyer app!

The Strom Law Firm’s DUI app can help you if you find yourself pulled over or arrested for a DUI. Your rights as a defendant are immediately accessible, and you can quickly call us for a consultation from the app, or find our office location. And, if your find yourself too drunk to drive, our DUI Lawyer app even helps you call a taxi!

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with DUI Charges in South Carolina

If you face DUI charges, whether it is your first charge, or felony DUI, you could feel alone and afraid. Just because you drink and drive, especially if you are not the designated driver, does not automatically mean that you are guilty. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm have helped people who face DUI charges since 1996. We offer free, confidential consultations so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Contact us for help today. 803.252.4800