Lexington, South Carolina Criminal Law Blog

According to a recent news report, DUI arrests are way up in South Carolina and highway fatalities are way down so far this year. Some believe the drop in highway deaths is the direct result of the latest reforms to South Carolina's DUI laws. In addition, "others point to increased DUI arrests as well as increase in seat-belt use by South Carolina drivers as the cause of reduced deaths in the state."

DUI arrests by state troopers are up by almost 20 percent since a new state law went into effect on February 2009. DUI arrests in the state have increased by more than 4,000, or 32 percent, since 2008, according to public safety records. As for road fatalities, there had been 89 fewer crashes and 99 fewer people killed in car accidents year to date compared with the same period last year.

A South Carolina man is facing felony DUI charges after causing a fatal car accident that killed another man in a collision on Monday. According to South Carolina Highway Patrol and recent news reports, the fatal car wreck occurred around 6:30 a.m. when a pick-up truck driven by 54-year-old Gregory Bobo slammed into a SUV driven by a 66-year-old man on Geer Highway (US 276) at Skyland Road, which is about seven miles from Travelers Rest.

According to Deputy Coroner Scott Ramsey, Bobo's truck crossed the center line of US 276 and struck another vehicle head-on. As a result, the driver of the other vehicle died at the scene and was pronounced dead shortly after emergency responders arrived. Both the victim and Bobo are from Marietta, SC.

Former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams pled guilty Friday to DUI in connection with an accident that occurred just weeks before he pled guilty to aggravated assault for another crime, which he is currently serving time in jail. The DUI-related car accident occurred when Williams slammed his SUV into a tree while driving intoxicated on Jan. 5.

The car accident occurred weeks before he pleaded guilty to the death of his limo driver. According to police, Williams had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when he was taken to the hospital after his SUV hurtled off a highway exit ramp and across a street near Manhattan's East Village. Authorities detailed that Williams came within seconds of striking a car that was pulled up to a traffic light. Police found Williams in the passenger seat after the crash. Williams attempted to tell authorities that he was not driving and the driver took off after the crash. However, witnesses said that he was in fact driving the vehicle.

A South Carolina man is among three being charged in Los Angeles for allegedly operating a $26 million investment scheme that victimized hundreds of investors around the country. Wayne Flesher, 59, of Myrtle Beach, and two others from California were arrested last week by agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI.

According to the 17-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles alleges that the three men committed mail fraud by soliciting over 700 individuals around the country to invest money into an alleged fraudulent advertising scheme. The three men attempted to ask individuals if they would invest in one of two companies operated by the three men, known as Unlimited Cash Inc. and Douglas Networks Enterprises.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) and local enforcement agencies have announced that it will be starting its "Sober or Slammer" campaign to crackdown on impaired driving between now and Labor Day (Sept. 6). As DUI-related accidents remain the leading cause of deaths on South Carolina roadways, authorities hope that this campaign will help promote safe driving and reduce the amount of DUI-related fatalities in the state.

As a note, traffic fatalities are falling behind last year's totals in the state and seat belt usage is at all-time highs. Despite these steps in the right direction, authorities wish to continue to improve these numbers.

Last Memorial Day, South Carolina law enforcement officers began a state wide campaign called the "100 Deadly Days of Summer" enforcement blitz on drunk driving and seat belt use. This new campaign marks the last days of the campaign before the "Sober or Slammer" campaign begins. "As of midnight August 15, there were 136 fatalities in the first 77 days of the "100 Deadly Days of Summer" campaign, which is about 100 fatalities fewer (39 percent less) than last year at the same time.

A group of South Carolina DUI offenders will come face-to-face with victims and family members of victims that were affected by their actions. The Charleston Police Department holds a DUI Victim's Impact Panel that meets monthly to help first-time DUI and repeat DUI offenders understand the consequences of their actions. These panels are mandatory events for DUI offenders and many states around the country hold them.

In Charleston, a room full of more than 30 DUI offenders hear stories about how DUI accidents have impacted their lives. One woman expressed, "I lost my daughter to a drunk driver in 2007" and how the accident ripped the woman's arm to the bone, scarring her physically for life. The individual responsible for the death of her daughter was convicted and had a blood alcohol content of .16 at the time of the crash, which is twice the legal limit in South Carolina. The individual is currently serving a 24-year sentence.

A South Carolina man is facing DUI charges after taking police on a high speed chase through James Island last Friday afternoon. The chase began just after 1:45 p.m. near Washout on Folly Beach when deputies responded to a drunk driving call.

When authorities arrived on the scene, they found a red Chevy pick-up truck driven by Timothy Braddock, of South Carolina, who was driving his vehicle while intoxicated and refusing to stop his vehicle for police. Charleston police attempted to stop Braddock's vehicle after he nearly struck a Charleston EMS ambulance while driving. Additionally, Braddock was seen throwing liquor bottles from the vehicle during the incident.

According to recent news reports, the South Carolina Highway Patrol say that increased enforcement of DUI cases has led to a significant increase in arrests so far this year, ultimately making South Carolina roadways safer for motorists. The South Carolina Highway Patrol began its "100 Deadly Days of Summer" campaign on Memorial Day with the help of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. The campaign runs through Labor Day and is aimed at increasing patrols, enforcement efforts, awareness and traffic stops for DUI offenses during the state's historically most dangerous months.

In the months of June, July and August, South Carolina authorities report that there is a sharp increase in traffic volume due to summer road trips and vacations. The campaign included billboards across the state as well as commercials, informing motorists that law enforcement officers are on the lookout for DUI offenders, both on S.C. roads but also lakes and rivers. Essentially, the message conveyed was "If you are driving drunk, you will be arrested."