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Columbia College, University of South Carolina, Benedict College, Southern University, and W.L. Bonner College are home to thousands of students who come to Columbia, South Carolina each year to get a college education.  Many of these students not only enjoy the academic opportunities these colleges provide, but also enjoy the social aspects of college as well. The...

Being arrested on a first offense is a frightening experience, especially if you haven't ever been arrested or involved with the criminal justice system before. Faced with the prospect of being arrested for the first time, many people do not know what to do next or how to protect their rights. There is a lot...

If you have never been arrested or had any encounters with law enforcement, it can be frightening to be pulled over by police and asked to submit to a test of your blood alcohol content. An arrest is even more scary for a first DUI offense.  As you become involved with the criminal justice process, you need...

According to WBTW News 13, a driver has been charged with felony DUI after a crash in Lake City left one person dead. Authorities said the driver had been traveling south before losing control of the car, running off the road and rolling over into a ditch. The victim had been a passenger in the...

WACH Fox 57 recently reported that a Spartanburg, SC magistrate has been placed in charge of overseeing a DUI hearing against a long-time Lexington prosecutor. The prosecutor was arrested when law enforcement officers had responded to a single vehicle auto accident near his home. Local magistrates all had to excuse themselves from the proceedings because...

After a DUI arrest in Columbia, SC, you face the threat of losing your license and of being left with a criminal record. Depending upon whether you have any past convictions, whether you were in a crash, or how high your blood alcohol concentration was at the time of the arrest, you could also possibly...

Majority of those surveyed view possession as a health issue, not a criminal offense A recent poll released by the Drug Policy Alliance shows that a strong majority of South Carolina voters are in favor of decriminalizing drug possession.   The survey results focused on the distinction between drugs as a criminal offense and as...

For students at Columbia College, drinking is often a part of campus life.  Unfortunately, this can result in accusations of drunk driving. People who are under the age of 21 and who drink while on campus could be caught up in zero tolerance laws. Even a single drink could result in a blood alcohol concentration...

Scientific evidence is often a key part of a prosecutor's case when a defendant is accused of impaired driving. Defendants may have toxicology testing performed in order to determine if the motorist was too drunk to be behind the wheel or if the defendant had drugs in his or her system. Juries often give a...

In most cases where laws change or courts issue rulings, the rights of DUI defendants are abridged. Legislatures take drunk driving very seriously and advocacy groups are aggressive about pushing for ever-tougher laws aimed at punishing people who get behind the wheel drunk. Even the United States Supreme Court has failed to provide protection to...