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Imagine spending 11 years in prison because a police officer lied and said you were driving under the influence. It’s a nightmare scenario that happened to a man named Revat Vara. According to a USA Today Network investigation, Vara was pulled over for missing a front license plate. He was arrested for DUI after a...

Drinking alcohol and driving is dangerous, but so are the machines police use to arrest people for DUI. A New York Times investigation found that machines used to test alcohol-blood levels of allegedly impaired drivers in the United States are often unreliable. The supposedly sensitive scientific instruments — commonly called breathalyzers — used by “virtually...

Does a police officer who stops you for a broken taillight have a right to see what’s inside your trunk without a warrant? What if you were pulled over in South Carolina for speeding? Can the officer force you to open your glove compartment to see what you have inside, even if he or she...

Most people charged with DUI in South Carolina face the possibility of being convicted for a misdemeanor for the first three offenses. Misdemeanor DUI penalties range from two days up to five years in jail and fines up to $10,000 — depending on how high a person's BAC level was at the time of an...

Having a criminal conviction on your record can make it difficult to find a job. If you were convicted of a felony, you lose your right to serve on a jury, pursue a professional license, own a gun, or hold public office. By receiving a pardon, you're cleared of the legal consequences of your criminal...

Having a criminal conviction on your record can have devastating life-long consequences. Even after serving your sentence, you may lose the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, obtain a professional license, and own a gun. By receiving a pardon, you can be absolved from all legal consequences of the crime and conviction,...

When a person is convicted of a felony, he or she typically loses the right to serve on a jury, own a gun and obtain certain occupational licenses. In order to restore these rights, a person may receive a pardon. Pardons mean that a person is fully forgiven from the legal consequences of his or...

Individuals who serve their sentences and are released into society face a lot of tough obstacles. Carrying a criminal record may hinder some from finding employment, enrolling in school, finding a place to live, building healthy relationships, and becoming contributing members of society. A Special Report from the U.S. Department of Justice released in May...

Sobriety checkpoints are often set up throughout South Carolina when police believe drunk driving is likely to occur. Unfortunately, those obeying the law sometimes get caught up in these crackdowns. Being stopped at a checkpoint or pulled over while driving can be scary for many us. Understanding how to handle the situation may save you...

You may have heard it on a TV shows or perhaps you’ve heard it personally: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for...