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The holiday season can be stressful. With decorations, parties, gifts, visitors, and meals, many Columbia residents may be tempted to relax by drinking. Unfortunately, this contributes to an increase in drunk drivers during the holiday season. South Carolina law enforcement agencies know this, and combat the trend with increased DUI enforcement during the holiday season....

Checkpoints for impaired driving are a common sight on the roads of South Carolina. Unfortunately, even this simple inspection can infringe upon a driver's constitutional rights against self-incrimination. Protections against search and seizure can also be violated during these brief stops. Learn more about what South Carolina drivers can do at DUI checkpoints to protect...

An arrest is a stressful event for an adult who understands and is prepared for the process. To an inexperienced teenager, however, it can be utterly traumatizing. The mental and practical consequences can last a long time, as teens are more likely than adults to inadvertently waive important constitutional rights than they do not know...

For defendants in South Carolina, the sentencing provisions of drug possession laws may come as an unpleasant surprise. The penalties for drug possession can be severe - even for a first offense. Defendants need an experienced Columbia criminal defense attorney to protect their legal rights at all stages of criminal proceedings. South Carolina Sentencing for Drug...

It a lesson that many criminal defendants learn the hard way: even the first DUI offense can carry costly, time-consuming consequences which plague the defendant's life for years to come. Mandatory Sentencing for a DUI Conviction The South Carolina Code of Laws sets sentencing guidelines for defendants who are convicted of a DUI for the...

Those at risk of federal drug charges could find themselves more at risk of prosecution and higher penalties, under a new directive from U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions. NPR reports that the Department of Justice has rolled back the instructions handed down by his predecessor, who asked prosecutors not to file charges that imposed minimum...

Millions of potential DUI arrests and accidents were thwarted by ignition interlock devices, according to advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The report offers analysis 10 years after the devices became a standard in DUI convictions in South Carolina and across the country. They report that of data collected from 11 manufacturers in 50...

According to National Institute of Health, "Benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressant drugs often detected in biological samples from driving under the influence (DUI) offenders. They are associated with marked psychomotor impairment." Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, valium and a wide variety of other drugs are all considered benzodiazepines.  They are commonly prescribed by physicians, and many...

There are numerous colleges in and around Columbia, South Carolina including Allen University, Columbia International University, Midlands Technical College, University of South Carolina, Webster University, and more. As those colleges go on spring break, some students will travel to far-flung destinations. Many others, however, will stay put in Columbia. If you are staying in Columbia...

In South Carolina, you could be charged with a serious criminal offense if you threaten to do harm to someone with a weapon, or if you use a weapon to injure or kill someone. However, you can defend yourself from charges if you acted in self-defense. Self-defense laws do not necessarily give you a license...