DUI Charges in Aiken, SC Due to Increase in Late Summer
Summer is a busy time in Aiken, with residents typically enjoying a wide range of activities. Undoubtedly, many of these involve alcohol. While there is nothing wrong with having a couple of drinks while hanging out with family or friends, it is important to be aware of the impacts it can have on you and the dangers it poses behind the wheel. During the month of August, local law enforcement officials with be partnering with national agencies in an effort to prevent drunk driving. One of the ways they will do this is by increasing their presence on local roads and increasing the amount of DUI charges they file.
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Each year during the month of August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partners with local law enforcement officials across the country in promoting the Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. It aims to promote public awareness regarding the dangers of drinking and driving while increasing law enforcement efforts to apprehend offenders. According to statistics from the NHTSA, drunk driving car accidents claim the lives of more than 10,000 people each year while causing serious injuries for hundreds of thousands of others.
Motorists in the Aiken area can expect to see more officers on the road and more DUI checkpoints being set up, particularly on nights and weekends which is when drunk driving accidents are most likely to happen.
Dangers of Driving Under the Influence
If you are attending picnics, parties, or other events with friends, it is important to be aware of how even one or two drinks could impact your driving abilities, causing you to get pulled over. Common effects are likely to include:
Reduced coordination, making it harder to steer, apply the brakes, or perform other driving tasks
Reduced response time, making you less likely to respond safely to sudden changes in traffic, weather, or road conditions
Impaired judgment, making you more likely to engage in other dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding, running red lights, or tailgating
Impaired vision, resulting in blurred eyesight and increased sensitivity to glare
Sober or Slammer
In South Carolina, police emphasize drunk driving prevention programs in anticipation of Labor Day. Sober or Slammer is heavily promoted by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) and emphasizes the serious penalties drivers face for driving under the influence. These include:
Heavy fines and court costs
Mandatory community service and alcohol/drug education classes
Drivers license suspensions
Potentially lengthy jail sentences
If you get stopped by law enforcement and charged with DUI, it is important to reach out to an experienced DUI defense attorney as soon as possible. At the Surasky Law Firm, we can take the legal actions needed to help you avoid a criminal record and the serious penalties you face.
Get Legal Help Today
DUI charges can have a major impact on every area of your life. To protect yourself against a DUI conviction, get the Surasky Law Firm, LLC on your side. Contact us to request a consultation today.
