DUI News Digest

GREENVILLE, S.C. — DUI penalties in South Carolina just got a lot tougher after a law is passed to commemorate a victim of a drunk driving car wreck. Emma’s Law went into effect Wednesday. This comes after South Carolina received heavy criticism for being too lax on DUI enforcement and punishment in the past. The law makes it easier for convicted drunk drivers to get a new interlock device. Read More »

JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) – What is being called a “lifesaving” DUI law has gone into effect in Mississippi. Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced that starting on Wednesday, anyone convicted of drunk driving in the state will have to have an ignition interlock installed in their vehicle as part of their sentence. MADD says that the new law is a key victory in its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which is focused on passing similar legislation in all 50 ... Read More »

Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps was arrested and charged with DUI and other charges in Maryland early Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon, Phelps pleaded for forgiveness on Twitter, writing, “I understand the severity of my actions and take full responsibility… I am deeply sorry.” Read More »

Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Sunday morning on a charge of driving under the influence of drugs after she stopped her car in the middle of an intersection in Sherman Oaks, a CHP officer said. Read More »

Changes in Mississippi’s DUI law that are due go into effect on Wednesday are getting mixed reviews from some in the judicial system. The Mississippi Legislature drafted the new laws in 2013, with the stipulation that the changes would take effect this year. Legislators also made some changes during the 2014 session. According to a summary of the law, when a person is convicted of their first offense DUI, the court will order them to complete an alcohol safety education ... Read More »

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The number of arrests for driving under the influence is increasing in parts of Central Florida. In Orange County, the Sheriff’s Office has arrested 668 DUI suspects so far this year, according to stats released Tuesday afternoon. That’s just over a 4 percent increase from the 641 DUI arrests over the same period last year. Read More »

INDIANAPOLIS – DUI offenders and suspects are now subject to a random portable Breathalyzer test. Law enforcement officers say the goal of subjecting DUI suspects is to protect families and to keep defendants sober. Read More »

New Hanover — Three hours after finishing the last of a whiskey and Coke, I felt pretty fine. “You seem pretty OK,” one police officer who’d just finished performing a field sobriety test on me said. “You’re right on the line. I could arrest you or I couldn’t.” But… “But I’d probably arrest you,” the officer said before looking down at his clipboard and marking down some notes. Read More »

If you’ve only had a couple of beers with your pizza or margaritas with your taco salad and you’re confident you’re sober enough to legally drive, think again. Just because your blood alcohol content is below the legal limit of .08 percent, you’re not necessarily home free. Georgia law states that “a person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any moving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it is less safe ... Read More »

CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) — A Cumberland man is free on bail after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence four times in less than 48 hours. Police are now looking for legislative help to keep drunk drivers off the streets after they said John Lourenco crashed three times while driving drunk this week – once in Providence, and twice in Cumberland. Read More »