South Carolina DUI laws will make arrests easier

South Carolina DUIs remain as one of the state’s largest problems. The state has responded by making South Carolina DUI laws tougher and easier to make arrests stick. Lowering the legal BAL to 0.08% from 0.10% and making fewer restrictions on when an officer can make a possible South Carolina DUI stop, the state is hoping to reduce the number of DUIs that occur.

In addition, the House and Senate passed a bill charging first time South Carolina DUI offenders with an additional $100 fine and the patrol will get a part of a $25 surtax to be split amongst law enforcement agencies. The patrol is expected to make a total of approximately $4 million from both sources. Critics of the new South Carolina DUI laws believe officers will have extra motivation to pull over vehicles unrightfully because of the relaxed laws and motivation for surtaxes.