Team of state troopers begins proactive DUI enforcement | Local News | Our Gazette

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Team of state troopers begins proactive DUI enforcement

Published Thursday, July 16, 2009 11:50 AM

The Gazette

A new team of state troopers began saturating area roadways over the July 4th weekend, monitoring DUI, or driving under the influence, hotspots and putting impaired drivers behind bars. The S.C. Highway Patrol has dedicated the resources of 31 troopers to full-time, proactive drunken driving enforcement.

“Drunk driving has plagued this state for years,” said Highway Patrol Colonel Kenny Lancaster Jr. “South Carolina consistently leads the nation in deaths caused by people getting behind the wheel drunk. We need a sustained enforcement plan to combat DUI. This newly formed team is not a temporary fix but a focused, long-term plan.”

Around half of all highway deaths each year in South Carolina are attributable to DUI. That’s compared to about 32 percent nationwide. While alcohol-related deaths fell around the nation last year, they rose in South Carolina with the state ranking behind only Montana for the highest number of DUI fatalities.

While highway deaths have increased, so have DUI arrests by the S.C. Highway Patrol. In 2006, the Highway Patrol made 8,650 arrests. That number jumped to 9,625 the next year and to 11,348 in 2008.

The DUI team has one mission: reduce highway collisions and fatalities caused by drunken driving. The team will place its full attention and enforcement resources on this single safety issue – a technique that worked well in encouraging more motorists to buckle up after the primary safety belt law passed in 2005. A number of special enforcement efforts were aimed at getting people to observe the new law.

The members of the team were chosen based on their ability and track record to apprehend and successfully prosecute DUI offenders.

Some of the areas where DUI is a particular concern in Troop Six, which includes Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Jasper, are:

• Berkeley (US-52, US-17A, and the St. Stephens and Jamestown areas)

• Charleston (Interstate 26)

• Beaufort (US-17).

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Tuesday, July 21, 2009 12:25 PM

Apparently they are needed at the Givhans Boat Landing on the Edisto River. Instead of passing a new law, why not use on these guys on the weekkend?

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