(803) 531-3888 | Five Star Attorney In Orangeburg SC

Administrator

Administrator

Wednesday, 27 March 2019 09:52

Traffic Violations in Branchville SC


 

Receiving a traffic ticket in Branchville SC may not seem like a big problem until you realize that now you have a court date and the possibility of hefty fines, raised insurance premiums and even a traffic record.

Traffic offenses from state to state are very similar, but in some cases, there may be variations in the traffic laws, the court systems for traffic violations, and the possibilities that may be available to keep the ticket off your driving record.

Some examples of traffic tickets and violations in Branchville South Carolina's laws are similar to those of most other states. Some of the more typical traffic violations are:

Speeding
Driving without vehicle insurance
Failure to stop at the required traffic devices (stop sign or red lights)
Driving without a seat-belt
Passing a stopped school bus
Not using the proper turn-signals
Driving without a valid license
(DUS) Driving under suspension
(DUI) Driving under the Influence

The list goes on and on, and like every state, South Carolina has a long code section devoted to traffic violations, some of which are solely traffic offenses and also others that are both traffic and criminal misdemeanors.

Many people do not know that once they are given a traffic violation or ticket in Branchville South Carolina, they may have more than just one option. Many people believe that your option is to pay the ticket or contest the ticket but in fact, there may be other choices depending on what you are accused of and in what jurisdiction the ticket was given in.

Some of your options are:

 

Pay the Ticket

The most apparent decision and usually the most common is to pay the fines, but if you choose to merely pay the ticket, you are acknowledging guilt and are foregoing any other choices that may have been possible to either take the conviction off your driving record or to reduce the damage.

For a majority of traffic offenses, a person will lose points on their driver’s license, have to pay a fine, and on top of all that your insurance premiums will become more expensive. In some offenses, your license may even be suspended, and in some cases, your license may be revoked.

Contest the Ticket

Contesting the ticket may mean that you have to take your case to trial, or it in some instances, preparing for trial but then negotiating a pretrial intervention plan or a decreased offense that will lower the points on your license or even not take points away from you at all.

The wisest thing to do is to find a South Carolina traffic attorney that services the Branchville area to examine the case for you. Here at The Davis Law Firm, we will work hard to resolve the situation and defend your driving record, and also do our best to keep points off your permanent driving record.

In certain cases, it may be required to petition for a jury trial. If this is required, we will be there for you every step of the way.

Depending on the accusations, potential penalties for Branchville SC traffic violations may involve:

Fines
Points on your driver's license
Court charges
Community service
Revoking your driver's license
Raised insurance rates
Incarceration
Suspension of your driver's license


Advantages of obtaining an attorney to manage your traffic ticket or violation are that the consequences for traffic-related misdemeanors may be severe and in some instances life-changing. If you decide to enlist the aid of a lawyer, you may improve the probability of a better result for yourself.

Having an attorney may be the difference between having to pay fines and lose points and having your charges reduced or dropped altogether,
Having a lawyer help you can lessen the amount of stress of appearing in court because your attorney can assist you in knowing what to do and say.

In many cases, you will have a better outcome than if you just tried to fight the ticket on your own because you will have someone who has expertise in dealing with these types of cases.

If you or a loved one have traffic violations or tickets in Branchville SC consult The Davis Law Firm today!

Thursday, 15 November 2018 09:31

South Carolina Seat Belt Laws

 

SC Safety belt Law

Sc Seat Belt Laws and What You Need to Know:

South Carolina’s seat belt law states that every operator and passenger (whether in front or rear) of a motor vehicle, when it is being operated on public roads and highways of this State, is required to wear a fastened safety belt that complies with all requirements of federal law for its use. It is the driver's responsibility to make sure every passenger of the vehicle 17 years of age or younger is wearing a seat belt or that they are secured in a child restraint system as required by law. A driver is not, however, responsible for an occupant 17 years of age or younger who has a driver’s license, special restricted license, or beginner’s permit and who is not wearing a safety belt.
An individual may be fined up to $25 for violating the law and even up to $50 for breaking this law more than once, but no points will be assessed for the offense.

There are some cases where the seat belt law does not apply, listed below are examples of this:

A driver or occupant who holds a written verification from a doctor that he or she is not able to wear a seat belt for physical and/or medical reasons;

Medical or rescue personnel tending to wounded or sick individuals in an emergency transport when operating in an emergency as well as the injured or ill people;

Public transportation vehicles excluding taxis;

Participants of vehicles in parades;

United States mail carriers;

Seat belt laws are in enforced so that we can better help to protect our citizens. Motor vehicle accidents have been a leading cause of death in America.
By wearing safety belts and correctly securing children into age and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats, we can decrease the danger of severe injury and death in a car crash by half.

Child restraint laws require children riding in a vehicle to use approved restraint devices such as car seats, booster seats, or safety belts suitable for their age, weight, and height. When riding in a car or other vehicle, children 8 years old and younger are required to be appropriately restrained by an approved child safety seat.

However certain conditions apply:

Infants 2 years old and younger are required to be in a rear-facing child car seat in a rear passenger seat of the car or other vehicle unless the child surpasses the manufacturer's weight or height limits.

Toddlers 2 years old and over must be in a forward-facing child car seat in a rear passenger seat until they exceed the manufacturer's weight and height limits.

Children at least four years old are required to be in a belt-positioning booster seat in a rear passenger seat. Booster seats are required to use a lap and shoulder strap.

Children that are eight years old or are at least 57 inches tall can use a seatbelt if:

The shoulder seat belt crosses the child's chest and not their head or neck.

The lap seat belt fits over the child's hips and thighs and not across their stomach.

The child can sit, without slumping with their back straight against the seat back with their knees bent over the seat edge.

All children that are under the age of 8 years old must be in a rear passenger seat unless children occupy all rear seats under eight years old or if the vehicle does not have rear seats. Any child in the front passenger seat is required to be in an appropriate child safety seat for their age.

Call The Davis Law Firm In Orangeburg South Carolina Today!

Saturday, 04 August 2018 09:39

Disorderly Conduct

 
 
Disorderly conduct (also called "disturbing the peace") is a crime that normally involves some kind of offensive public action. Criminal statutes in some states incorporate public intoxication as one classification of behavior that can be recognized as disorderly conduct. In other states, public intoxication is a separate criminal crime, while in still other jurisdictions the criminal codes could include a crime called "drunk and disorderly" conduct. This article explains disorderly conduct and public intoxication offenses, whatever they might be classified as where you live.
 
It's worth regarding that alcohol is often a factor in the commission of many other offenses not discussed here. Estimates are that alcohol or drug misuse plays a notable role in the commission of at least a third of all severe violations, including domestic violence and various assault crimes. Other offenses where alcohol is a crucial factor include DUI and minor in possession or underage drinking crimes.
 
What is Disorderly Conduct?
 
Disorderly conduct laws enable police officers to detain people whose public behavior is offensive or whose actions conflict with other people's enjoyment of public spaces -- usually because of the violator's use of alcohol or drugs. But remember that in several states, a criminal charge of disorderly conduct does not always require the offender's use of alcohol. Any disruptive behavior -- including being irrationally noisy, and disturbing the peace, can fall under disorderly conduct depending on how the crime is defined in your state's criminal statutes.
 
Public Intoxication Laws
 
Most states have laws that make it a crime to be inebriated in public, although some state laws demand some accompanying disruptive public action (similar to disorderly conduct). In states where there is no special public intoxication law, law enforcement officers might have the right to arrest people who are intoxicated to a debilitating level and let them sleep it off in a cell at the local jail.
 
Public intoxication laws are intended to preserve the safety of someone who is inebriated, and more generally protect society's interest in the unobstructed and secure use of sidewalks, parks, shopping malls, restaurants and any space outside of a person's home that is free to the public.
 
Punishment for Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication
 
In most states, disorderly conduct and public intoxication are deemed misdemeanors, and are punishable by fines, education programs, community service, probation, and jail sentencing of less than one year of imprisonment, although any jail punishment that's handed down usually is much less, and in several cases incarceration can be bypassed altogether. 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Information found on this Website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.

You should consult an attorney regarding your individual situation.

Go to top