Sunday, May 20 2012 9:18 PM EDT2012-05-21 01:18:01 GMT
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) Police and fire crews in Myrtle Beach responded to a motor vehicle accident with reported entrapment Sunday afternoon, not far from Grand Strand Regional. The Myrtle Beach PoliceMore >>
Police and fire crews in Myrtle Beach responded to a motor vehicle accident with reported entrapment Sunday afternoon, not far from Grand Strand Regional.More >>
Sunday, May 20 2012 4:49 PM EDT2012-05-20 20:49:23 GMT
SURFSIDE BEACH, SC (WMBF) Another former Atlantic Beach official is in the hot seat after a DUI arrest in Surfside Beach Sunday morning. Former Police Chief for the Town of Atlantic Beach, Randy Rizzo,More >>
Another former Atlantic Beach official is in the hot seat after a DUI arrest in Surfside Beach Sunday morning.More >>
Sunday, May 20 2012 4:26 PM EDT2012-05-20 20:26:06 GMT
HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) Experts said it is critical that people know the rules of the water especially this time of year with Memorial Day quickly approaching. Larry Byrd said, "A lot of it is just theMore >>
Experts said it is critical that people know the rules of the water especially this time of year with Memorial Day quickly approaching.More >>
Sunday, May 20 2012 4:14 PM EDT2012-05-20 20:14:10 GMT
LORIS, SC (WMBF) Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes spoke at an anti-violence forum Saturday in Loris. Her advice surrounded around one main topic: community-oriented policing. Rhodes said theMore >>
Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes spoke at an anti-violence forum Saturday in Loris.More >>
Sunday, May 20 2012 2:29 PM EDT2012-05-20 18:29:56 GMT
DARLINGTON COUNTY, SC (WMBF) The Darlington County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting death of a Hartsville man Saturday night. Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee tells WMBF News that 29-year-oldMore >>
The Darlington County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting death of a Hartsville man Saturday night.More >>
CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - It's a huge problem in South Carolina: people getting behind the wheel after they've had too much to drink. The South Carolina Highway Patrol says DUI arrests are up more than 70 percent since 2006. Now, it could be harder for those people to get out of a DUI, if they get pulled over.
The Horry County Solicitor's Office now has a DUI grant to pay for an additional solicitor whose sole job is to handle these cases.
However, the push is extending beyond county lines. Each judicial circuit in the state has received money to add a DUI prosecutor with the three year grant.
Assistant Solicitor Ricky Todd is the one responsible with the task in Horry County.
"Really our goal is to make sure everybody in Horry County is safe," Todd explained.
Prosecuting DUI cases is his main job, and one he takes seriously.
"Everyone that gets a DUI, their next DUI will be a much greater penalty, so it prevents people from going out and making the same mistakes again. Also, people will think twice before they drink too many drinks and get behind the wheel," said Todd.
Deputy Solicitor Jimmy Richardson says, with the budget cuts this year on the state level, this grant is a big help.
"One of the places we didn't want to cut is from DUIs, because everybody drives on the roads, everybody needs to feel safe in their car, and this is a way of doing that," Richardson explained.
He adds that having one person dedicated to drunk driving cases is important, because prosecuting DUIs is a very difficult process.
"It's actually a lot more complicated to try a DUI case, than it would, to try a murder, because you've got all these requirements and little loopholes within the law," said Richardson.
Todd says, he'll be hard at work this year, making sure those who break the law, don't get off easy.
"It is something that's a good project to be working on," said Todd, "and something that's necessary for our county."
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