(Columbia) Aug. 19, 2003 - Tuesday at 12:00 noon the legal blood alcohol content for a person to be considered drunk in South Carolina was lowered to 0.08 from 0.10. With this change in the law South Carolina joins 39 other states, DC, and Puerto Rico in adopting the 0.08 limit.

In addition to the company South Carolina gets $63 million in federal highway funds over the next four years. What do offenders get? The first offense under the new law carries a fine of $992.

People convicted a second time will pay a lot more than under the old law as the fine more than doubles to $10,744. The second offense also bring a 30 day suspension of registration and license plates. The third offense will cost $13,234.

Under the law a felony DUI, which includes bodily injury to someone else, carries a fine of more than $21,000. If the DUI results in a death it comes with a fine of more than $52,000.

There's also the possibility of jail time and insurance rates as much as 70% higher. Insurance carriers could also cancel policies.

Police will have to read drunken driving suspects their Miranda Rights as part of the new law. Critics say forcing police to read suspects their rights before field sobriety or blood-alcohol tests will create a legal loophole DUI defendants can exploit. Supporters say it closes a loophole, because DUI defendants won't be able to say they weren't told of their rights.

Traffic safety advocates say few states were in greater need of a tougher DUI law than South Carolina. In 2002 South Carolina had 592 alcohol-related traffic deaths, twice the national average and enough the Palmetto State led the nation in DUI deaths.

South Carolina's driving under the influence death rate is also the worst in the nation and more than double the national average. Nearly 60 percent of DUI collisions involve a single vehicle, 76 percent of DUI accidents take place at night. About 90 percent of the at-fault drivers in DUI collisions are male, and most happen Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Palmetto State's alcohol-related fatalities have increased by 46% over the past three years. The national percentage over that same time period is a flat 0.0%.

The real difference between 0.08 and 0.10 is demonstrated by a 170 pound man drinking for one hour. Four drinks and he's about 0.07. A little more puts him at 0.08 and one more drink brings him to 0.10. WIStv.com reminds all drivers to drink responsibly.

by Jack Kuenzie
posted 3:17pm by Chris Rees