Darlington County steps up DUI enforcement

Darlington County is ranked No. 5 in the state for DUI related fatalities. South Carolina is ranked No. 2 in the nation for DUI related fatalities.

“We have a real problem with DUIs in the county of Darlington, and I hope this effort will save some lives over the holiday season,” Darlington County Sheriff Wayne Byrd said.

The annual Sober or Slammer campaign in South Carolina kicked off Dec. 16. The statewide enforcement effort will concentrate on impaired drivers over the holidays. Darlington County is teaming up with S.C. Hwy Patrol, Fourth Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team, Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar and Society Hill police departments to aide in the effort of enforcement of DUIs and underage drinking laws in the county.

The enforcement effort will consist of officers from each agency teaming up and saturating the area with checkpoints and patrols of the entire county. The team will work peak hours of the night during the next few weeks.

“By combining the resources of each department, we can spend more time and focus more units on impaired drivers,” Darlington Police Chief Jay Cox said. “If just one life is spared, then it is worth it.”

Darlington County Sheriff’s Office has also added another Data Master (breath testing) Room at the Detention Center. With the new addition, the county jail now has two. This will cut down on delays and give the officers more time on the road.

By adding these additional resources to the effort, there will be a greater chance of reducing the number of DUI-related fatalities.

“This is a great example of proactive law enforcement. We are always committed to stopping crime before it has a chance hurt are kill someone,” Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp said. “No one wants to attend a funeral over the holidays.”

If you see a driver whom you believe is impaired, there are several things you should do to get yourself and others out of harm’s way:

• Stay back. If you are driving behind someone you suspect is impaired, maintain a greater following distance. Do not try to pass that vehicle because the driver may try to swerve into your car.

• Turn off the roadway. If you think there is an impaired driver behind you, turn right at the closest possible place and let him pass.

• If the impaired driver is coming straight at you, slow down quickly. At the same time, pull as far to the right as possible. Do whatever you have to do to avoid a head-on collision.

• Report the driver to law enforcement. Once you get safely away from the impaired driver, you should report the driver to the nearest law enforcement agency as soon as possible.

You may contact the Highway Patrol from your cellular phone by dialing *HP. Be prepared to provide a description of the vehicle, the vehicle’s license plate number and the location and direction of travel of the vehicle.