Council chairman’s wife faces DUI charge in New Year’s Day crash
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Smith arrest
Smith arrest
Lake City Police Department
Rita F. Smith
LAKE CITY — The wife of Florence County Council Chairman K.G. Rusty Smith has been charged in connection with an alcohol-related crash that happened New Year’s Day, Lake City Police Department reports show.
Rita F. Smith, 53, of 150 Double R Lane, Lake City, is charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident, according to police reports.
Neither Rita nor Rusty Smith could be reached for comment Tuesday.
Police were called to a two-vehicle collision on East Main Street about 7 p.m. Jan. 1, reports show. Smith’s vehicle, which struck a 17-year-old Lake City woman’s car, had been moved to her residence by the time police arrived and she was taken to her house by her husband.
Police said Rita Smith was driving down East Main Street and hit another vehicle as she tried to turn into her Double R Lane driveway.
Witnesses said the driver failed to yield the right of way and when they checked on her, they smelled alcohol and she could barely stand up, according to the incident report.
Police arrested Rita Smith at her home and took her to the detention center in Effingham for a Datamaster breath alcohol test. She was taken to the county jail initially because the Lake City Police Department’s Datamaster is inoperable, Lake City Police Chief Billy Brown said.
The suspect told police she’d had two glasses of wine and two glasses of champagne to drink throughout the course of the day, according to video footage of the arrest.
Datamaster breath alcohol test results showed the suspect’s blood alcohol concentration at .2 percent. A person is considered too drunk to drive at .08 percent by state law.
Rita Smith was taken back to the Lake City Police Department, where she was booked and spent the night in a jail cell before being released on two $2,000 personal recognizance bonds.
Suspects in cases investigated by the Lake City Police Department are regularly booked at the police department rather than at the Florence County Detention Center in Effingham if they are cooperative, nonviolent adults, Brown said.
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Reader Reactions
She looks like your typical middle-age drunk southern socialite!
Way to go Marga-RITA!
Your family is really proud of you right now!
It does not appear that any special treatment was given to Mrs. Smith…at least not on the side of the road or at the time of arrest. However, what will happen when and IF this ever makes it to court? DUI and leaving the scene of an accident are both very serious offenses. When punishment is handed down is where the justice should come….and MAYBE there will be a lesson learned. Next time, CALl someone to pick you up before you drive and cause an accident.
what makes her any different than anyone else. she was drunk and she deserved the same treatment as any other drunk.
Do you know who my husband is?!!? You better watch it buster, I’ll have your job!! Hic, hic.
YES IT’S A SHAME THIS HAPPENED BUT IT DO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME SHE JUST HAPPENED TO GET CAUGHT.I CAN REMEMBER RUSTY DOING THE SAME HE JUST DIDNT GE CAUGHT,THIS HAS BEEN AWHILE BUT HE WAS RIDING AROUND ASKING FOR VOTES AT THE TIME AND BEER WAS SEN AND SMELLED ON HIS BREATH WHEN HE ASKED FOR A VOTE.LOOKS LIKE THIS WOULD TEACH A LESSON BUT IT DONT.I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT RUSTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED TOO THAT IS JUST AS MUCH DOING IT HIMSELF.DONT A PERSON BE CHARGED IF THEY DRIVE A ESCAPED VEHICLE DURING A ROBBERY?? LET’S SEE IF HE GETS BY THIS TIME TOO.
Oh wow - kinda hard to hold your nose up and look down on others when you’re in jail.
Too funny!
The most important thing #1. No one was hurt. #2. Mrs. Smith Was not given special treatment. Yes, she made a poor choice. Hundreds in Florence Co. do everyday. Check out the bar in every restaurant. Hundreds drink & drive everyday. Do I think it’s right - no, but it happens. People need to know when they have had too much. Thank Goodness for the efforts of our local law enforcement.
I hope Mrs. Smith will use this experience as a positivee in her life & not let it destroy her.
DUI…Leaving the scene…goodness knows what else. SLED needs to look at this one. I hope her family sues the dog-stuff out of them. because that’s likely the only way to learn ‘em. I doubt anything else will produce results. Can a “17 year old woman” even secure the services of a lawyer by herself to represent her interests?
Shame on you, Smiths! This puts you right down on the same level as other notorious local politicians who think they are above the law.
You know things have a way of catching up with folks and I am sorry Rita got in trouble so is a nice lady… The one who took her home should be charged but He is GOD ALMIGHTY in Florence County. and He is perfect and Iffallible.. However that is only temporary. One day He will lose his power and be a who is that? All Hail the Red Haired God of Harleeland!
Why wasn’t her husband charged when he took his wife home? Isn’t it against the law to aid a person when committing a crime?
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