Dash Cam Video: Rita F. Smith DUI arrest
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Smith Arrest Dash Cam Video
Smith Arrest Dash Cam VideoThe 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. Watch Lake City Police Department dash cam video from the incident.
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Believer 2 drinking and driving doesn’t cause lives it takes them and sometimes destroys them. And you want to refer to me as stupid. Get a life or atleast an education.
Opinionated who are you? You sound like This Lisa girl that’s always have something stupid to say. Just so you’ll know, the courts do not look a maybes or what ifs, they look at the facts. The car did not move itself. However, I agree that Rusty should be charged for his participation in the crime.
Nick as always you made some very valid points. As for the rest of you guys, you should learn the law in cases such as this. Yes they may be very nice people, but they are nice people that committed the crimes of drinking and driving and aiding and abetting.
In addition, just suppose someone was seriuosly injured or even killed. Nice would notr matter. She would be a nice person serving a prison sentence. Don’t take this so lightly guys, drinking and driving causes lives whether it be someone else’s or your own.
First and foremost it all is down to the burden of proof. DUI, she was not found behind the wheel of a vehicle therefore she was not (Driving Under the Influence), her word against any others. She could have easily said she had been home all day. Whose to say. Leaving the scene of an accident, goes down to the burden of proof. She may have a dent in her car, but whose to say she was driving. I don’t believe DUI is the proper charge, leaving the scene of an accident yes, and if Rusty came and got her or came and moved the car, he is an accessory after the fact. Where’s his charges. Folks look at the big picture. Look outside the box.
This should be a lesson to all of those who decide to drive after having too many drinks. Although Mrs. Smith is a very likable person, she made the choice to get skunked and drive away. I have known the Smith’s for quite some time and they have always had a reputation of being very nice and helpful people, but being nice to people does not exempt you from the law. I do agree with previous posters; if this happened to some (non-political) Camp-Branch redneck’s wife no one would have ever heard about it. Also, I commend Mr. Smith on his conduct as a police officer. I wish the rest of the Lake City Police Department would take a closer look at this video, so that they could learn the proper way to treat the public or at very least try to emulate it.
To all those who watch this: driving drunk is irresponsible and stupid. No matter your social or political stature, if you choose to act irresponsibly and endanger your fellow drivers and pedestrians or sweep a little fender-crunch under the rug, it will come back and bite you squarely in the taint. Even though I hope that she is treated fairly, I wish much luck to Mrs Smith.
I THINK[I KNOW THE OFFICER DONE A GREAT JOB HE IS TO BE COMMENTED ON HIS PERFORMANCE.THEY {RITA AND RUSTY} SHOULD OF THOUGHT THINGS OVER BEFORE THEY DID WHAT THEY DID,YEA THEY DO HAVE POSITIONS AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AS IT SOULD BE{NO FAVORS}YOU KNOW RITA IS NOT THE ONLY ONE EITHER THAT HAS MADE THIS MISTAKE ANOTHER CHAMBER MEMBER WAS HEARD{AT THE TOBACCO FEST.} USING HER SMALL TALK{YEA ANY CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT} BUT IF YOU’RE DO A JOB AT THE FEST. I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD UPHOLD YOUR SELF WHILE OUT IN PUBLIC.THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME YOU KNOW WHAT THEY’LL PROB. GET OUT OF THIS.ITS SAD IF IT WERE YOU OR ME WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN SO QUICK YOUR HEAD WOULD FLIP.I CAN PROMISE THIS I SEE THEIR NAMES ON A BALLOT I THINK I’LL I KNOW I’LL SKIP IT PURPOSELY…
i must admit, i’ve met karma a few times myself, and no, she is no fun at all. i am however quite surprised that mr. or mrs smith have not made the news with this type of behavior before now! they have been seen in public many times, drinking and stumbling over their own feet. it’s a shame that these two are (so called) some of the best lake city has to offer. i’m sure people would agree that the arresting officer is one of lake city’s finest. he did a wonderful job and should be commended! of course any (normal person) would have been cuffed in the rear and thrown into the back seat to take the long ride to the hilton in effingham, but mrs. smith isn’t normal, my gosh she is married to (the) rusty smith. she is the lady in charge with the lake city chamber of commerce. she is the lady to go to. no wonder she has so much stress! maybe with some time in the drunk tank, a shower, some prayer, counseling, a BIG fine, a brand new shiney moped with a monogramed license tag, and a few AA meetings at the community center all will be forgiven and forgotten. a big thank you to mrs. smith and all of her contributions to the city!
She may be one of the most wonderful people in the world. She made a bad choice. Everyone wants to say let her go. What if she hurt someone? What if that someone was you, your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter. Most people don’t see DUI as a crime. It is a CRIME. More people die in alcohol related crashes in this state than people believe. 40% or more every year. At the current rate of traffic fatalities, that’s 400 to 500 persons killed because of alcohol on our roadways. I commend the officer for doing his job. Take the drunks off the road!!!!!!
“This is sad to be humiliated on TV just because of who you married.“
No; I might have agreed with you if there was no monkey business and the media STILL made a huge deal of it. As you said, she made a poor choice. So did her husband. They are supposed to set an example of good conduct, not lie & try to hide it when there’s trouble. If there are going to be headlines (and you know there will be in a case like this) why not face the situation trying to do the right thing under the law rather than hiding from it? It’s not a big deal simply because it happened; it’s a big deal because it shows everyone how they really are when a question of character arises. Stuff like this goes a long way to validating what is said about them in other circumstances, and definetly gets him a non-vote from me next time his name is on the ballot.
If she were married to John Doe Smith we wouldn’t have heard about it. She made a poor choice. Tons of people will make this same choice tonight when they leave their favorite bar. Thank God no one was hurt. I pray for Mrs. Smith & her family. This is sad to be humiliated on TV just because of who you married.
I just want to give my 2 cents since everyone else is! Rusty and Rita Smith are two of the most wonderful people that i have had to pleasure to be around! They have always been like a second set of parents to me since I can remember. One little incident like this or any other that have occured should be overlooked. Rusty and Rita have done more for their respective communities than most anyone you will ever meet! So I believe that if it had been any other normal person down the street, or around the corner nothing would have been made of it and it would not have been blown out of proportion! Leave them alone and let them live a normal life unless the people who are downing them would like this same thing to happen to you! Remeber what KARMA is and it will come back for you!
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