Late last year, a South Carolina senator, Paul Campbell, was arrested for driving under the influence. The senator claimed that his wife was behind the wheel of the car during the time of the accident, which occurred on I-26 on November 4th. Campbell rear-ended an SUV, and then switched seats with his wife before authorities arrived.
After the accident, police began to investigate. Immediately, the officers noticed Campbell’s slurred speech and sluggish behavior. There is even video, which made it’s way into the public eye, showing the senator who is struggling to stand. Campbell acknowledged that he wasn’t well, however would not admit to driving the vehicle.
South Carolina Senator Arrested for DUI
Police knew Campbell was drunk when he failed his breath test. Campbell blew a .09 for a breath test. Campbell also talked at the scene about how the arrest would affect his career.
DUI and Negligence Charge Will not Trigger Suspension
All in all, the events of the evening had various consequences. Campbell faces charges of DUI and lying to the police. Furthermore, the driver of the SUV he hit, Michaela Caddin, is suing Campbell for motor vehicle negligence. However, Campbell will not face a suspension in the senate. According to the SC senate, his charges do not trigger their suspension rule.
All in all, the South Carolina Senator and his case prove the real significance of DUI arrests. A DUI, although a criminal charge, can lead to civil lawsuits outside of the arrest. Furthermore, DUI’s may have serious consequences on your job, no matter the field or profession. Finally, lying to the police during a DUI stop is never a good idea. South Carolina’s mandatory video laws require police to record an entire DUI arrest. Traffic cameras are also a deterrent to drunk drivers that attempt to lie to the police about their situation. Finally, witnesses can also discredit any lies that you may try to use.