Travis A. Newton Law Firm P.A. Criminal and DUI Defense Attorney

Travis A. Newton DUI Lawyer Anderson, SC

It is unlawful for a person to drive a motor vehicle within the State of South Carolina while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, a combination of alcohol and drugs, or substances that cause impairment to the extent that the person's faculties to drive a motor vehicle are materially and appreciably impaired. A conviction for driving under the influence includes penalties from the State of South Carolina, The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV), and can have a negative impact on professional and educational opportunities long after sentencing and DMV penalties have expired. Now more than ever it is important to view legal advice coming from non-lawyers on the internet or social media with skepticism. Unreliable legal advice from non-lawyers can have a negative impact on a DUI case from both a procedural and substantive standpoint. A consultation with Anderson DUI Lawyer Travis Newton can provide answers that lead to informed decisions on how to proceed. 

The discovery process protects the accused motorist from trial by ambush while enforcing the right of DUI lawyers to investigate evidence gathered by the arresting officer including incident reports, forensic lab reports, toxicology lab results, DUI traffic stop videos, DUI breath test videos, breath alcohol analysis test reports, standardized field sobriety tests, witness statements, and all other items of material and exculpatory evidence. Included in The State of South Carolina's continuing obligation to disclose exculpatory evidence is any information that could exonerate a defendant or potentially impeach the credibility of an unfavorable witness. DUI Lawyer Travis Newton defends motorists charged with driving under the influence in Upstate, SC including Anderson Summary Courts and the Anderson County Court of General Sessions. 

Are Standardized Field Sobriety Tests Reliable?

It is not uncommon for a motorist whose faculties are not materially and appreciably impaired to exhibit the same clues police use to identify impaired drivers. The physiological response to being pulled over by police often activates the sympathetic nervous system triggering acute stress responses that mimic signs of impairment. The experiments used in the development of standardized field sobriety tests were performed in a lab omitting the fear of life-altering penalties as a consequence of failure. If driving privileges are suspended for refusing to submit a breath, blood, or urine sample for chemical testing or for registering an alcohol concentration of .15 or higher there are important filing deadlines that if missed will disqualify eligibility for the temporary restoration of driving privileges pending the result of a contested case hearing in the South Carolina Administrative Law Court. To learn more about the flawed science behind standardized field sobriety tests call Anderson DUI Attorney Travis Newton for a free consultation.

What is an Ignition Interlock Device?

South Carolina’s Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program is managed by the Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole. The interlock consists of a relay module that is wired into the vehicle ignition system. The device draws a portion of the motorist's breath sample into a fuel cell sensor. The presence of alcohol in the sensor chamber causes the fuel cell to output an increased electrical current which is measured and then translated into an equivalent blood alcohol concentration. If the result of the test is below an alcohol concentration of .02 an encrypted signal is sent to the relay allowing the vehicle engine to start. If the test result is above .02 the vehicle’s ignition system will remain locked. When the device is unlocked the IID is designed not to interfere with the normal operation of a vehicle so while the device can prevent a vehicle from starting, it will not shut down a running vehicle.

Travis A. Newton DUI Attorney Anderson, SC

A conviction for driving under the influence includes both criminal and civil penalties from the State of South Carolina and can have a negative impact on professional and educational opportunities long after sentencing and DMV penalties have expired. Anderson DUI Attorney Travis Newton believes standardized field sobriety tests are unreliable based on the methodology used in the development of the tests and the scripted instructions police officers are trained to deliver during DUI investigations. Attorney Newton is Lead Counsel Verified by Thomson Reuters for DUI Defense since 2015 and has presented DUI-related oral arguments before the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Anderson DUI Lawyer Travis Newton defends clients charged with driving under the influence in Upstate, South Carolina Summary and General Sessions Courts including the City of Anderson Municipal Court, City of Belton Municipal Court, Anderson Magistrate Court, and the Anderson County Court of General Sessions. There are important filing deadlines for challenging suspended driving privileges from an alleged implied consent violation so do not wait to contact a DUI Lawyer. 

The materials available on this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use of and access to this Web site or any of the e-mail links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between Travis A. Newton or the user or browser.