State Tackles 11,000 Pending DUI Cases

While the legal system is often known to drag its feet, one state had a backlog of more than 11,000 pending DUI cases.

After reviewing the massive amount of backlogged DUI cases in South Carolina, the state Supreme Court instructed its magistrate courts to start clearing those cases. Beginning in late March, the courts have worked for four months to put these DUI cases to bed; the courts were so successful that 11,000 cases have now been completed.

This push to close cases led to higher rates of cases being dropped, 42 percent compared to 30 percent before the initiative began. While a portion of the drunk driving cases were dismissed by judges across the state, a majority of them were released by prosecutors for a variety of reasons. According to one court official, the older cases were tackled first and a majority were dropped or dismissed.

Arrested for DUI?  Now is the right time to speak with a DUI lawyer about your options and possible defenses.