Former Coastal Carolina University Quarterback Faces DUI Charges
On Sunday, November 23rd, former Coastal Carolina University quarterback Tyler Thigpen was arrested with DUI Charges.
Thigpen had just been inducted into the CCU’s Hall of Fame for his athletic prowess. Unfortunately, he also chose to drive under the influence, and was caught and charged for the DUI.
According to Horry County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Jeff Benton, Thigpen was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center just before 2 PM on Sunday. Officers responded to a call around 4:40 AM that morning from a Wendy’s drive thru, and found Thigpen asleep in his car in the drive thru of the restaurant. Thigpen refused a field sobriety test, and was arrested on DUI charges and taken to Myrtle Beach jail, where he also refused a breathalyzer test.
He was released on a $1,000 surety bond.
Thigpen played for CCU from 2003 to 2006, establishing records that still stand at the university. He also played successfully in the Big South Championships, and was selected in the NFL draft to play with the Minnesota Vikings. He was most recently affiliated with the Cleveland Browns.
South Carolina Has Tough DUI Penalties
In 2009, South Carolina DUI penalties became more intense with stiffer fines and more jail time. Whether it is your first offense or you have a prior record of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated, our extensive knowledge of the law and access to resources can help you avoid fines, the loss of your license, jail time and other potential DUI punishments, including a suspended license.
Field sobriety tests (FSTs) were created to help law enforcement gauge the relative sobriety or intoxication of a driver, and cannot be used to determine blood alcohol level. However, a police officer who has pulled a suspicious motorist or who is working a sobriety checkpoint can request a battery of field sobriety tests in determining probable cause of an arrest and the use of an evidentiary alcohol test.
The motorist has the right to refuse participation in roadside sobriety tests. Declining to take a roadside test does not carry the same consequences as refusing to take a breathalyzer, though the motorist may be arrested on suspicion of DUI for refusing an FST. That is the police officer’s discretion.
An officer conducting the FST is looking for “clues. ” These clues include being unbalanced during instructions, stopping while walking, your heel and toe didn’t touch, you used your arms for balance, you made an improper turn (often a “pirouette,” like a ballet dancer) and you took an incorrect number of steps.
If you are pulled over for a suspected DUI, you may be subjected to a field sobriety test or a Breathalyzer test. These tests must be videotaped by the police officer. However, the efficacy of both of these tests is constantly in question, and you should contact a South Carolina DUI defense attorney to help you sift through the evidence. The sooner you contact a DUI lawyer for help, the better, as more evidence can be preserved – which is the beauty of mobile apps like Strom Law’s DUI Lawyer app!
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with DUI Charges in South Carolina
If you face DUI charges, whether it is your first charge, or felony DUI, you could feel alone and afraid. Just because you drink and drive, especially if you are not the designated driver, does not automatically mean that you are guilty. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm have helped people who face DUI charges since 1996. We offer free, confidential consultations so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Contact us for help today. 803.252.4800
