SC law agencies kick off holiday safe driving blitz

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The state Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies are kicking off their annual holiday safe driving campaign.

News conferences are being held around the state Tuesday to announce the Sober or Slammer campaign through the end of the year. It's an effort to crack down on driving under the influence during the holidays.

According to the Department of Public Safety, there were 27,000 DUI arrests in the state last year.

Under state law, a first-offense conviction for DUI carries fines of almost $1,000 when assessments and surcharges are tallied, imprisonment for up to 30 days and suspension of a driver's license for six months.

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