State of South Carolina

Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services

Nikki R. Haley
Governor






Kela E. Thomas
Director

2221 DEVINE STREET, SUITE 600
POST OFFICE BOX 50666
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29250
Telephone: (803) 734-9220
Facsimile: (803) 734-9440
www.dppps.sc.gov


October 1, 2014

EMMAS LAW STARTS WEDNESDAY AND PPP WILL BE READY

Columbia Oct. 1 marks the debut of Emmas Law, which will greatly expand
the use of ignition interlock devices by convicted drunk drivers in the state,
according to the SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, which
administers the law.

Under Emmas Law, those convicted of DUI, including first-time offenders with a blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or greater, will be mandated to install an ignition
interlock device on any vehicle they drive for a period of six months. Additionally, first-time
offenders with a BAC of .08 to .14 may elect to use an interlock in order to drive with no
geographic restrictions in lieu of a license suspension. In the event of a repeat offense, the
convicted drunk driver with a BAC of .08 and above will be required to install an ignition
interlock device to drive.

Also, from now on, persons convicted of DUI 2
nd
or above will no longer be able to wait out
the license suspension period before getting their drivers license back. They must install an
IID device if they ever want to drive legally again.

One other new requirement in the law: All users of IIDs have to upgrade the devices to
include cameras. This is to prevent others from blowing into the IID to get a car started.

One facet of the law will actually allow some drivers to get their licenses back more quickly.
Now those convicted of DUI 2nd, who previously had to wait a year before installing an IID
and driving legally, can now get their licenses back immediately after completing their local
Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP) program.

We have spent months training and preparing for Emmas Law and had to rebuild our
computer systems to implement it, said SCDPPPS Director Kela Thomas. But it will be
worth it to enhance the safety of our states streets and highways.

The law is named for a 6-year-old Lexington girl who died when a repeat-offender drunken
driver struck her family's minivan as they drove to church.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2014/10/01/3345389_emmas-law-to-fight-
duis-goes-into.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy


PPP will be touring the state during the month of October with IID vendors to educate the
public about the new law. For more information about Emmas Law, see the PPP web site at:
http://www.dppps.sc.gov/docs/iid_brochure2014.pdf

Pete OBoyle
Public Information Director
(803) 734-9267
(803) 667-2214 (Cell)


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