Myrtle Beach residents may have heard of the recent anti-DUI operation in nearby Surfside Beach which resulted in the arrest of nine people for a variety of offenses, including drunk driving charges. The operation was hosted by the Surfside Beach Police Department in cooperation with two other area departments.

According to one source, officers conducted roadside safety checkpoints and "saturation patrols" during the nearly nine hour operation. Six of the individuals arrested, including two Myrtle Beach residents, were charged with driving under the influence.

The operation also included an officer specifically trained to identify people who may be operating vehicles not under the influence of alcohol, but illegal drugs.

South Carolina's blood alcohol limit for motorists is 0.08. The law further states that operating a vehicle is automatic consent to submit to a chemical test to determine if there is any alcohol in the driver's blood.

Many police departments throughout the nation are cracking down on DUI enforcement. This is especially true for vacation destinations such as Myrtle Beach. Some states have even run television advertising campaigns to alert drivers and prevent the situations from occurring.

Regardless of the circumstances, anyone arrested for DUI has the same procedural rights as everyone else, even if the arrest occurred under a targeted effort by a police department. One small misstep in the process by the police can lead to a dismissal of the case. Experienced DUI defense attorneys can aid in analyzing police conduct to ensure a defendant's rights are properly protected.

Source: SCNow, "Joint DUI operation arrest 9 in Surfside Beach," April 9, 2012