Scott says he regained license
Dismissal of DUI charge remains under appeal
Sen. Randy Scott
HANAHAN — State Sen. Randy Scott appeared in court again Tuesday to get his driver's license back after being arrested on a DUI charge in April.
Scott's license was suspended after Dorchester County sheriff's deputies said he refused to cooperate with a breath test after his arrest. Scott and his lawyers argued at the hearing that Scott did take the breath test and that the machine showed no alcohol in his system.
No deputies showed up to argue to the contrary, and Scott said the hearing officer ruled in his favor.
Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash said the arresting officer planned to be at Tuesday's hearing but was hurt on the job recently and had to get a medical test.
Scott's attorney, Reese Joye, said he could not talk about the hearing because the outcome of Scott's DUI trial is being appealed by the prosecutors.
Scott was arrested April 19 and charged with driving under the influence. Scott, a long-time critic of Nash, said the arrest was a setup to kill his chances for re-election. He lost the Republican primary to former state Sen. Mike Rose.
Magistrate Phillip Newsome of Columbia dismissed Scott's original DUI case when he said about a minute of audio was missing from the arrest video, which is required by state law. Without an affidavit explaining the missing minute, Newsome said he could not proceed with the trial.
Nash called a press conference the next day to protest the ruling. Prosecutors appealed the ruling, saying there was no affidavit because there was no gap in the sound. Nash said Tuesday he plans to keep fighting for the DUI arrest.
Administrative Law Court Officer Debora Tippet conducted Tuesday's implied consent hearing, clerk Janice Shealy said. Tippet's decision won't be final until she files it, which Shealy said probably will be done later this week.
Under state law, the Department of Motor Vehicles automatically suspends the license of a driver who is charged with DUI and refuses to take a breath test, Communications Director Beth Parks said. DMV goes by the report of the arresting officer, she said. When a license is suspended for refusing to take a breath test, the driver can get a temporary license until an implied consent hearing, she said.
Scott said he has been driving on a temporary license since his was suspended.
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@ postandcourier.com.
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Comments
ms_lady2u (anonymous) says...
yeah, yeah,sure,sure,right,right!!
July 2, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
What a bunch of losers...
July 2, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MissPriss (anonymous) says...
I'm glad I'm not the only one sick of hearing about this.
July 2, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gamecockwoman (anonymous) says...
can we get this loser off the front page! At least we here in Dorchester County fired his worthless behind. Good riddance! Go back to spraying for BUGS! Now, if we could get rid of his worthless nephew, Mike Londergan, whom he put in the cushy magistrate job --- losers all!
July 2, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Roger1978 (anonymous) says...
Ah, another "honest" politician... Probably celebrated with a cold one.
July 2, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
Wow.Something tells me that if I were pulled over things wouldve been different.Imagine you or I being DUI,cursing out and threatening the police....you think we'd get off "Scott" free and have our license back?I'm sick of hearing about this arrogant sob.
July 2, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
The horse is dead and buried and P&C is still at the gravesite with this story. I'm glad I'm also not the only one sick of this story.
July 2, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drp7773 (anonymous) says...
Sounds like a crooked lying politician and a tyrant do anything he wants sheriff.wonder who will win in the end????
July 2, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Randy...Randy,
If you could only remake your image...... hmm
Maybe you could take up a cause that no one will? How about the shenanigans at the incinerator? or Bees Ferry Landfill?? I'm sure you know about the technology that will close down the incinerator and landfill forever. Are you on the TAKE too?? Not now ...right? What about the tax revenue that your county is missing out on? Your district could be getting tax revenue from your TRASH. Why aren't they? If you need a refresher, go to www.startech.net and refresh yourself....and image.
July 2, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
And the beat goes on!
July 2, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Ditto that Cold Beer! Thinking the exact same thing.
July 2, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
amberjack2362 (anonymous) says...
The next time a Police Officer stops me I am going to tell him to kiss my butt, he's a jerk,you're picking on me you SOB. Then at the Station House I
will call up every judge and threaten their jobs and tell everyone else I'll have your job. Then act like a spoiled brat.Call my wife a dummy.
Yes, you set a fine example someone I would want in congress.
You set a very fine example for all those men and women serving, fighting and dying in the military services.You can forget those votes
July 3, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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