Inoperable tail lights lead to multiple charges on driver

Sept. 14--Bamberg Police Department

Officers arrested a North Carolina driver on multiple charges, including sixth-offense driving under suspension, after they pulled the man for having two inoperable tail lights on his vehicle.

The traffic stop was made on U.S. 301 just before 11 p.m. on Sept. 2. The driver told police he did not have a driver's license and all he had was an ID, which he did not have with him. While collecting the driver's information, officers noted a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle.

Dispatch informed officers the 33-year-old Charlotte, N.C. driver had lost his driving privileges in both North Carolina and South Carolina.

The man admitted to having marijuana in his vehicle. After police searched the vehicle, the driver was placed under arrest and charged with drug/narcotics violations, drug paraphernalia, open container, faulty equipment and driving under suspension (sixth offense).

In other reports:

--Police conducted a traffic stop on a man driving on U.S. 78 on Sept. 1 when they noticed he was not wearing his seat belt.

The Tractor Road man handed officers his passport instead of a driver's license when they asked for his credentials, and he admitted he did not have a driver's license.

He was arrested and charged with no South Carolina driver's license and seat belt violation. After paying the tickets, he was released.

--Officers who stopped a vehicle for a faulty brake light on Sept. 5 on Weimer Street noticed the driver smelled strongly of alcohol and had watery eyes. The 31-year-old Williston woman had difficulty with several sobriety field tests, the report states. She was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, violation of beginner's permit and no proof of insurance.

A passenger in the car, a 23-year-old Williston woman, was found to be intoxicated as well. She was charged with disorderly conduct.

--Police were dispatched to Dixie Avenue on Sept. 4 in reference to a suspicious person who was looking into parked vehicles and attempting to enter them. Officers located the man at the 3-Way gas station nearby. The 47-year-old Hawk Court resident was highly intoxicated, and he was arrested and charged with public disorderly conduct (A).

--While on routine patrol on Sept. 8, officers noticed a man staggering across Heritage Highway. He fell to the ground after crossing the road, the report states. After checking to be sure he was not injured, police arrested him for disorderly conduct.

--A 55-year-old Bridge Street man was arrested for public disorderly conduct (A) on Sept. 4 after complaints of him causing a disturbance at Ujima Apartments where he was banging on the door of a residence.

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