Gov. Haley signs Emma’s Law

Governor Nikki Haley signed Emma’s Law, a bill aimed at preventing more drunken driving deaths in South Carolina, on Wednesday.  The bill is named after 6-year-old Emma Longstreet, who died on New Year’s Day 2012 when a repeat-offender drunken driver struck her family’s minivan while they were on their way to church. The Longstreet family has been advocating and working hard with supporters to pass this bill. Under the bill, the first conviction for driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.15% or greater would put an ignition interlock on a vehicle for six months. A second conviction at 0.08% would keep it on for two years. Emma’s Law will be enforced starting on Oct. 1.