In recent years, South Carolina has climbed a ladder no one wants to climb, TRAFFIC CRIMES.
More and more individuals who continue to break traffic laws such as driving without a license, without insurance, and lying to the Police seem to be allowed to get away with it.
The actions of these individuals are paid for by those who obey the traffic laws, with higher insurance premiums and higher taxes.
The average car insurance in South Carolina ranges between $250 and $350 a month. Now these are not full coverage policies, these are minimum required policies in the State.
Jamie Domingo Russell is one such criminal who seems to be allowed to continue her crime-breaking spree at the cost of the public.
Russell moved from Mecklenburg, North Carolina to Elgin, South Carolina in 2016, and between the two has accumulated numerous traffic charges and more, all with one fine and several dismissals even though her license was revoked in 1999 in North Carolina.
Russell, who feels she is above the law and that others should pay for her actions, shows no remorse. This is evident by her continued driving without a legal license.
Also, among her charges are drug possession and criminal domestic violence 3rd degree. Again, with no consequences to her person.
The consequences are felt by others as they watch their insurance premiums and taxes go up.
Where does the fault lay for individuals such as Russell not being held accountable? Many times, this blame lies with the Judges, who allow these criminals to continue their actions.
When someone like Russell (a habitual offender) comes before the courts, they should no longer have the privilege of driving freely. Nor should they be allowed to simply pay a small fine and then continue.
It is perhaps time that the courts who deal with these issues show that such deviance from the laws has consequences, such as jail time.
The other side of the blame game is held by the Solicitors Offices who drop these charges. Many of these sorts of charges are dismissed by the Solicitor’s office due to time. They simply feel these sorts of charges are not career-making cases.
Jaimie Russel’s wrap sheet shows her contempt for the legal system and her nose-snubbing attitude toward her fellow road travelers:
2019
- Giving False Information to Law Enforcement
Richland County South Carolina
Case Number 2019A4021600412
Bond $465.00
02/08/2019 - Operating Vehicle on Highway without License or Registration Due to Delinquency
Richland County South Carolina
Case Number 20190610192711
Bond $232.00
01/26/2019 - Driving Under Suspension 2nd Offense
Richland County South Carolina
Case Number 20190610192720
Bond $1270.00
01/29/2019 - Driving Without a License 1st Offense
Richland County South Carolina
Case Number 20182350274608
Bond $232.50
04/09/2018
This list goes on and on with 39 charges including drug possession and domestic violence charges (Copy of Complete Charges attached here).
Most individuals who would have this many charges would have done a significant amount of jail time, but it would seem Jaimie Domingo Russell has a golden ticket to avoid prosecution. Information given by Russell’s daughter indicates that Russell has no fear of ever being held accountable and continues to break the law.
What is also interesting is that many of these charges were waved off by the Solicitor’s Office. Why drop so many charges on a person, when others receive jail time for lesser offenses?
One State Solicitor stated Russell should have served 3 to 4 years for these amounts of charges, especially for lying to Law Enforcement.
What makes this also interesting is that most of the time one can access a counties courts public index to find the disposition of these cases, but in Russell’s case all these cases seem to have disappeared.
As insurance premiums rise and taxes increase, perhaps it is time for individuals who continue to break the traffic laws to be held accountable.