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Bed bugs have become almost epidemic in some areas of the U.S., and even high-end hotels and lodges have found the little critters in their rooms. Bed bugs are easy to transport and can live up to a year without eating, so they can become a problem quickly. As South Carolina criminal defense attorneys, we travel frequently and have found that the following tips to avoid bed bugs have been helpful.
Know what bed bugs are and what they look like.
Bed bugs feed on blood at night and disappear during the day. Their bites leave red marks or welts, which often appear in a row on your arms or legs. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension has created a card to take with you when you travel to show you what bed bugs look like and how to inspect your hotel room.
Research the hotels or motels you plan to stay in.
The Bedbug Registry at http://bedbugregistry.com/ is a database of bed bug reports from around the U.S. and Canada. Google the name of each hotel or motel with the words “bedbug” and “bed bug” to see if anyone has reported them. You can also check with sites such as tripadvisor.com and hotels.com to see if there are any negative reviews related to bed bugs.
Call and talk to the desk clerk.
Most reputable hotels and motels are keenly aware of the problem and proactively spray regularly. If you call and the desk clerk seems evasive or doesn’t want to talk about their bed bug control plan, find another place to stay.
Inspect your room before you bring luggage in.
Get out a flashlight and look for blood spots, bugs, shed skins, or feces (which look like pepper) in corners, cracks, and crevices near the bed. Search around the headboard and the mattress, especially near stitching and seams. Check the bed frame, bed ruffles, and where the sheets tuck in. See if the sheets, pillows, or pillowcases have old blood spots. Open the drawers of bedside tables, and check upholstered furniture, behind pictures, and inside drapes.
If you do find evidence of bed bugs, ask for another room, but do not accept one that is adjacent to the infested room. You’ll need to repeat the inspection in the new room.
Keep your luggage and possessions away from possible infestation.
If your room passes inspection, do not assume all is well. There could be a recent infestation from the guest before you. Do not put anything on the bed or on the bedside table. Always keep your luggage and bags (including purses) on racks away from the wall, on tables with metal legs, or in the tub. Buy some plastic bags that seal to put your bedclothes in, and do not add them to your regular luggage.
After you get home . . .
While just one pregnant female can start an infestation in your Folly Beach, Ladson, or St. George home, the good news is that bed bugs cannot live in very high or very low temperatures. When you return home, leave your suitcases outside, and wash and dry all your clothing (plus purses and bags if possible) on the highest temperature settings possible to kill any hitchhikers. If you cannot wash or dry something, put it in the freezer for at least three weeks.
Do you have any additional tips to avoid bed bugs?
South Carolina law allows for expungement, or the destruction of all criminal records related to a single offense, under certain circumstances. As South Carolina criminal defense attorneys, we regularly see records expunged, and we always encourage our clients to apply for it whenever possible.
Dismissal of case or not guilty verdict
Under the law, if a case is dismissed or if a defendant is found not guilty, all the records related to the arrest and booking are destroyed. This includes mug shots, fingerprints, and jail records.
First offense conviction in municipal or magistrate’s court
Three years after conviction of a first offense in a municipal or magistrate’s court, an offender may ask for expungement of arrest and trial records. However, if the offense involved domestic violence, motor vehicle, or fish, game, and watercraft, an expungement is not allowed. The defendant must have no other conviction during the three-year period, and expungement is allowed only once.
First-offense simple marijuana possession
If a first-time marijuana-possession offender is sentenced to a “conditional discharge,” he or she may ask for expungement after completing all court requirements. This is for simple possession offenses only, and after expungement, the offender does not have to admit or acknowledge the offense to anyone, including law enforcement or the judiciary. A good marijuana lawyer can ensure your record is expunged if you’re eligible or minimize the damage of your possession charges if you’re not.
Non-felonious check fraud
If a defendant has no other convictions in the year after a first-offense conviction of check fraud, he or she may apply for expungement. However, this does not apply to felonious check fraud, which is drawing any check or draft valued over $5,000, and only one conviction may be expunged.
Successful pre-trial intervention for first-time offenders
For first-time, non-violent offenders, South Carolina law provides for pre-trial intervention, a diversion and restoration program that may include payment of restitution or performing community service. After the pre-trial intervention has been completed, the offender may petition the court for an expungement order. This will effectively erase the offense, and the person does not have to acknowledge the offense later, even if under oath in court.
When South Carolina criminal records are expunged, no evidence remains of the offense, and often defendants cannot be charged with making a false statement if they do not acknowledge or admit the expunged offense.
To learn more about expungement of criminal records in South Carolina, click here.
