South Carolina License Points
In South Carolina, there is an established point system for the evaluation of the operating record of persons to whom a license to operate motor vehicles has been granted and for the determination of the continuing qualifications of these persons for the privileges granted by the license to operate motor vehicles. For out-of-state drivers, license points frequently follow them and are assessed by their home state’s DMV. Accumulating as few as 12 license points in South Carolina can result in your license being suspended. The following schedule is a list of point violations for common traffic offenses in South Carolina. You can also visit the SC DMV website to look up the points on your driving record:
https://www.scdmvonline.com/dmvpublic/trans/drecpoints.aspx
SC Violation Points
6 points
- Reckless driving
- Passing stopped school bus
- Hit-and-run, property damages only
- Driving too fast for conditions, or speeding 25 m.p.h. or above the posted limits
4 points
- Driving too fast for conditions, or speeding more than 10 m.p.h. but less than 25
m.p.h. above the posted limits - Disobedience of any official traffic control device (i.e. stop sign, red light)
- Disobedience to officer directing traffic
- Failing to yield right of way
- Driving on wrong side of road
- Passing unlawfully
- Turning unlawfully
- Driving through or within safety zone
- Failing to give signal or giving improper signal for stopping, turning, or suddenly decreased speed
- Following too closely
- Operating with improper brakes
2 points
- Driving too fast for conditions, or speeding no more than 10 m.p.h. above the posted limits
- Shifting lanes without safety precaution
- Improper dangerous parking
- Failing to dim lights
- Operating with improper lights
- Operating a vehicle in unsafe condition
- Driving in improper lane
- Improper backing
SC Points on License
The license points associated with one of the above SC traffic violations are one of the main reasons to hire an attorney to assist with your traffic ticket. Obviously, if your ticket is dismissed by the officer or the judge then you will not receive any license points. Another option that our attorneys have, if we are unable to get your ticket dismissed outright, is to get the cited charge amended or reduced to an offense that does not carry points. There may still be a fine to the court, but you will not receive the points on your license or skyrocketing insurance premiums.
Points on Out of State Licenses
License points can quickly lead to insurance premium increases and license suspensions. Do not make the mistake of believing that a South Carolina traffic ticket will not show up on your out of state license. This is a common misconception we hear from clients. Often a license point penalty can be more severe for out-of-state drivers. If you are licensed in a state other than South Carolina, the above point values do not apply to you. Instead, the specific charge will be transferred to your home state DMV, and points will be added to your license based on your home state traffic laws.
To better serve our clients, we spend time researching other state traffic laws and working with traffic attorneys in other states. Two identical Ridgeland Speeding Tickets will affect a North Carolina licensed driver different than a Florida licensed driver. Make sure the law firm you hire understands the traffic laws of your state as well as South Carolina.
Speak with a South Carolina traffic ticket lawyer about how to keep points from a traffic ticket off your driving record.
