What are South Carolina Traffic Tickets?

South Carolina law enforcement issue traffic tickets as evidence of traffic law violations. Traffic offenses may be categorized as either moving or non-moving violations. Moving violations pertain to vehicles in motion, such as exceeding the speed limit, driving under the influence, and hitting and running. Non-moving violations involve a stationary form of the vehicle, which includes parking tickets or parking citations. Traffic tickets typically have various penalties depending on the offense. Such penalties include paying fines, but if the misdeed is of higher degree, the offender may be charged for a criminal offense. Failure to pay the fines may also necessitate prosecution in the court of law, which can lead to cancellation or suspension of driver’s license. A decision to pay a traffic ticket may be considered an admission of guilt. Consequently, motorists who receive traffic tickets are advised to either pay or contest them within the specified time frame.

South Carolina employs a point system to access driving records and determine if the traffic law violator is sufficiently capable of operating motor vehicles. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is the central repository for driving records in South Carolina.

Records of traffic violations and other records considered public may also be accessible from some third-party websites. These sites expedite the record search process by enabling inquirers to lookup multiple records, across multiple jurisdictions per query. To use these search engines, interested parties are expected to provide the following:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Since third-party sites are managed by private companies, record availability, accuracy and validity may not be guaranteed.

What Does a Traffic Citation Mean?

A traffic citation is a summons issued to a traffic law offender by an officer. Citations in South Carolina are mostly issued for not obeying traffic control devices or for speeding, and the receiver of such a citation may opt to pay the fine or contest the charge. The Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways outlines the provisions on South Carolina traffic citations.

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in South Carolina?

Persons who do not wish to contest a traffic ticket are typically expected to pay the fine stated on the ticket before the court date. Tickets issued in South Carolina can be paid online through a MasterCard, Visa, or credit card. The Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways in South Carolina permits direct payment of traffic tickets to the Department of Public Safety in full. The traffic offender may also discuss other arrangements with the department.

Can You Pay South Carolina Traffic Tickets Online?

Traffic tickets in South Carolina can be paid online through the South Carolina Court Payment Portal. The Information on how to pay online is usually written at the back of the traffic ticket. However, not all counties and municipalities allow online payments, and traffic tickets may have to be paid at the traffic court in person.

How Do I Pay a Ticket Online in South Carolina?

To pay a ticket online with the online South Carolina court payment system, users are required to choose the county or municipality where the ticket was given, type in the case number or ticket number, and proceed to payment. Online deposits are available across counties in South Carolina except for Clarendon county. Also, Greenville is the only municipality that does not accept online payments for traffic tickets.

What is the South Carolina Traffic Ticketing System?

South Carolina adopts a point system in which drivers incur points on their driving records once a traffic offense is committed. The consequences of accumulating points may include increased insurance rates, suspension, or cancellation of license. Following South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 - Motor Vehicles, points issued on driving records are relative to the offense committed. However, no point is assigned if a person receives a warning ticket. The most common traffic offenses in South Carolina include speeding, driving without a license, passing a stopped bus, driving without insurance, failing to obey a traffic device, and driving under suspension.

In South Carolina, an increase in points may also lead to the extension of the driver’s license suspension. A traffic offender with 12 to 15 points on the driving record may have three months of license suspension. 16 to 17 points equals four months of suspension. Drivers with 18 to 19 points may not be able to use driver’s license for five months while points of 20 and over, attract a 6-month driver’s license suspension. However, an offender may request a review of points if they satisfy the state’s eligibility requirements.

First time traffic violators are typically charged with a misdemeanor unless their offense results in injury or loss of life. An offender charged with a DUI (Driving Under Influence) may be incarcerated. Also, DUI influences driver’s license suspension, but it is judged based whether they are first, second or third-time offenders:

• First: 6-month suspension
• Second: Indefinite suspension
• Third: Indefinite suspension

After being issued a traffic citation, a trial may commence later in a traffic court if the accused decides to contest or is charged with a serious offense. Defendants are not required to employ the services of a traffic ticket attorney, but they are typically advised to.

How Do I Know If I Have a Traffic Ticket in South Carolina?

A resident of South Carolina should know if they have any outstanding traffic tickets to avoid significant fines and license suspension. Inquirers may do this by visiting the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) to request a driver’s history record for $6. Driving records may also be requested online and by mail. Mail requests involve completing the driving history request form, which should be mailed to the agency along with money order or check to:

Scdmv
P.O. Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016

How Can I Find a Lost Traffic Ticket in South Carolina?

Interested persons may contact the traffic court in the locality where the ticket was issued to recover a lost traffic ticket in South Carolina. Generally, the Municipal or Magistrate Court in South Carolina presides over cases generated from traffic violations. Also, inquirers may query the Police Traffic Patrol Department in the County or Municipal the ticket was received to find unpaid tickets.

How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record in South Carolina?

If an individual is convicted of a traffic violation, the traffic ticket can stay on the record for up to three to five years. However, if the traffic offense is a felony, it may last longer on a driving record. Persons apprehended for traffic violations in South Carolina can also check into a driver improvement clinic to improve their chances of having points removed from their driving record.

Is a Summons Worse Than a Ticket in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, there are two types of tickets: regular traffic tickets and ordinance summons. Uniform traffic tickets are used exclusively by the law enforcement officers of South Carolina for traffic offenses. Ordinance summons, on the other hand, is issued by law enforcement agents to enforce local ordinances relating to traffic. An ordinance summons is a notice requiring the presence of the offender to present their case in a municipal court. Uniform traffic tickets are worse in South Carolina because tickets can initiate an arrest. At the same time, ordinance summons can neither be used to perform an arrest nor regulate motor vehicle operations on the road.