South Carolina drivers who text while driving now can be stopped and cited for the distracted driving offense, as the new law’s six-month warning period has elapsed.
Tickets range from $25 (first offense) to $50 (subsequent). Distracted drivers will not see points vs. their licenses for infractions, meaning insurance rates will not increase for violators.
Enforcement is primary, meaning police are empowered to stop and cite drivers who are texting for that reason alone.
The South Carolina texting & driving law does not affect use of cell phones for making calls. Drivers will be able to use the GPS functions of their hand-held devices. Police would not be allowed to “seize, search, view, or require the forfeiture” of a wireless electronic communication device involved in a violation.
State Sen. Vincent Sheheen, who authored the original Senate bill that was transformed into the final distracted driving legislation, said the law “will save more lives than any other action by state government in years.” Sheeheen’s success with the texting law didn’t translate to the ballot box, as the Democrat’s 2014 bid for the governor’s office ended in disappointment. The Republican incumbent, Nikki Haley, signed the texting measure into law in June.
The new law replaces the state’s crazy quilt of local laws restricting distracted driving.
South Carolina is one of the handful of states without a texting ban affecting all drivers.
The fines are relatively low compared with most texting penalties around the nation, but architects of the final plan said they preferred “a carrot” to “a stick,” and felt most motorists would comply with the law because it’s the law. The long-debated texting & driving plan cleared the legislature June 4, barely making the session’s deadline.
Read more about South Carolina distracted driving laws.
It is very frustrating. I’ve lived in ny and fl and the biggest problem states with people not looking while on their phones or not driving etc is in Florida and Carolinas. Hands free is available to talk on the phone yet people feel they need to glue the phone to their heads while driving. Have people not seen the phones that exploded at peoples ears?
People need to put their phones down. I also see people acting like they are having a conversation with someone sitting in a passenger seat and there isn’t especially while going through red lights ALL the time.
The fine should be much higher. Too many killed because of this. Also drivers with phone in hand have run stop signs in my path; have to stop or switch lanes to avoid T Boning them. Also weaving over the center line; when they make a turn they are holding the phone. So tired of dodging drivers with their mind
only on their conversation!!!!
I have to drive for a living everyday. Distracted drivers are everywhere all day long. What’s so important that they have to risk their lives and others? Personally, I don’t use my cell while driving. If I get a call or text that is important, I pull over. Crazy if me to do that, right ? If I have the opportunity to confront the distracted driver I ask them exactly what I wrote above, “What’s so important that you have to jeopardize lives?”
totally agree with mary brooks. I have lived all over the country and world and SC has to be the worst in terms of how horrible people are here with driving and their phones. fines should be WAY higher. It worked in Oregon!