Traffic tickets in South Carolina serve as a crucial instrument for maintaining road safety, ensuring drivers are held accountable for their actions, and encouraging adherence to traffic regulations. It's crucial for every motorist in South Carolina to understand the implications of traffic violations, which can range from fines, points on your driving license, to even jail time in severe cases.
In this guide, we focus on everything you need to dismiss your ticket in South Carolina. We try to be exhaustive in this article, so if you aren't interested in a ton of reading, we suggest heading over to IDriveSafely.
IDriveSafely is the #1 online defensive driving provider in SC. They are state certified and by clicking this link or the banner below, you'll be eligible for an exclusive discount there. They have excellent customer service that is miles better than anything the government has to offer. If you get stuck during the process of dismissing your ticket, you can be sure that I Drive Safely is there to be your helping hand.
Types of Traffic Tickets in South Carolina
In South Carolina, drivers can be issued a variety of traffic tickets, including:
- Speeding tickets
- Reckless driving tickets
- Driving without a license tickets
- Driving under the influence (DUI) tickets
- Failure to yield tickets
- Red light camera tickets
The penalties for these offenses vary depending on their severity.
Fines and Penalties for Traffic Tickets in South Carolina
Traffic tickets in South Carolina entail fines and penalties proportional to the severity of the violation. For instance, a speeding ticket can cost between $25 and $400, while a DUI ticket can range from $400 to $1,000.
Additionally, traffic tickets result in points added to your driver's license. While a speeding ticket might add two points, a DUI ticket can add six points. An accumulation of too many points can lead to a license suspension.
Contesting a Traffic Ticket in South Carolina
South Carolina drivers have the right to contest a traffic ticket in court or through legal representation. If the court finds you not guilty, the fine will be waived and no points will be added to your driving license.
Avoiding Traffic Tickets in South Carolina
The best way to avoid traffic tickets is to adhere conscientiously to traffic laws, stay alert and aware of your surroundings, avoid distracted driving, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Paying Traffic Tickets in South Carolina
If you choose not to contest a traffic ticket, you'll need to pay the fine either online, via mail, or in person at any South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. Online payments can be made through the DMV website, while mailed payments require a check or money order payable to the “South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles”.
Traffic Ticket Dismissal in South Carolina
In South Carolina, completing a traffic school course within 90 days of receiving a ticket often leads to ticket dismissal. Upon sending proof of completion to the court handling your ticket, your fines may be dismissed and points prevented from being added to your license. You can even take defensive driving online! It's all SC DMV approved!
South Carolina Defensive Driving Course: iDriveSafely
iDriveSafely offers a DMV-approved 4-hour defensive driving course in South Carolina that qualifies for ticket dismissal and earns a 2-point safe driver credit on your driving license. The course covers defensive driving, traffic laws, and safe driving practices.
Key features of the iDriveSafely South Carolina Defensive Driving course include:
- Self-paced: You can complete the course at your own pace, 24/7.
- Online: The course is accessible from any computer with an internet connection.
- Interactive: The course includes interactive exercises and quizzes to facilitate learning.
- Affordable: The course costs $35.
You can sign up for the course at iDriveSafely.
A Statistical View of South Carolina Traffic Accidents
In 2020, South Carolina reported a total of 67,419 traffic crashes. Tragically, 1,058 of these were fatal, resulting in 37,192 injuries. The main contributing factors to these accidents were speeding, distracted driving, and alcohol intoxication, highlighting the importance of defensive driving education to promote safe driving habits.
Conclusion: The Value of Defensive Driving in South Carolina
Defensive driving courses offer a valuable resource for enhancing driving skills and promoting road safety. With a deep understanding of traffic laws, defensive driving techniques, and safe driving practices, we can contribute to reducing traffic accidents and fostering safe driving environments in South Carolina.
Brandon Myers is an entrepreneur, online course enthusiast, and driving education innovator. Diagnosed with ADHD, Myers has always struggled with conventional classroom learning methods. With a career spanning over 15 years in eLearning, Brandon has made significant contributions to the field of online drivers education, playing instrumental roles in renowned platforms like Aceable, I Drive Safely, and DriversEd.com. As the owner of LegitCourse.com, Brandon's passion project, he aims to connect students with the education they need online. Additionally, Brandon has ventured into the field of dentistry with initiatives such as OpinionTwo, an app offering seamless second opinions, and SEO Dentist, a company dedicated to assisting dentists with their website optimization.