Category Archives for "Traffic Tips"

September 20, 2024

Various Traffic Violations in South Carolina: Here’s What to Know

Understanding the Various Traffic Violations in South Carolina and How They Can Impact You Legally

Driving in South Carolina can be tricky. With risk factors like a dense population, many rural highways, and complicated driving laws, you may occasionally have to make quick decisions to comply with the law. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the traffic laws in this state and how they can impact you as a driver. In this guide, we will discuss an array of traffic violations in South Carolina and what their legal implications can be to you, the driver.

Below, we will give you a broad introduction to the local driving laws in South Carolina. This can help you not only stay safer on the road but may also be useful as you comply with the law and obey driving mandates. We will talk about general topics like drinking and driving, speeding, illegal U-turns, reckless driving, running red lights, leaving the scene of an accident, and more.

Bearing this in mind, we can't cover every single topic or complex driving situation here.If you need immediate legal advice or have been involved in an accident caused by another driver who was charged with a traffic violation, contact a car accident lawyer in South Carolina. A South Carolina car accident lawyer is the best person to provide detailed answers to your specific questions.

Need a Car Accident Lawyer in South Carolina? Call Brian Robert Murphy Now!


If you need urgent legal assistance or have been in an accident caused by a driver charged with a traffic violation, reach out to the Law Offices of Brian Robert Murphy, a car accident lawyer in South Carolina. The Law Offices of Brian Robert Murphy is committed to defending your rights in court and helping you recover any lost damages. This is particularly important if you were injured by a driver who violated traffic laws in South Carolina.

Where to Find a Full List of Traffic Violations in South Carolina

You can learn about South Carolina's driving laws in the Title 56 section of the South Carolina Code of Laws at www.SCSstateHouse.gov. Remember, localized areas like Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Aiken, may have additional traffic laws.

What are the Most Important Traffic Violations in South Carolina to Avoid?

It is important to adhere to your state’s driving laws for various reasons. Not only do traffic laws help drivers and passengers stay safer on the roads, but violating these legal mandates can lead to points lost off of your license, hefty fines, or being found to be at fault after an accident.

Some Common Traffic violations in South Carolina Include:

• Driving Under the Influence

Drinking and driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is illegal in South Carolina. Driving with an open container is also illegal. If cited, you can expect fines ranging from $100 to $400 and 48 hours to 30 days of jail time. You may also receive a suspension of your driver's license for six months for the first offense. With multiple offenses, the consequences become steeper.

• Driving Without a License

It is illegal to drive in South Carolina without a current driver's license. Even if your driver's license is only suspended, it is still illegal to operate a motor vehicle on South Carolina's roadways.

• Driving Without Insurance

Driving without any car insurance or with insufficient insurance is illegal in the state. A minimum amount of liability insurance is required for all drivers to legally operate a vehicle on roadways in South Carolina.

• Driving with an Expired Registration Tag

Driving either with an expired registration tag or without any registration at all is illegal in South Carolina.

• Failing to Comply with Local Laws

Certain regional traffic laws, such as yielding to emergency vehicles or using a roundabout properly, must be complied with in the state of South Carolina.

• Making an Illegal U-turn

Certain turn lanes are marked with ‘no U-turn signs’. This means that a U-turn in these places will be deemed illegal.

• Leaving the Scene of an Accident

If you are involved in an automobile accident that leads to $500 or more of damages in South Carolina, you must stay at the scene of the accident until the police arrive. Fines for leaving the scene of an accident can range from $100 to $5,000 and a maximum jail sentence of one year. 

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident in South Carolina, it is pertinent to call a car accident lawyer in South Carolina as soon as possible.

• Operating an Illegal Vehicle on Roadways

If you are driving a vehicle with unlawful modifications or other mechanical violations, you could be violating SC laws.

• Reckless Driving

Driving with a lack of duty of care to other motorists is illegal statewide. This may include lane changes, failing to maintain your lane, using your phone while driving, and more.

• Failing to Yield

Failing to yield appropriately at stop signs or traffic lights constitutes a legal violation. Even when turning 'right on red', you must come to a full stop first.

• Speeding

Going above the marked speed limit is illegal. Fines for exceeding the maximum speed limit range from $15 to $445.

• Violating Restraint Laws

Failing to comply with state mandates and child restraint laws or not wearing your seatbelt may lead to a traffic citation. Tickets for violating South Carolina's seat belt laws range from $25 to $50, and car seat traffic tickets are usually around $150, depending on the case.

Consequences Vary Depending on the Severity of Traffic Violations in South Carolina

These are just a few of the most commonly violated traffic laws in the state of South Carolina. Violating these laws can have minimal consequences like a simple $15 speeding ticket and points off your license, or serious ramifications such as 30 days of jail time. On average, the fines for traffic violations in South Carolina range from $35 to $445. For a complete list, you can visit the driving section (56) of South Carolina's Code of Laws online.

Understanding the Driver’s License Point System in South Carolina

As with many other states in the US, South Carolina uses a point system that tracks drivers' safety on the road. Every time you violate a traffic law, a specific number of points may be deducted from your license. This is in addition to other consequences like fines or raised insurance rates. In time, losing points could lead to the revocation of your driver's license.

Here are some examples of how many points may be deducted from your license according to the South Carolina Code, as stated in section 56-1720.

Speeding: Loss of 2 to 6 Points

Speeding or exceeding the maximum speed limit equates to a deduction of two points from your driver’s license for every 10 miles you are going above the speed limit. Additionally, you can lose four points for going from 10 to 25 miles over the limit. Speeding more than 25 miles above the limit can lead to a six-point deduction from your driver's license, as well as other serious legal consequences.

Failure to Yield: Loss of 4 Points

Failing to yield to a stop sign or traffic signal can result in a deduction of four points from your driver's license.

Tailgating: Loss of 4 Points

Following a vehicle too closely, otherwise known as tailgating, may result in the loss of four points from your driver's license in South Carolina.

Passing a Stopped School Bus: Loss of 6 Points

If you pass a stopped school bus, you could lose six points off your driver's license. Remember, in South Carolina, school buses are legally required to come to a full stop when crossing train tracks. It is illegal to pass them at this time, in addition to when they are stopped on any other roadways.

Know When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in South Carolina

Are you wondering when you should hire a car accident lawyer in South Carolina? This will depend on your unique situation. If you were wrongfully injured in a car accident caused by a driver charged with a traffic violation, it’s important to consult with a personal injury lawyer in South Carolina.

A car accident lawyer in South Carolina can not only answer your specific questions, but if you were wrongfully injured, an experienced personal injury lawyer in the state can defend you in court and help you recover lost damages. This is particularly crucial if your injuries were caused by a driver who committed one or more traffic violations in South Carolina.

How to Speak with an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in South Carolina?

If you were injured in a car accident caused by a driver who broke traffic laws in South Carolina, it's important to have an attorney on your side. We suggest reaching out to the Law Offices of Brian Robert Murphy right away for legal help.

Click here to speak to a car accident lawyer in South Carolina!

What can a personal injury lawyer in South Carolina help you with?

An experienced personal injury lawyer in South Carolina can help you with an array of issues. Particularly, your attorney will be able to assist you in seeking damages after being wrongfully injured. Ergo, if you were the victim in an automobile accident caused because someone else committed a traffic violation, a car accident lawyer in South Carolina will be able to help you sue for damages or receive the full amount owed to you by the insurance company.

A Personal Injury Lawyer in South Carolina Can Also Help You:

• Negotiate with insurance adjusters

• Prove your claims

• Get an accurate case valuation

• Reduce the burden of recovering damages without experienced legal assistance

• Recover damages for things like lost work and income, pain and suffering, or lost quality of life

These are just some of the things that a personal injury lawyer in South Carolina like the Law Offices of Brian Robert Murphy can do. To find out more or have your case reviewed risk-free by a car accident lawyer in South Carolina, call our Charleston office now at 843-670-0196! Or, visit the website https://www.brianmurphylawyer.com/. 

Let A Car Car Accident Lawyer in South Carolina Help You Now

It's easy to file a consultation form to speak with a car accident lawyer in South Carolina! Simply click here now for help from the Law Offices of Brian Robert Murphy!

Share0
Tweet0
Share0
August 11, 2016

6 Rules for Approaching a Stopped School Bus +Video

Schools across South Carolina will begin their new year in the next couple of weeks. That means schools busses will be picking up and dropping off children before and after school. Here are six rules on when to stop and when to go when approaching a stopped school bus.

  1. Flashing Red Lights. You only have to stop for a school bus if it is flashing its red lights. Additionally, if a school bus is flashing its amber lights, you can't pass it.
  2. Approaching From Behind. Always stop for a school bus flashing its red lights if you are approaching the bus from behind.
  3. Approaching From Opposite Direction. Always stop for a school bus that is flashing its red lights if you are driving in the opposite direction on any road less than four lanes.
  4. Four Lanes or More. When approaching a school bus that is flashing its red lights in the opposite direction, do not stop if you are on a road that is four lanes or larger.
  5. Begin Moving. You can begin moving again once the bus begins moving or when the bus turns off its flashing lights.
  6. Median or Middle Lanes. Always stop when approaching a school bus that is flashing its red lights in the opposite direction when driving on a two-lane road, even if a median or middle lane divides the road.

​

Free Consumer Guide

If you have been injured in a car accident, you need a Battle Plan.

Free Download

Injured? Get Help!

For additional helpful articles and interesting information, get our newsletter.

May 26, 2015

Help Reduce Teen Crashes, Traffic Tip Tuesday

Car Crashes are the #1 killer of teens. Remember that Safety is not an accident; it is a process of good decisions.

With the privilege of driving comes the responsibility to make safe choices. Safe choices include paying attention to the road. 58% of teens involved in traffic collisions are distracted. Summer is the most deadly season for teens.

Good driving decisions for teenagers include putting their mobile phones down, limiting the number of passengers, and keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Talk with your teen about safe driving decisions. Make the above rules mandatory for them to keep the privilege of driving.

For more information, please visit the National Organization for Youth Safety at www.noys.org. If you have been injured in a crash, please visit my website at www.brianmurphylawyer.com.

Stay Connected

May 19, 2015

Tell Your Teen to Buckle Up, Traffic Tip Tuesday

Car Crashes are the #1 killer of teens. Remember that Safety is not an accident; it is a process of good decisions. One of those good decisions is using your seat belt.

Did you know that 53% of teenage drivers who died in crashes were not wearing seat belts? Additionally, a recent survey found that 25% of teens said they don’t wear their seat belts.

Explain these statistics to your teenage drivers. Tell them that seat belts are an important piece of the vehicle’s safety systems. Tell them you expect them to wear them along with any passengers. After all, it’s the law in South Carolina.

For more information, please visit the National Organization for Youth Safety at www.noys.org. If you have been injured in a crash, please visit my website at www.brianmurphylawyer.com.

​

Stay Connected

April 21, 2015

Don’t Drive Too Slowly, Traffic Tip Tuesday

I know you have heard me say that speed kills, and it does. However, driving too slowly causes car accidents also. The South Carolina Driver’s License Manual reminds us that driving too slowly can also be dangerous.

The reason is this: When you drive to slowly, traffic backs up behind you. When traffic backs up behind you, some motorists may make dangerous moves to get around you. South Carolina has minimum speed laws in addition to maximum speed limits.

Remember to maintain the speed of the traffic around you No, that doesn’t give you a license to speed. You should go with the flow of traffic as long as you are not speeding.

Stay Connected

December 19, 2014

Practice Safe Holidays:

drunk.driving.pngDid you know that thousands of Americans will be injured and hundreds will die in the next two weeks? USA Today reports that the end of the year holidays will bring bloodshed and carnage to our streets and highways. As most of us celebrate with office parties, family gatherings, and spirited shopping, some Americans won’t see the New Year. The National Safety Council estimates that over 40% of the traffic fatalities during the New Year’s period were caused from drinking and driving. How can you help? The only foolproof way to avoid causing an alcohol related fatality is to avoid alcohol before driving. Make a commitment today to stop the bloodshed by abstaining from alcohol before driving. If you would like to talk to me about your car accident, please call me at 888-510-9359 or visit my website at www.brianmurphylawyer.com. Also read, 3 Things to Know Before Talking to Anyone About Your Car Accident Case or request my free South Carolina Car Accident Claims Guide in Plain English.

November 25, 2014

7 Thanksgiving Driving Tips

Lady-Liberty-Weeping.jpg 7 Thanksgiving Driving tips

  1. Don’t Drink and Drive. The holidays are times for celebration. However, the best way to avoid an accident or any involvement with law enforcement is to avoid all alcohol if you have to drive.
  2. Prepare Your Car. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and all of your fluids are topped off. It’s also a good idea to take along some drinking water.
  3. Avoid Blind Spots. Don’t travel in another vehicle’s blind spot. If you find yourself in one, either slow down or speed up to get out of the danger zone. Also remember that large trucks have larger blind spots.
  4. Be Careful Around Large Trucks. Remember that large trucks can’t stop as quickly, so avoid cutting them off.
  5. Don’t Speed. Speed is one of the top causes of traffic collisions.
  6. Follow Safely. Follow another vehicle at a safe distance. Following too closely is another one of the top causes of traffic collisions.
  7. Inspect Child Seats. Before a long trip, make sure those child safety seats are secured properly.
July 22, 2014

Safer Teenage Drivers

1. Follow the Safety Rules

Parents are the most important and effective roll models for children. Children understand when their parents drive too fast, cut someone off, or don’t completely stop for a traffic signal. They pay much more attention to the things their parents do. Following the traffic safety rules gives children a good example of how to drive safely. When it is their time to start driving, they will rely on the example their parents set for them.

2. Start Teaching Safety Young

A child may place special emphasis on lessons learned when they are young. While you are driving your children around, explain why you are driving the way you are. Point out that you stop completely for stop signs. Tell them why you are slowing down while driving in the rain. Explain to them why you are increasing the distance between your car and the car in front of you during bad weather. Follow up with them the next time the situation comes up by asking them why they think you are driving a certain way. Children will learn quickly and remember these lessons when they start driving.

3. Get Involved with Pre-License Education

Take a driver education course with your teenage driver. Many parents may not know the best ways to teach their teenage drivers. With education, a parent can help young drivers fully recognize and appreciate dangerous situations. Taking the course together will allow a parent to re-enforce the training in real-life situations.

4. Enter Into a Safety Contract and Continue Education

Have your teenage driver enter into a safety contract with you. The safety contract can detail the expectations you have for your young driver’s continued driving privilege. You can even include continued education as one of the contract’s items. For some examples, check out Driving Skills for Life, developed by Ford and the Governors Highway Safety Association or Checkpoints developed by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

5. Enforce Driver’s License Restrictions

One of the most effective safety initiatives in recent years is the graduated driver’s license program. While these programs restrict the situations that newly licensed driver’s can drive in, parents must enforce those restrictions. Although there is a risk that a driver will be caught by law enforcement, the most effective method of making sure teens follow the restrictions is for parents to enforce them.

6. Reward Good Driving

Anytime you witness good driving from your teen driver, reward them. Rewards can be praise, extra allowance, or later curfew. Use your imagination and reinforce good driving behavior.

7. Monitor

Finally, monitor your teen’s driving. You can monitor with a GPS device, smartphone, or plug in hardware. Do a search for “monitor teenage driver” for more resources.

If you have been hurt in a car accident:

  1. Please read why I don’t believe it was an accident, here;
  2. Request my Free Guide, South Carolina Car Accident Claims Guide in Plain English, by clicking here.
  3. Call at 888-510-9359 or contact me for a free consultation. There is no obligation.
July 8, 2014

Always Stop at Stop Signs

5 Reasons You Should Always Stop at Stop Signs

I see it all the time in my neighborhood. Drivers approach a stop sign, slow, and then round off the turn without completely stopping. It’s illegal and everyone knows it. For some reason, we just won’t take the time to follow certain traffic safety rules. Here are five reasons you should always completely stop at stop signs.

1. It’s the law and you could get a ticket

I know you know its illegal. Everyone knows that rolling through stop signs is illegal. You most likely won’t get caught in your neighborhood. However, stopping at stop signs in your neighborhood may be the most important place you should always completely stop.

2. You could cause a collision or run over a pedestrian causing horrible injuries

Once you get in a habit of rolling through the neighborhood stop sign, you begin to pay less attention to what you are doing. You glance in both directions, but you miss the car coming toward you. Perhaps you miss the soccer ball rolling down the street and child following behind. No one ever intends to cause harm to another, but your choice to roll through that stop sign can lead to horrible consequences.

3. Your behavior sets an example for our children

Children don’t do what we tell them to do, children do what we do. If we roll through stop signs, our children will when they start driving. Worse, our behavior teaches children not to follow some safety rules if there is a time saving benefit.

4. Children depend on you stopping

Our children know that cars must stop at stop signs. The decisions they make are dependent on how the world works around them. Children may cross the road, counting on you obeying the safety rules and stopping at the stop sign. Children may continue after the soccer ball rolling down the street, because they are depending on you following the safety rules.

5. You set an example for your community

Ultimately, we all set the safety rules for our community. If more of us set an example and obey the rules, others will follow as well. As our community places more importance on following the safety rules, the safer our community will be.

The extra few seconds you stay at the stop sign will be well worth the cost.

If you have been hurt in a car accident:

  1. Please read why I don’t believe it was an accident, here;
  2. Request my Free Guide, South Carolina Car Accident Claims Guide in Plain English, by clicking here.
  3. Call at 888-510-9359 or contact me for a free consultation. There is no obligation.
June 24, 2014

I’m On A Boat! Don’t Get a DUI?

Traffic Tip Tuesday: I’m On A Boat! Don’t Get a DUI?

 

Its summer time and that means being on a boat. Please remember that boating safety means being responsible. Being responsible means using alcohol safely.

Here is your fool-proof way to avoid getting an alcohol related ticket out on the water! Don’t drink alcohol if you are operating a boat.

Otherwise, South Carolina Law says that an operator of a boat must not use so much alcohol (or any other drug) so that their ability to operate the boat is “materially and appreciably impaired.” Don’t believe me, look it up here.

So how does law enforcement determine if you are “materially and appreciably impaired?” Law enforcement investigates boating alcohol violations the same way law enforcement investigates driving under the influence. However, the field sobriety tests are modified so that law enforcement can give the tests on a boat.

If you have been hurt in an accident:

  1. Please read why I don’t believe it was an accident, here;
  2. Request my Free Guide, South Carolina Car Accident Claims Guide in Plain English, by clicking here.
  3. Call at 888-510-9359 or contact me for a free consultation. There is no obligation.
1 2 3