South Carolina law enforcement issued nearly 3,400 citations in the first month (Feb. 28–March 29, 2026) enforcing the new Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Law, which bans holding phones while driving.
Citation Breakdown
Charleston County topped the list with 470 (30 by SCDPS, 430 local), followed by Spartanburg (464), Richland (184), and Lexington (141). SCDPS (Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services) issued 1,994; other agencies 1,501. Agencies report by the 10th, so totals may adjust.
Law Details
After a six-month warning period, violations now carry a $100 first-offense fine; $200 plus 2 driving record points for repeats within three years. Exceptions: parked/stopped, hands-free calls/audio, or official first-responder use.
Safety Impact
Distracted driving causes 20,000+ SC crashes yearly (2/hour average) and ranks the state seventh nationally for worst drivers. Nationally, it kills 3,000+ annually—texting is six times riskier than drunk driving per NHTSA.
Timely amid your Lowcountry traffic focus (West Columbia wreck, Shaw delays)—phone bans aim to curb crashes like Mount Pleasant’s fatal chain reaction. Key enforcement win.
