Criminal Defense Lawyer | The South Carolina Driving Points System
Many drivers in South Carolina don’t understand the driving points system, and getting a letter in the mail letting you know you’re close to getting your driver’s license suspended can be terrifying when you aren’t sure what the rules are. You don’t need a criminal defense lawyer in South Carolina to explain the points system to you unless you find yourself arrested for a traffic offense, but we’ll try to give you a brief outline here.
How Are Points Accumulated?
When you plead guilty to or are convicted of specific types of traffic offenses, points are assessed against your driving record which is attached to your license. When a driver reaches 12 points their license will be suspended. The more points a driver earns, the longer their license will be suspended. Criminal defense lawyers, automatic reduction after time, taking driver safety courses can help a driver reduce the number of points they have on their record.
| Traffic Offense | Points |
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 6 |
| Hit & Run, property damage only | 6 |
| Speeding 10 mph or less | 2 |
| Speeding between 10 mph and 25 mph | 4 |
| Speeding over 25 mph | 6 |
| Disobedience of any official traffic control device or officer directing traffic | 4 |
| Failing to yield right of way | 4 |
| Driving on the wrong side of the road | 4 |
| Passing unlawfully | 4 |
| Turning unlawfully | 4 |
| Driving through or within a safety zone | 4 |
| Failing to give a signal or giving improper signal when stopping, turning, or suddenly decreasing speed | 4 |
| Shifting lanes without safety precaution | 2 |
| Improper, dangerous parking | 2 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Failing to dim lights | 2 |
| Operating with improper lights | 2 |
| Operating with improper brakes | 4 |
| Operating vehicle in an unsafe condition | 2 |
| Driving in improper lane | 2 |
| Improper backing | 2 |
| Warning tickets | 0 |
If you’re getting close to accumulating 12 points, or your license has already been suspended, you might want to consider hiring a criminal defense attorney to help you with your traffic court proceedings.
Call the Law Offices of Peter David Brown today to schedule a consultation on your case and see what we can do for you. Our phone number is 843-971-0099.
