Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in South Carolina
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in South Carolina, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: Tickets issued in a South Carolina Summary Court (magistrate) can be looked up and paid through the Judicial Branch's "Pay a Traffic Ticket" search by citation number, driver's license number and state, or name and date of birth; South Carolina Judicial Branch, Traffic Ticket Search; SC.gov, Traffic Tickets and Court Payments
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Tickets issued in a South Carolina Summary Court (magistrate) can be looked up and paid through the Judicial Branch's "Pay a Traffic Ticket" search by citation number, driver's license number and state, or name and date of birth; some Municipal Court tickets are also included. On SC.gov, choose the county or municipality that issued the ticket, then enter your last name and case number (the same as the ticket number). Tickets take 3 to 5 business days to be logged; if no record is found, contact the county or municipal court that issued the ticket. SC.gov: https://sc.gov/government/engaging-government-services/traffic-tickets-and-court-payments |
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| Traffic school | A driver with points can have 4 points removed by completing the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or a DMV-approved equivalent after the points were assessed, and proving completion to the DMV. Points can be reduced this way only once in any three-year period. The course reduces points; it does not dismiss the ticket. Source: S.C. Code § 56-1-770 |
| License suspension | Grounds include accumulating 12 or more points (three to six months), DUI or unlawful alcohol concentration convictions, refusing a chemical test or testing at 0.15 or more, and, for drivers under 21, an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more. Suspensions for unpaid tickets or no insurance, and reinstatement fees, were not confirmed. |
Where to get help in South Carolina
More South Carolina traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in South Carolina
- DUI Laws in South Carolina
- How Driver Points Work in South Carolina
- All South Carolina traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in South Carolina?
Tickets issued in a South Carolina Summary Court (magistrate) can be looked up and paid through the Judicial Branch's "Pay a Traffic Ticket" search by citation number, driver's license number and state, or name and date of birth; some Municipal Court tickets are also included. On SC.gov, choose the county or municipality that issued the ticket, then enter your last name and case number (the same as the ticket number). Tickets take 3 to 5 business days to be logged; if no record is found, contact the county or municipal court that issued the ticket.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in South Carolina?
A driver with points can have 4 points removed by completing the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or a DMV-approved equivalent after the points were assessed, and proving completion to the DMV. Points can be reduced this way only once in any three-year period. The course reduces points; it does not dismiss the ticket.
What gets your license suspended in South Carolina?
Grounds include accumulating 12 or more points (three to six months), DUI or unlawful alcohol concentration convictions, refusing a chemical test or testing at 0.15 or more, and, for drivers under 21, an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.