Warning Period of SC Texting and Driving Law is Over
This past June, South Carolina lawmakers passed a bill banning SC texting and driving. To inform drivers that the practice is now illegal, law enforcement spent several months pulling drivers over and issuing warnings about typing on a mobile phone or tablet while driving a moving vehicle. Now, however, the grace period has ended and the SC texting and driving law is in full effect.
Reportedly, police have issued 278 warnings about SC texting and driving laws in the last 6 months.
The first time an officer catches a driver texting and driving, the fine will be $25. Subsequent offenses will lead to a $50 fine. No points will be taken off the driver’s license for texting and driving. Many safety advocates want tougher anti-texting and driving laws in the state.
“I think it’s a good first step, but everything needs to be modified. I think $25 is nothing, that’s like going to McDonald’s with your family,” said Mark Conley, the owner of Beach Driving School, LLC. Many states that ban texting and driving fine drivers $100-$200 and remove points from the driver’s license.
The Centers for Disease Control state that 9 people are killed every day in the US because of a distracted driver, and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety says that 46 people have already been killed as a result of distracted driving in 2014 in South Carolina alone. While many things can distract drivers, such as talking on the phone or changing a radio station, texting and driving is becoming one of the most common offenses, despite legislation in most states that makes the practice illegal.
Camden, SC passed one of the first SC texting and driving laws in the state. City of Camden Police Chief Joe Floyd says that the ordinance helped cut down on traffic accidents in the city.
“What we saw was a tremendous change, as far as compliance with our statute,” Floyd said. “We’ve been very happy with the effects of it.”
Distracted Driving, Including Texting and Driving, in South Carolina
Distracted driving includes:
- talking on a cell phone
- eating and drinking
- grooming or putting on makeup
- reading books, newspapers, or even a map
- using a PDA or navigation system
- playing with the radio, a CD or an iPod
- texting or writing emails
- checking social media
It’s a common occurrence to see distracted driving while cruising down South Carolina roads and interstates. Whether the distraction is eating, putting on makeup, talking on a cellphone, or even just daydreaming, the effects of distracted driving can lead to an accident, resulting in life altering and even deadly consequences.
The Strom Law Firm Helps Those Injured by Distracted Drivers, Including Texting and Driving
If you have been injured by a distracted driver, the South Carolina accident attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. will fight for fair compensation for your injuries. Our South Carolina car accident lawyers are prepared to fight for compensation in the courtroom and will defend your right to compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost wages and future earnings, your pain and suffering, and, in the event of a fatal car accident, even wrongful death. Our attorneys offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your personal injury case for distracted driving, so contact us today. 803.252.4800.
