Like many states, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles maintains driving records for all licensed drivers and adds points to the record for every traffic violation conviction. The points are like demerits; the more points a driver receives, the worse their record is. The points vary in value depending upon the severity of the violation. Examples include:
1. Moving violations such as careless driving, failure to obey traffic signals, or failure to yield at an intersection are worth two points
2. More dangerous violations such as hit and run with property damage, reckless driving, or passing a school bus illegal are worth six points
Points are not given for non moving violations such as parking tickets.
Speeding is worth two to six points, depending upon how much over the speed limit the driver is cited for. Exceeding the maximum speed limit by 1-9 mph equals two points; exceeding by 10-24 mph is four points; and exceeding by over 25 mph is six points.
Any time a violation occurs while under the influence of alcohol, the points will be higher and could possibly include criminal charges such as a DUI.
After a driver accumulates a certain amount of points, there will be penalties. If the number of points reaches twelve, the driver’s license will be suspended. The DMV will send a notice of suspension to the driver; even if they never receive the letter, they will still be held accountable if they are caught with a suspended license. It is important for drivers to make sure that they know the status of their driving record and that the DMV has their current address on file.
Drivers do have chances to improve their driving records. A violation will stay on the driving record for three years. However, a driver may complete a defensive driving course once every three years for a chance to remove four points from their record. This may also enable them to get lower insurance rates, depending upon their circumstances.
In many cases, it is in the best interest of the driver to consult an attorney to contest a traffic ticket to avoid accumulating points on their record.
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