(WSPA) – The introduction of the Hands Free and Distracted Driving Law in South Carolina hit a couple of speed bumps along its journey to implementation.
Many drivers were taken aback upon discovering the penalty was much steeper than the initially announced $100 fine by the SC Department of Public Safety. Surprisingly, the actual cost of a ticket surpasses what one would expect for being caught speeding by 24 miles per hour.
7NEWS Here to Help investigated to uncover the reasons behind this higher amount, the allocation of the fines, and provided drivers with crucial information to steer clear of this hefty penalty.
Once the grace period ended, the law was fully enforced starting in March 2026. Within just four months, authorities had cited approximately 11,600 motorists across the state, amassing a staggering $2.7 million in fines.
“Wow, it’s clear they’re looking to make some money,” remarked Bobby Chappell from Greenville upon learning that the fine for a first-time violation is a whopping $232.50.
Why the cost confusion
We’ll follow the money trail shortly, but first, the reason drivers like Chappell are confused about the amount is that technically, in the law, the fine is $100, as seen on the public flyers handed out by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, but the fine is just part of it.
Master Trooper Hannah Davidson with Highway Patrol said originally, public safety didn’t realize the offense also comes with court fees and assessments designated by separate state statutes governing the court system.
“It was an honest mistake; we just didn’t add in the court fees to it to make it $232.50,” said Davidson.
Part of the initial confusion for public safety came from the fact that there are some moving violations that don’t have any additional fees. For one, the seatbelt law. Another is the failure to use your turning signal. Both are zero points off your license, just like the hands-free fine, for the first offense.
But, more serious moving violations, like the hands-free law, carry an assessment that is 107.5% of the original fee, plus an additional $25 court fee for a total of $232.50, a second offense is two points off your license and $440.
Where the money goes
SC Representative Bruce Bannister, the chair of the Ways and Means Committee at the Statehouse, said lawmakers intended the high fine to grab attention, so drivers take it seriously.
7NEWS Here to Help asked him if the state was trying to make money off the fees.
“The state is trying to offset an expense that the taxpayer would bear to have the system we have by letting the people who are using the system pay for it. So, if you are interacting with law enforcement and you’re violating the laws and you’re going to the court and using the court system, we want you to pay for it,” Bannister said.
Whether you pay online or at the courthouse, the amount is the same, according to the law, since all of it helps fund the court system as a whole.
So where does the money go?
- $75 goes to the local municipality’s general fund, which can be used at their discretion
The latest numbers from SCDPS show that of all the counties in the Upstate, Pickens and Spartanburg have seen the highest number of tickets in the first three months that the law has been in full effect, with roughly 715 issued in each county from March 1 through May 31.
How to avoid a ticket
Now, to avoid the costly ticket, it’s important to know the law. In the attached video, you’ll see we took drivers on a bit of a test run, but here are the basics you may or may not know:
- The cell phone is never allowed to be on your lap; it cannot be held by any part of the body
One more thing drivers should know: the law clearly states this fine cannot be “suspended,” which may make you think twice about trying to show up in court hoping to get the fine reduced. Bannister said that, unlike a speeding ticket, going in person for a hands-free ticket would rarely lead to any reduction, and lawmakers designed it that way.
“If you did it then you have to pay the fine,” Bannister said.