Traffic Tickets in Summerville, SC

Points and suspensions

South Carolina assigns points to moving violations (S.C. Code § 56-1-720): two for speeding 10 mph or less over, four for 11–24 over, six for 25 or more over or for reckless driving, and so on. Twelve or more points brings a suspension, and points are halved after a year. Insurance companies read the same record and price it.

Tickets that are more than tickets

• Reckless driving—a criminal misdemeanor with six points, and a second offense within five years brings a suspension.
• Driving under suspension—a criminal charge with jail exposure that grows with each offense.
• Leaving the scene, racing, and habitual-offender status—each with consequences far beyond a fine.
• Commercial drivers—a personal-vehicle ticket can still put a CDL at risk; never pay one without checking.
• Out-of-state drivers—South Carolina reports to your home state under the interstate compact.

What we can often do

Negotiate a reduction to a non-moving or lower-point violation, arrange a defensive-driving resolution where the court allows it, challenge speed measurement and stop legality when the facts support it, and appear for you so you do not lose a workday in Summerville Municipal Court or a magistrate's court. For serious charges, we prepare for trial.

Court

Tickets are heard in the municipal court of the town where you were stopped (Summerville, Goose Creek, North Charleston and so on) or the county magistrate's court for stops by the sheriff or Highway Patrol. Your ticket shows the court and the date; if you miss the date, the court can convict you in your absence and suspend your license for failure to pay.

Questions people ask

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