Legal Question in Traffic Law in South Carolina

SC Traffic Stop

I wanted to know whether a recent traffic stop was by the book. I was pulled over for speeding in SC. The officer offered me two choices......$180 fine and 4 points or if I wanted to pay a higher fine of $305 he could write it with no points. He proceeded to tell me that I needed to decide during the stop. He also informed me that SC points would be reciprocal with MD. He also told me that the choice was simple. He said even if I came back to fight the ticket in court that the best the judge would do is reduce it to $120, but the 4 points would remain. He said that the judges were really strict and ''if someone's cell phone rings, they get thrown out of court''. I questioned him a lot. Eventually, he came back with a story that he ''wrote the ticket wrong and didn't want to start all over''. He wrote it for $205 and no points. He said that if I wanted to change the way it was writted after I got home and investigated to call him directly. He said that going through City Hall would take too long. I don't know, but the whole thing sounds fishy to me. Maybe, it wasn't illegal. But, was it unethical? Should this guy be reported? It seems like blackmail to me. ''Pay the higher fine and we won't report points to your state!''


Asked on 3/26/06, 2:30 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Johnston Law Offices of Robert J. Johnston

Re: SC Traffic Stop

It sounds like he was trying to do you a favor. Speeding tickets carry points. I assume that the no-point ticket was for Careless Operation. Many states have reciprocal agreements with other states and report points. Off hand, I don't know if MD is one of them. He could have just written you a speeding ticket with points that could have counted agaisnt you on your home-state driving record. If he offered you a no-point ticket that had a higher fine, he was trying to help you. I have represented many people over the years on traffic violation and in my experience most people would rather spend more on fines in exchange for having less or no points. As far as the cell phones in court, there is a strict rule agaisnt them. A person could actually be held in contempt of court for having one go off. I don't think the officer should be reported, but that is your right if you want to. You also have the right to fight the ticket in court if you want. Good luck.

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Answered on 3/26/06, 3:34 pm


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