We have all been there. Blue lights appear in your rearview mirror. You slow down and pull over to let the officer pass. Then you realize: He’s after me!
Maybe you were heading to work, or going to school. Maybe you were half-way to your first vacation in Florida. Maybe you haven’t had a ticket in years or maybe one more might spell a suspension. Unfortunately, the days of “I’m letting you off with a warning” are nearly gone and the Lowcountry is filled with Speeding Hot Spots.
You might be tempted to pay the ticket. It happens all of the time. The most common word a magistrate or municipal clerk says to the Judge while going down the roster of cases during a traffic court hearing in South Carolina is: “PAID!”
But traffic tickets, whether they are for speeding or any other moving violation, can have long lasting effects which you may not appreciate. A traffic ticket may:
• Increase your insurance rates dramatically;Maybe you were heading to work, or going to school. Maybe you were half-way to your first vacation in Florida. Maybe you haven’t had a ticket in years or maybe one more might spell a suspension. Unfortunately, the days of “I’m letting you off with a warning” are nearly gone and the Lowcountry is filled with Speeding Hot Spots.
You might be tempted to pay the ticket. It happens all of the time. The most common word a magistrate or municipal clerk says to the Judge while going down the roster of cases during a traffic court hearing in South Carolina is: “PAID!”
But traffic tickets, whether they are for speeding or any other moving violation, can have long lasting effects which you may not appreciate. A traffic ticket may:
• Lead to a suspension of your driving privileges if you have too many points on your license or if the ticket is for excessive speed; and
• Threaten your employment, if your job involves driving or requires a clean record.
Additionally, traffic tickets may impact more than just your insurance rates and your ability to drive. If the ticket was issued as the result of a car wreck, being found guilty of the charged offense may have a negative impact on any related civil lawsuit.
South Carolina’s Point System
—If you are licensed to drive in South Carolina, the DMV assigns the following points for the listed infractions:
Two Points:
—
Speeding 10mph or less
Changing Lane Improperly
Improper Parking
Driving Too Fast for Conditions (10mph or Less)
Failure to Dim Lights
Operating With Improper Lights
Improper Backing
Operating an Unsafe Vehicle
Driving in an Improper Lane
Defective Taillight
Endangering a Highway Worker (No Injury)
Speeding 10mph or less
Changing Lane Improperly
Improper Parking
Driving Too Fast for Conditions (10mph or Less)
Failure to Dim Lights
Operating With Improper Lights
Improper Backing
Operating an Unsafe Vehicle
Driving in an Improper Lane
Defective Taillight
Endangering a Highway Worker (No Injury)
Four Points:
—
Endangering a Highway Worker (With Injury)
Speeding 11mph to 24mph
Disobeying a Traffic Control Device
Disobeying an Official Directing Traffic
Failure to Yield Right of Way
Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
Passing Unlawfully
Turning Unlawfully
Driving Through or Within a Safety Zone
Driving Too Fast for Conditions (Over 10mph)
Following too Closely
Operating a Vehicle with Improper Brakes
Disregarding a Railroad Sign or Signal
Disobedience to Signal or Approaching Train
Endangering a Highway Worker (With Injury)
Speeding 11mph to 24mph
Disobeying a Traffic Control Device
Disobeying an Official Directing Traffic
Failure to Yield Right of Way
Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
Passing Unlawfully
Turning Unlawfully
Driving Through or Within a Safety Zone
Driving Too Fast for Conditions (Over 10mph)
Following too Closely
Operating a Vehicle with Improper Brakes
Disregarding a Railroad Sign or Signal
Disobedience to Signal or Approaching Train
Six Points:
—
Passing a stopped School Bus
Reckless Driving
Speeding more than 25 mph over the limit
Hit and Run, Property Damage Only
Warnings and Suspensions
—
At six points, you will receive a warning letter from the DMV. Suspensions begin at 12 points, unless you have a Beginners Permit or other provisional or temporary license. In that case, suspensions begin at 6 points.
Passing a stopped School Bus
Reckless Driving
Speeding more than 25 mph over the limit
Hit and Run, Property Damage Only
Warnings and Suspensions
—
At six points, you will receive a warning letter from the DMV. Suspensions begin at 12 points, unless you have a Beginners Permit or other provisional or temporary license. In that case, suspensions begin at 6 points.
Out-of-State Licenses
—
If you reside out-of-state, a South Carolina ticket may still have an unforeseen impact on your driving record. What South Carolina's DMV considers a two, four or six point ticket may not correspond with your home state's point schedule. Once the ticket you received from Yemassee, Ridgeland, Hardeeville, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Beaufort, or another city or county in South Carolina, is reported to your state's DMV, your DMV will assign points on your license based on its point schedule, not on South Carolina's. Some states are more lenient than South Carolina, but some, including North Carolina, are much more severe!
If you reside out-of-state, a South Carolina ticket may still have an unforeseen impact on your driving record. What South Carolina's DMV considers a two, four or six point ticket may not correspond with your home state's point schedule. Once the ticket you received from Yemassee, Ridgeland, Hardeeville, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Beaufort, or another city or county in South Carolina, is reported to your state's DMV, your DMV will assign points on your license based on its point schedule, not on South Carolina's. Some states are more lenient than South Carolina, but some, including North Carolina, are much more severe!
What Should I Do If I Get A Speeding Ticket in South Carolina?
—
Don't give up without a fight! Mr. Geier will fight your ticket, work to negate or minimize the points an offense may put on your license or he will take other creative actions designed to result in a favorable outcome in your case.
We ONLY handle local cases in courts where Mr. Geier personally appears on your behalf.
Mr. Geier is centrally located in Beaufort which is a short drive from the Magistrate and Municipal courts located in Beaufort, Yemassee, Ridgeland, Hardeeville, Bluffton and Hilton Head. Over the years, Mr. Geier has frequently dealt with the Clerks, Judges and Police Departments of each of those towns and counties. He has a successful record of keeping speeding tickets and other offenses off of his clients' licenses or minimizing the impact of the charged offense.
Don't give up without a fight! Mr. Geier will fight your ticket, work to negate or minimize the points an offense may put on your license or he will take other creative actions designed to result in a favorable outcome in your case.
We ONLY handle local cases in courts where Mr. Geier personally appears on your behalf.
Mr. Geier is centrally located in Beaufort which is a short drive from the Magistrate and Municipal courts located in Beaufort, Yemassee, Ridgeland, Hardeeville, Bluffton and Hilton Head. Over the years, Mr. Geier has frequently dealt with the Clerks, Judges and Police Departments of each of those towns and counties. He has a successful record of keeping speeding tickets and other offenses off of his clients' licenses or minimizing the impact of the charged offense.
Let a Local Attorney Work for You
—
If you need traffic ticket attorney who will provide a strong defense to a traffic violation anywhere in Beaufort County, Jasper County, Hardeeville, Ridgeland or Yemassee, contact the law office of Christopher J. Geier in Beaufort, South Carolina. We defend clients against a wide range of traffic violations, including:
• Speeding tickets
• Reckless driving
• Careless driving
• Too fast for conditions
• Driving under suspension
• Failure to move for an emergency vehicle
• Disregarding a stop sign
• Running a red light
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
If you need traffic ticket attorney who will provide a strong defense to a traffic violation anywhere in Beaufort County, Jasper County, Hardeeville, Ridgeland or Yemassee, contact the law office of Christopher J. Geier in Beaufort, South Carolina. We defend clients against a wide range of traffic violations, including:
• Speeding tickets
• Reckless driving
• Careless driving
• Too fast for conditions
• Driving under suspension
• Failure to move for an emergency vehicle
• Disregarding a stop sign
• Running a red light
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Contact Us
—
Trust our experience and knowledge of the local courts and police. If you need to speak with traffic or speeding ticket lawyer serving:
• Beaufort, SC
• Bluffton, SC
• Hilton Head, SC
• Yemassee, SC
• Ridgeland, SC
• Hardeeville, SC
or elsewhere within Beaufort County or Jasper County, SC, contact the law office of Christopher J. Geier at 843-986-9449, or contact us by e-mail. We will be happy to discuss your rights and options at no charge and no obligation.
Trust our experience and knowledge of the local courts and police. If you need to speak with traffic or speeding ticket lawyer serving:
• Beaufort, SC
• Bluffton, SC
• Hilton Head, SC
• Yemassee, SC
• Ridgeland, SC
• Hardeeville, SC
or elsewhere within Beaufort County or Jasper County, SC, contact the law office of Christopher J. Geier at 843-986-9449, or contact us by e-mail. We will be happy to discuss your rights and options at no charge and no obligation.