South Carolina Hands-Free Law Leads to Over 3,400 Citations in First Month

State officials report thousands of drivers cited for mobile device violations since new distracted driving law took effect.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:35am

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A fractured, abstract painting of a car dashboard with a mobile phone floating in the center, surrounded by overlapping, colorful geometric shapes and waves of motion, conceptually representing the dangerous distraction of driving while using a handheld device.South Carolina's new distracted driving law leads to thousands of citations in its first month, underscoring the need for increased enforcement to combat the growing public safety issue of mobile device use behind the wheel.Columbia Today

After a six-month warning period, law enforcement across South Carolina began issuing citations for the state's new Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Law on February 28. In the first 30 days of enforcement, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) reported issuing over 1,994 citations, while other law enforcement agencies reported an additional 1,501 hands-free violations, bringing the statewide total to 3,495 citations.

Why it matters

South Carolina's new law is part of a growing trend of states cracking down on distracted driving, which has become an increasingly dangerous issue on roads nationwide. The high number of citations in the first month suggests the law is being actively enforced, with the goal of improving driver safety and reducing accidents caused by mobile device use behind the wheel.

The details

The Hands-Free Law prohibits drivers from holding or supporting a mobile device with any part of their body to read or send texts or emails, use websites, browse/post on social media, watch movies, or take calls and video calls. Exceptions include using a mobile device in hands-free mode, listening to audio content without holding the device, and use by law enforcement and first responders performing official duties.

  • The new law went into effect on February 28, 2026 after a six-month warning period.
  • From February 28 to March 29, 2026, SCDPS issued 1,994 citations for hands-free violations.
  • During the same reporting period, other law enforcement agencies reported an additional 1,501 hands-free citations.

The players

South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS)

The state agency responsible for enforcing South Carolina's Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Law, which reported issuing nearly 2,000 citations in the first month of enforcement.

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What’s next

The state will continue to monitor citation data and enforcement of the new Hands-Free Law to assess its impact on driver behavior and safety on South Carolina roads.

The takeaway

South Carolina's crackdown on distracted driving through its new Hands-Free Law has resulted in thousands of citations in the first month, underscoring the need for increased awareness and enforcement to combat the growing public safety issue of mobile device use behind the wheel.