Disobedience of any official traffic-control device
Summary
S0705 amends South Carolina traffic law to create an explicit penalty for failing to obey official traffic-control devices, such as traffic signals, signs, and other lawful roadway controls. Under the bill, a person who violates the obedience requirement in Section 56-5-950 would be fined $200 plus court costs and would receive six points on their driving record.
The bill also updates the state’s driver point schedule in Section 56-1-720 to reflect that violation. It inserts “disobedience of any official traffic control device” as a six-point offense, aligning the point assessment with more serious moving violations such as reckless driving, passing a stopped school bus, and hit-and-run property damage only. The act would take effect upon approval by the Governor.
Impact
The bill would amend two sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws governing traffic regulation and driver licensing. It adds a specific monetary penalty and point consequence for disobeying official traffic-control devices, and it revises the driver point schedule so the offense is clearly classified as a six-point violation. This would affect drivers cited for running signals, ignoring signs, or otherwise failing to comply with lawful traffic-control devices, and it could increase the likelihood of license consequences for repeat or serious offenders.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears straightforward and enforcement-oriented rather than controversial on its face. The bill’s structure suggests a policy intent to strengthen compliance with traffic controls and improve roadway safety. No formal opposition, amendments, or divided vote history is available in the provided context.
Contention
The main policy issue is the severity of the penalty: the bill imposes both a $200 fine and six points, which is a relatively significant driver-record consequence. Potential concerns could come from drivers, defense advocates, or others who may view the penalty as harsh for a broad category of traffic-control violations, especially because the offense can cover a wide range of conduct from minor sign violations to more dangerous signal disobedience. However, no specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.