Thousands of SC drivers cited in statewide Hands-Free and Move Over crackdown. Here’s a breakdown
After three South Carolina law enforcement officers were struck by vehicles in August, one incident claiming the life of Trooper First Class Dennis Ricks, concerns over roadside safety jumped.
In addition, just two months earlier in June, two other state troopers narrowly avoided being hit during routine traffic stops on the interstate.
Following the uptick in incidents, state and local agencies launched a major crackdown on distracted and unsafe driving, launching a five-day traffic enforcement push called “Operation Keep Us Safe.”
The targeted initiative, which ran from Sept. 15 through Sept. 19, was spearheaded by the South Carolina Highway Patrol in collaboration with the State Transport Police and various county and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state.
During the five-day safety initiative, law enforcement across South Carolina focused on cracking down on violations of the Move Over Law and the new Hands-Free Law.
Here’s how the citation numbers break down, according to the Sept. 22 report:
1,815 total citations were issued for the Move Over Law by the SCDPS; of those:
- 1,766 citations came from the SCHP
- 49 citations came from the State Transport Police
Across all reporting law enforcement agencies, SCDPS says that in total, 2,383 Move Over Law citations were issued statewide during the same period, averaging about 476 citations per day.
This initiative also honed in on the new Hands-Free Law, which resulted in 152 warnings issued by the SCHP. Warnings for this new law will be issued until Feb. 28, 2026.
To view the full report, click here.
Understanding the laws: Move Over and Hands-Free
Move Over Law
South Carolina’s Move Over Law, established in 2002, requires drivers to take specific safety actions when approaching stopped emergency, utility, or tow vehicles with flashing lights:
- Change lanes away from the stopped vehicle if it’s safe to do so
- If a lane change is unsafe or impossible, significantly reduce speed
- Proceed with caution and avoid interference with roadside workers
Violations of the Move Over Law are considered misdemeanors, with fines ranging from $300 to $500.
Hands-Free Law
South Carolina’s Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act went into effect on Sept. 1, 2025, tightening previous restrictions on mobile device usage while driving.
Key provisions of the new law include:
- No holding or supporting a mobile device with any part of the body
- Prohibits texting, emailing, social media use, watching videos, or video calling
- Allows hands-free use, including earpieces or dashboard mounts, like CarPlay
- Exemptions apply to legally parked vehicles and emergency personnel on duty
While warnings will be issued until Feb. 2026, penalties after that include:
- On the first offense, drivers will be fined $100.
- For secondary and subsequent offenses within three years, drivers will face a $200 fine and two points on their driving record.
At a press conference launching the initiative, Col. Christopher Williamson, commander of the SCHP, stated that this effort was not a reactionary measure to recent incidents but a necessary one for overall road safety.
“Put down the cell phones, pay attention to the roadways, slow down, and do not forget to move over when you see flashing lights,” he said.
Ongoing safety efforts
“Operation Keep Us Safe” is just one of several high-visibility safety campaigns led by the SCDPS.
Other statewide initiatives include:
- Highways or Dieways: Reminds motorists of their responsibility behind the wheel.
- Buckle Up South Carolina: Seat belt awareness and safety in crashes.
- Sober or Slammer: Don’t drinking and driving.
