Nearly 2,000 traffic citations, over 500 warnings given last week during ‘Operation Keep Us Safe’
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WTOC) - Nearly 2,000 citations and over 500 warnings were issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety between September 15 and September 19, 2025.
These citations and warnings were part of the ‘Operation Keep Us Safe’ initiative, spearheaded by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and South Carolina State Trooper Police.
According to a press release from the SC Department of Public Safety, the South Carolina Highway Patrol launched the five-day initiative to enhance the safety of law enforcement, first responders, highway workers and tow truck drivers working on roadways in South Carolina by focusing on enforcing the state’s Move Over and Hands-Free laws, along with all other traffic violations.
The State Transport Police and many county and municipal law enforcement agencies also participated in the enforcement operation.
The ‘Operation Keep Us Safe’ initiative concluded at midnight on Friday, September 19.
Total Citations issued by SCDPS (SC Highway Patrol and SC State Transport Police) for the period of September 15-19 is 1,815 total citations.
Of those, 49 of these citations were issued by the SC State Transport Police, and the remaining 1,766 citations were issued by SC Highway Patrol.
The total number of Move Over Law citations issued by reporting law enforcement agencies statewide is 2,383 citations for the same reporting period.
| SC Highway Patrol Statistic Breakdown September 15-19, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Hands-Free Law Warning | Move Over Law Citation | Move Over Law Warning |
| 2025-09-15 | 39 | 298 | 216 |
| 2025-09-16 | 36 | 346 | 186 |
| 2025-09-17 | 20 | 454 | 77 |
| 2025-09-18 | 25 | 407 | 36 |
| 2025-09-19 | 32 | 261 | 39 |
| TOTAL | 152 | 1766 | 554 |
South Carolina’s Move Over Law requires drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights to ensure the safety of emergency responders and roadside workers.
Additionally, the state’s new Hands-Free Law prohibits drivers from holding or supporting a mobile device with any part of their body to read or send texts, emails, use websites, browse/post on social media, watch movies, or take video calls.
Exceptions to the law include using a mobile electronic device while legally parked or stopped, using the device in hands-free mode, and listening to audio content as long as drivers are not holding the device while doing so.
Law enforcement and first responders are also exempt while performing official duties.
South Carolina law enforcement shall only issue warnings for violations of the hands-free law until February 28, 2026.
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