South Carolina H 5600: Traffic-control photographic systems

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5600 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 28, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5600

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 
56-5-830 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES TO ADOPT ORDINANCES FOR THE 
CIVIL ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BY MEANS OF TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL 
MONITORING SYSTEMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 14-25-45, RELATING TO POWERS, DUTIES, 
AND JURISDICTION OF MUNICIPAL COURTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE MUNICIPAL COURTS HAVE 
JURISDICTION OVER CERTAIN TRAFFIC-CONTROL MONITORING SYSTEM VIOLATIONS; BY 
AMENDING SECTION 56-5-710, RELATING TO POWERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES, SO AS TO 
PROVIDE LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAY ADOPT ORDINANCES TO USE TRAFFIC-CONTROL 
PHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS FOR CIVIL ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN TRAFFIC LAWS; BY AMENDING 
SECTION 56-5-970, RELATING TO TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL LEGENDs, SO AS TO PROVIDE 
WHEN SAFE, MOTOR VEHICLES FACING A YELLOW SIGNAL MUST SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY; 
AND BY AMENDING SECTION 56-7-35, RELATING TO the ISSUANCE OF UNIFORM TRAFFIC 
TICKETS FOR VIOLATIONS OF LOCAL ORDINANCES, SPEEDING, OR DISREGARDING TRAFFIC 
CONTROL DEVICES, SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CITATIONS ISSUED BY MEANS OF 
TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL MONITORING SYSTEMS MAY BE ISSUED BASED UPON PHOTOGRAPHIC 
EVIDENCE.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 5, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
56-5-830. (A) The General Assembly 
finds:

 (1) 
the frequency of red light running within the State of South Carolina continues 
to increase as the number of vehicles on our roads increases; and

 (2) 
an automated red light camera program will assist state and local governments 
by reducing the necessity for conducting extensive conventional traffic 
enforcement at heavily traveled, high-risk intersections.

 (B) 
For purposes of this section:

 (1) 
"Agency" means both state and local law enforcement agencies primarily 
responsible for issuing citations for a violation of state or local traffic 
laws or regulations.

 (2) 
"Owner" means the registered owner of a motor vehicle or a lessee of a motor 
vehicle under a lease of six months or more. "Owner" does not include a motor 
vehicle rental or leasing company.

 (3) 
"Recorded images" means images recorded by a traffic-control signal monitoring 
system that must show the traffic-control signal on at least one image or 
digital video frame, clearly identify the license plate number of the motor 
vehicle, and provide full evidentiary documentation, including a sequence of 
the front of the offending vehicle approaching an intersection.

 (4) 
"Traffic-control signal monitoring system" means a device with one or more 
above ground motor vehicle sensors working in conjunction with a traffic signal 
to produce recorded images of motor vehicles entering an intersection against a 
red signal indication. The traffic-control signal monitoring system must 
incorporate both a method of detecting motor vehicles entering an intersection 
against a red signal indication and a method of monitoring and reporting any 
change in the duration of the yellow phase at an enforced intersection.

 (5) 
"Summary court" means either magistrates or municipal court.

 (C) A 
local governing body is authorized to adopt ordinances for the civil 
enforcement of traffic violations by means of traffic-control signal monitoring 
systems provided, the fine for the traffic violation does not exceed one 
hundred dollars of which no court costs, assessments, surcharges, or points may 
be assessed against the owner or driver of the vehicle or his driving record.

 (D) 
Within one week of a violation, an agency shall mail, by certified mail, to the 
owner of the vehicle a citation, which must include:

 (1) 
the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle;

 (2) 
the registration number of the motor vehicle involved in the violation;

 (3) 
the traffic violation charged;

 (4) 
the location of the intersection;

 (5) 
the date and time of the violation;

 (6) 
a copy of the recorded images along with a statement that such images are 
evidence of a violation; and

 (7) 
the amount of the civil penalty imposed, and the date by which the civil 
penalty must be paid.

 (E) An 
agency must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person issued a citation 
was driving the motor vehicle. A certificate, sworn to or affirmed by a duly 
authorized law enforcement officer of the agency that states that based upon an 
inspection of recorded images produced by a traffic-control monitoring system a 
violation of a traffic law occurred, is evidence of the facts and is admissible 
in any proceeding alleging a violation under this section.

 (F)(1) The summary court may consider an