South Carolina Enacts Hands-Free Driving Law

Governor Henry McMaster has ceremonially signed the South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act into law, making it illegal for drivers to hold or support a mobile device with any part of their body while operating a vehicle. The law, which goes into effect on September 1, 2025, prohibits texting, emailing, browsing, gaming, and video calls while driving, though hands-free calls and voice-to-text features are still allowed. A 180-day warning period will follow, with enforcement of fines and points on driver's records beginning February 28, 2026. First-time offenders face a $100 fine, while subsequent offenses within three years result in a $200 fine and two points on the driver's record. State leaders hope the law will make distracted driving as socially unacceptable as driving under the influence, noting that distracted driving causes more injuries and deaths than DUIs in South Carolina. With this legislation, South Carolina becomes the 34th state to adopt a hands-free driving law.