Can you use your phone at a traffic light? What SC’s hands-free law says
It’s the same scenario.
You’re driving and in a rush to get to your destination. The friends you’re meeting for dinner are texting you nonstop, asking where you are. You promised them you wouldn’t be late this time. Now you’ve hit another stoplight.
You frantically pick up your phone and send them a text, saying “I’m on my way. I promise.” But you don’t get to finish sending it because now there are police sirens asking you to pull over, and an officer is issuing you a traffic ticket.
Under South Carolina’s recently implemented Hands-Free Law, drivers across the state can be ticketed when using a mobile electronic device while driving. But the law, which was passed in May 2025, has led some Horry County residents to be confused over when drivers can be issued tickets.
One woman took to Facebook on June 4, issuing a warning to Myrtle Beach drivers. She had been given a ticket while her phone was in her hand at a stoplight, she said. Several users took to the comments to debate whether this is allowed, with some sharing their own experiences.
But are drivers allowed under the law to pick up personal devices while at a stoplight? Here’s what to know.
What the South Carolina law says
The South Carolina legislature passed the law in May 2025, in the hopes that it would reduce the number of distracted driving collisions in the state.
The law took effect in September, but law enforcement agencies didn’t start issuing citations until Feb. 28. South Carolina Highway Patrol alone has issued 765 citations in Horry County as of May 31.
The law prohibits drivers from:
- Holding or supporting a mobile device from any part of their body
- Using a mobile device to read, compose or transmit texts, emails, app interactions or website information
- Watching motion on a mobile device, including a video, movie, game or video call
However, there are a few exceptions under the law, such as using a phone for navigation or to report an emergency.
But what happens if you’re at a stoplight?
If the driver is lawfully parked or stopped and they decide to use their phone, it is considered an exception under the hands-free law, South Carolina Department of Public Safety spokesperson Kyle McGahee told The Sun News.
“We encourage drivers to always avoid using a mobile device when behind the wheel, even at a red light, as driving a vehicle requires careful attention,” McGahee said in an email.
While McGahee and other South Carolina law experts say that you won’t be issued a citation, other departments may not take the same approach, due to how the law is interpreted.
Myrtle Beach Police Department Spokesperson Randolph Angott told The Sun News that drivers can be given tickets for being stopped at a red light and having their phone.
“Being stopped in traffic-related situations, i.e., stop sign, red light, etc., does not count as being lawfully parked or stopped,” Angotti said in a text.
So what should you do when you’re running late to that dinner and need to text that friend?
Well, It may just be best to avoid the risk all together and leave earlier next time.
This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 9:47 AM with the headline "Can you use your phone at a traffic light? What SC’s hands-free law says."
