York County drivers are among the most cited in South Carolina under the state’s new hands-free driving law, with 184 citations issued in just the first month of enforcement.
New numbers released Monday by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety show York County tied with Richland County for the fifth-highest total in the state from Feb. 28 through March 29, 2026.
From Feb. 28 through March 29, York County drivers were issued 184 citations, tying the county with Richland County for fifth place statewide. Only Charleston County (470), Spartanburg (464), Horry (345), and Greenville (231) recorded more.
The law began being fully enforced on Feb. 28 after a six-month warning period ended. Since then, officers across South Carolina have issued 3,495 citations statewide.
In York County, 81 citations came from DPS agencies, including Highway Patrol, while 103 came from other law enforcement agencies.
South Carolina’s hands-free law bans drivers from holding or supporting a phone while texting, emailing, browsing websites or social media, watching videos, or making calls. Drivers can still use phones in hands-free mode or while legally parked or stopped.
For York County, the ranking shows local drivers are already among the most-ticketed in the state under the new distracted driving law.
