Why We Took a $210 Traffic Ticket to a Jury Trial

Most people look at a traffic ticket and think: “It’s not worth the fight.” Just pay the fine, take the hit, move on.

But if you didn’t do it - why should you?

At Erin Bailey Law, we recently represented a client in Georgetown who was cited for careless operation, a zero-point traffic violation in South Carolina with a $210 fine. Many might advise you to pay and move on. That’s not how we approach things.

Our client maintained their innocence and we believed them. So we picked a jury and took the case to trial.

It took the jury minutes to come back with a Not Guilty verdict.

It’s just a traffic ticket… right?

It’s easy to assume that a traffic citation - especially one with no points - isn’t worth challenging. But here’s what many people don’t realize:

• Paying the fine equals pleading guilty

• That plea goes on your driving record

• It can affect your insurance premiums for up to 10 years

• It may show up in background checks

• It may be used by the DMV for administrative suspensions if you have other tickets

Traffic charges are criminal offenses in South Carolina. That means you have rights - and you deserve the chance to use them.

The case: careless operation in Georgetown County

In this case, our client was pulled over and cited for careless operation - a charge that officers often use when they are trying to help you out.

However, the officer alleged that our client ran a red light – an allegation that proved not to be true when his in-car camera and body camera footage was reviewed. We reviewed the facts and found no legitimate basis for the citation.

Our client did not run the red light or operate their car in an unsafe manner, and they weren’t willing to plead guilty to something they didn’t do.

So we took it to trial. Erin Bailey prepared the case, selected a jury, and presented the facts. The verdict came back just minutes after deliberation: Not Guilty.

The result spoke for itself - but only because someone was willing to stand up and challenge the charge.

Traffic tickets in South Carolina: the bigger picture

In 2022, South Carolina issued more than 682,000 traffic citations across the state. And the truth is, most of them were never challenged.

You may have seen stats shared online - often by legal blogs or traffic apps - claiming that only about 5% of tickets are ever contested. Some even estimate that as many as one in four are issued in error. While we haven’t seen a statewide study that confirms those exact numbers, our experience in court tells us they’re not far off.

Most people don’t fight traffic tickets. Some don’t know they can. Others assume it’s not worth the time or effort.

But here’s what we see: a guilty plea - even to a minor charge - can affect your driving record, your insurance rates, your driver’s license, and in some cases, your job. The impact might not show up right away, but it shows up eventually.

In Georgetown County, traffic court is held regularly. Yet very few people come ready to push back. Most just pay the fine and move on. The system is built to make that easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s right.

What to do if you're cited

If you're facing a traffic citation in Georgetown, or anywhere in South Carolina, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t plead guilty on the spot. You have the right to a court date. Use it.

• Read the charge carefully. Some “minor” violations can carry bigger consequences than expected.

• Request a court date. This gives you time to get informed and consider your options.

• Talk to a defense lawyer. Even for low-point or no-point citations, it’s worth understanding what’s at stake. You may spend less on a lawyer than you will in insurance hikes for the next 7-10 years. 

• Don’t assume paying the fine is your only option. It might feel easier in the moment, but it can have lasting effects.

• The officer is the prosecutor, not your friend. Officers prosecute their own traffic tickets in most courts in South Carolina. While they may say they are “cutting you a break,” they often do not present all available options, or know the full set of your circumstances and driving record. The only way to be sure of the implications of paying a fine is to consult with an attorney who has all the facts and knows all the options. 

Every case is different. But if you believe you’ve been wrongly cited - or you’re unsure what a charge could mean - it’s worth taking the time to push back.

At Erin Bailey Law, we don’t treat traffic cases as throwaways. If your record and your rights matter to you, they matter to us.

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Facing a traffic charge in South Carolina? Whether it’s a felony or a fine, we’re in your defense. Contact Erin Bailey Law to get started.

Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.