These were the 5 most common traffic citations in Myrtle Beach, SC over the last year

Horry County has plenty of traffic every year. Between tourists and locals, millions of people drive and ride on county roads annually.

In 2022, the last year with publicly available data, Horry County had more than 3.7 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT), according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. While more recent numbers haven’t been published, the county’s VMT have risen steadily every year since 2020, so it’s likely Horry County got even more traffic last year.

In that traffic, not all of it was completely legal. From speeding to driving with a suspended license, these were the most common traffic violations in the city of Myrtle Beach between June 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, based on data obtained from the city of Myrtle Beach.

1. Speeding

Over the 13-month period, officers in Myrtle Beach issued 3,882 citations for drivers violating speeding laws.

Of the incidents, 207 were violations of the South Carolina Code of Law’s requirement that motorists not drive, “at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards,” on highways.

The remaining 3,675 speeding citations violated posted speed limits.

• 982 were issued to drivers going 10 mph or less over the speed limit

• 636 were issued to drivers going more than 10 mph but less than 15 mph over the speed limit

• 1,777 were issued to drivers going more than 15 mph but less than 25 mph over the speed limit

• 280 issued to drivers going more than 25 mph over the speed limit

2. Driving an unlicensed or unregistered vehicle

Another common citation in Myrtle Beach is for motorists driving a vehicle that wasn’t properly licensed and registered in compliance with the law — or failing to pay the fee required to do so.

In 13 months, 1863 citations were issued to drivers who violated South Carolina’s law that it’s, “a misdemeanor for any person to drive, operate or move upon a highway or for the owner knowingly to permit to be driven, operated or moved upon a highway any such vehicle which is not registered and licensed and the required fee paid.”

3. Driving without a license

With 1503 citations, driving without a license is the third-most cited traffic violation on the list. A total of 1474 of the citations were for first offenses, 24 were for second offenses and five were for third or subsequent offenses.

4. Driving under suspension or with a suspended license after a DUI

Although less than 400 DUI citations were issued in the city of Myrtle Beach Between June 1, 2023 and June 3, 2024, there were 989 violations for illegally driving after getting a DUI in the same time period.

5. Driving a vehicle in an unsafe condition

During the 13-month period, 505 citations were issued to motorists operating vehicles that weren’t legally road safe.

According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, “No person shall drive or move on any highway any vehicle unless the equipment thereon is in good working order and adjustment … and the vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition as not to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highway.”

This story was originally published September 9, 2024 at 6:00 AM.