Could South Carolina traffic tickets tell drivers to pay eligible fines online by credit card?

Plain-English summary

The Attorney General approved wording for the back of South Carolina's uniform traffic ticket telling drivers they could pay fines online by credit card if a court appearance was not mandatory and their county participated. The office relied on statutory authority for court officers to accept fine payments by credit or debit card.

It distinguished that payment from posting bond. The opinion said state statutes then did not authorize posting bond by credit card, so the approved wording was limited to payment of eligible fines.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 2010. Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later AG opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.

Common questions

Q: Could every driver pay a ticket online under the approved language? A: No. The wording covered citations where a court appearance was not mandatory and online payments were available in the issuing county.

Q: Did the opinion approve posting bond by credit card?
A: No. It said statutes did not authorize that use of a credit card, while payment of a fine by card was authorized.

Background and statutory framework

The Department of Public Safety submitted amended uniform-ticket language for the Attorney General's approval. The office compared it with a prior opinion about credit-card payments and approved the proposed text for eligible fine payments.

Citations and references

The original text below quotes the statutory provision on card payments and the ticket language approved by the Attorney General.

Source

• Landing page: https://www.scag.gov/opinions/opinions-archive/june-3-2010/
• Original PDF: https://www.scag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/keel-m-a-os-9084-6-3-10-uniform-traffic-ticket-amended-language.pdf

Original opinion text

HENRY McMASTER
ATTORNEY GENERAL

June 3, 2010

Mark A. Keel, Director
SC Department of Public Safety
P. 0. Box 1993
Blythewood, South Carolina 29016
Dear Mr. Keel:
In a letter to this office you submitted the following amended language for approval by this office which is to be placed on the back of the State uniform traffic ticket:

If a court appearance is not mandatory, you may pay your fine online with a credit card for citations issued in participating counties. Go to http://www.sc.gov/pages/courtpayroents.aspx to determine if online payments are available in the county the citation was issued. This suggested language is consistent with an opinion of this office dated November 4, 2009 that while State statutes do not authorize individuals to post bond by credit card, S.C. Code Ann.§ 14-1214 authorizes clerks of court, magistrates, and municipal court judges to " ... accept payment by credit card or debit card of a fine, fee, assessment, court cost, or other surcharge; and ... impose a fee for processing payment by credit card." As referenced, while no provision is made for posting bond by credit card, there is statutory authorization for acceptance of the payment of a fine by credit card. Therefore, this office approves the suggested language set forth above for inclusion on the back of the uniform traffic ticket that authorizes payment of a fine online by credit card for citations where a court appearance is not necessary.

REMBERT

c.D ENNIS BUILDING • POST O FFICE Box 11549 • COLUMBIA, SC 29211-1549 • T ELEPHONE 803-734-3970 • FACSlMILE 803-253-6283

Mr. Keel
Page2
June 3, 2010

With kind regards, I am,
Very truly yours,
Henry McMaster
Attorney General

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By:

REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:

Deputy Attorney General

Charles H. Richardson
Senior Assistant Attorney General