Steinberg Law Firm Provides Legal Insights on South Carolina’s Squatted Vehicle Ban

Charleston, South Carolina – Although the “Carolina Squat” didn’t originate in North or South Carolina, as of May 17, 2023, both states have banned this vehicle modification on public roads.

North Carolina banned squatted vehicles in 2021, with Virginia following suit in 2022. Now, South Carolina will also prohibit squat truck drivers from operating their vehicles on the state’s streets.

The new law bans vehicles from public streets if the front fender is four inches taller or lower than the rear fender. Penalties increase with each violation. For a first violation, a driver may be fined $100; for a second violation, $200; and for a third violation, $300 plus suspension of a driver’s license for one year.

These penalties don’t take effect immediately, however. For the first 180 days the law is in effect, South Carolina police may only issue warnings to squatted vehicle drivers. Squat car owners have until November to address their vehicle’s modifications.

The South Carolina legislature passed the new law after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a squatted truck in Myrtle Beach in 2021. Similarly, Virginia’s law changed after a squatted truck crossed the center line of a roadway and hit another driver head-on, causing fatal injuries.

Lack of visibility and changes to headlight placement make squatted trucks more dangerous to drive than their standard counterparts. The higher the front end of a truck goes, the more likely it is to cause death in a pedestrian or bicyclist crash. Higher front ends are more likely to hit a person in the head or torso, causing fatal injuries. The added front height combined with the extra vehicle weight of a pickup truck make it more likely that crashes with cars will result in the elevated vehicle going over the car and hitting the passenger compartment rather than the bumper, causing serious injuries and death.

Squat modifications also add no benefit to the truck beyond adding a certain type of “look.” They can even make trucks less useful by reducing their towing capacity.

”In a perfect world, there would be no need for injury attorneys. Eliminating dangerous vehicles from the road is one step towards preventing serious injury crashes,” said attorney and partner, Michael Jordan.

Attorney Wilson Jackson added, “It’s a plus when South Carolina legislation makes the roads safer for pedestrians and other vehicles that share the road.”

For these reasons, South Carolina personal injury lawyers stand behind the new law.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident or pedestrian crash, talk to the team at the Steinberg Law Firm today. We can help you understand your options and make an informed choice about how to protect your rights.