Introduction: New Law Takes Effect after Grace Period
On Friday, May 10, the grace period for a new law passed back in November of 2023 expired. Now, the new law – known as the “Carolina Squat” law – will take effect, and consequently, many drivers across the State of South Carolina will be impacted. The new Carolina Squat law makes it illegal for cars to be “squatted,” which means an imbalance in height between the front fender and rear fender. A car is considered squatted when the front fender is raised four inches higher than the rear fender; the law also forbids pickup trucks from raising their front fender six inches or higher, regardless of whether the rear fender is adjusted evenly. Again, this law was passed back in November of last year, but lawmakers gave South Carolinians a 6 month “grace period” to comply. Now that the grace period is over, auto shops around the state are receiving squat adjustment requests on a frequent basis.
Effective November 12, 2023, it will be illegal to operate a “squatted” vehicle on South Carolina roads (SC Code Section 56-5-4445).
“Squatted” vehicles include those with a front or rear fender raised four or more inches higher than the other.
SC law enforcement will only issue warning citations for the first six months after the effective date.
On May 10, 2024, drivers will begin to receive tickets for violations. The new law outlines the following penalties for violations:
1. 1st Offense – $100 fine
2. 2nd Offense – $200 fine
3. 3rd Offense – $300 fine and a license suspension by the Department of Motor Vehicles for twelve months from the date of conviction.To read the legislation (S. C. Code § 56-5-4445) in full, please visit: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t56c005.php#56-5-4445
The Appeal & Risks of Squatted Vehicles
The appeal of squatting is apparently the visual distinctiveness which the process gives to a car, but lawmakers passed the recent squat law because squatting seems to interfere with safety. When cars are squatted, this limits the vision of the driver, and this obviously increases the risks of collisions. Furthermore, not only is squatting risky, it also causes damage to the vehicle in unexpected ways; a squatted car isn’t able to pump fluid as efficiently as it normally would, and this ultimately impacts the power train. This new law can accurately be perceived as an attempt by lawmakers to promote greater overall safety on the road. As we know full well here at the Ted Law Firm, car collisions are a major problem in South Carolina, as the numbers speak for themselves. With this new squat law, the roads will hopefully be improved by at least a bit.
Fixing Squatted Vehicles in South Carolina
The average cost to fix a squatted car is approximately $700, although the precise cost of a given car will depend on the specifics of the case. The number of squatted vehicles in South Carolina is not currently known, but the number is suspected to be quite substantial. Part of the reason for this high number of cases is due to the ease by which squatting can be achieved. According to auto mechanics, the process of raising the front fender in this manner is evidently quite simple, particularly in comparison to other auto body adjustments. Likewise, the process for correcting squatted cars is apparently also simple.
Penalties for Carolina Squat Law Violations
The new Carolina Squat law provides the following penalties for violations: a first offense will lead to a $100 fine, a second offense will lead to a $200 fine, and a third offense will lead to a $300 fine the loss of one’s driving privilege for one year. Given these penalties, auto shops should continue to see a steady stream of calls to fix squatting into the future.
Contact the Ted Law Firm for More Information
If you would like more information on this particular law, or another related topic, contact one of the experienced car accident lawyers at the Ted Law Firm today by calling 888-333-5555
Attorney Ted Sink, founder of The Ted Law Firm, is a Yale, Stanford Business School, and Charleston School of Law graduate and former marketing executive who built a 7-figure law practice, earning millions for his clients. With experience in both law and advertising, Ted has been recognized in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and the ABA Journal. He speaks at industry conferences on marketing and law firm management, sharing insights from his unique background to help other firms grow. When not working, Ted enjoys traveling, diving, and dog-sitting golden retrievers.
