The Equipment Stop
S.C. Code 56-5-4450 — headlights from a half hour after sunset, and whenever the wipers are on for rain
Sunset, sunrise, and the wipers. Every vehicle on a street or highway displays lighted lamps, not just parking lights, from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, and whenever the windshield wipers are in use because of rain, sleet or snow.
The same applies when weather or other conditions make it hard to see people and vehicles five hundred feet ahead. Wipers used only now and then in a misting rain do not trigger the rule.
A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $25. An officer who sees an equipment violation has a reason to stop the car, and what follows is covered on the traffic stop page.
Sources for this section (1)
- S.C. Code 56-5-4450 — Times when vehicles must be equipped with lights
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed South Carolina attorney.