South Carolina Highway Patrol: A Comprehensive Overview

The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) is the state’s primary law enforcement agency responsible for ensuring road safety and enforcing traffic laws [1]. As the largest division of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the SCHP operates with a rank structure akin to the armed forces [1, 2].

Key Facts

  1. The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) is the highway patrol agency for South Carolina, responsible for enforcing traffic laws and ensuring road safety.
  2. The SCHP is the largest division of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
  3. The SCHP has a rank structure similar to the armed forces.
  4. The SCHP has jurisdiction over all South Carolina state highways, U.S. Highways, Interstate highways, and public roads in the state.
  5. The SCHP has specific responsibilities, including traffic law enforcement, traffic collision investigation, and arresting impaired drivers.
  6. The SCHP also has specialized units such as the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), Civil Emergency Response Team (CERT), and Area Coordinated Enforcement (ACE) Team.
  7. The SCHP has around 800 employees, with approximately 650 sworn Troopers and 150 civilians.
  8. The SCHP is divided into ten troops, each responsible for specific counties in South Carolina.
  9. Troop One covers Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Richland, and Sumter counties.
  10. Troop Two covers Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Saluda counties.
  11. Troop Three covers Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties.
  12. Troop Four covers Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Lancaster, Union, and York counties.
  13. Troop Five covers Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg counties.
  14. Troop Six covers Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, and Jasper counties.
  15. Troop Seven covers Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Hampton, and Orangeburg counties.
  16. Troop Eight is the Area Coordinated Enforcement (ACE) Unit.
  17. Troop Nine is the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).
  18. Troop Ten is responsible for community relations, recruiting, training, and other administrative operations.

Jurisdiction and Responsibilities

The SCHP has jurisdiction over all state highways, U.S. Highways, Interstate highways, and public roads in South Carolina [1, 3]. Its primary responsibilities include:

  • Enforcing traffic laws
  • Investigating traffic collisions
  • Apprehending impaired drivers [1, 3]

Specialized Units

In addition to its core responsibilities, the SCHP maintains specialized units to address specific needs:

  • Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT)Investigates complex vehicle crashes using advanced technology and analysis [1, 4].
  • Civil Emergency Response Team (CERT)Responds to civil emergencies with specialized training, tactics, and equipment [1, 4].
  • Area Coordinated Enforcement (ACE) TeamIdentifies areas with high crash rates and implements targeted enforcement to reduce aggressive driving and other unsafe behaviors [1, 4].

Personnel and Organization

The SCHP employs approximately 800 individuals, including 650 sworn Troopers and 150 civilians [1, 3]. The agency is structured into ten troops, each responsible for specific counties in the state [5].

Contact Information

For inquiries or assistance, individuals can contact the SCHP at the following address:

South Carolina Highway Patrol
10311 Wilson Boulevard
Blythewood, SC 29016
Phone: (803) 896-8800 [6]

References

[1] Wikipedia. (2023, February 4). South Carolina Highway Patrol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Highway_Patrol
[2] South Carolina Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Highway Patrol Command Staff. https://scdps.sc.gov/schp/command-staff
[3] South Carolina Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). South Carolina Highway Patrol. https://scdps.sc.gov/schp
[4] South Carolina Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Specialized Units. https://scdps.sc.gov/schp/specialized-units
[5] South Carolina Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Troop Contact Information. https://scdps.sc.gov/schp/contact/troops
[6] South Carolina Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Contact Us. https://scdps.sc.gov/contact-us

FAQs

How many South Carolina State Troopers are there?

There are approximately 650 sworn South Carolina State Troopers. 1

What is the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Highway Patrol?

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has jurisdiction over all state highways, U.S. Highways, Interstate highways, and public roads in South Carolina. 1

What are the primary responsibilities of the South Carolina Highway Patrol?

The primary responsibilities of the South Carolina Highway Patrol include enforcing traffic laws, investigating traffic collisions, and apprehending impaired drivers. 1

What specialized units does the South Carolina Highway Patrol have?

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has several specialized units, including the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), Civil Emergency Response Team (CERT), and Area Coordinated Enforcement (ACE) Team. 1

How do I contact the South Carolina Highway Patrol?

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