South Carolina Weigh Stations & Ag Inspection

When South Carolina makes you pull in

South Carolina scales run green-for-open, red-for-closed; when it's open, the sign directs trucks in and you pull in. The statute is officer-triggered: an officer with reason to believe you're overweight can order you to a scale (S.C. Code § 56-5-4160). Main stations sit on I-95 (Dorchester), I-85 (Townville), I-77 (York, Rock Hill), and I-26, plus roving State Transport Police. Blow past an open scale and you catch a $100 to $200 fine and a misdemeanor. Drivewyze covers SC; PrePass is expanding.

Stations, bypass, and inspection

• Who must stop: Only when a sign directs
• Where the stations are: Fixed scales sit on I-95 (Dorchester, mile 74 NB), I-85 (Townville, mile 9 NB), I-77 (York mile 84 SB and Rock Hill mile 89 NB), I-26 (mile 174 WB), and I-20, using green-open / red-closed lights. State Transport Police also run portable scales and roving patrols.
• Bypass: Available and growing. Drivewyze PreClear covers South Carolina scales, and PrePass is expanding its site network in the state. Green means stay on the mainline; red or no signal means pull in.
• Ag / border inspection: No agricultural or produce inspection stations. South Carolina enforces weight and safety only, through fixed scales and roving State Transport Police.
• Fine for passing an open station: Fail to stop or evade an open scale and you face a separate $100 to $200 fine plus a misdemeanor. Gross overweight is a misdemeanor on a sliding scale: 4 cents per pound from 500 to 3,500 over, 6 cents to 6,000, then 10 cents per pound beyond that; axle overweight runs 5 cents per pound or up to 30 days. The fine doubles above 25 percent over and triples above 50 percent (S.C. Code § 56-5-4160).

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