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 it's a misdemeanor carrying up to $100 or up to 30 days under the chapter's catch-all penalty (S.C. Code § 56-5-6190). 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 it is a misdemeanor; the chapter sets no separate penalty for it, so the catch-all applies, a fine of not more than $100 or up to 30 days (S.C. Code § 56-5-6190). Gross overweight is a misdemeanor on a sliding scale: 4 cents per pound from 500 to 3,500 over, 6 cents per pound from 3,501 to 6,000 counting from the first pound over, then 10 cents per pound from the first pound over once you are 6,001 or more over; axle overweight runs 5 cents per pound or up to 30 days, cut in half with a $25 floor when gross is legal and the axle is no more than 5 percent over (S.C. Code § 56-5-4160). Raw farm or forest products headed to first market, residential garbage in a compactor body, and open-top loads of recyclables or scrap pay half the 4-cent and 6-cent rates.

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