The primary goal of the North Charleston Police Department Traffic Unit is to reduce injuries and deaths which occur as a result of traffic collisions. We are committed to accomplish this goal by providing positive and proactive education in the field of traffic related issues and by enforcing the South Carolina traffic laws when necessary.
North Charleston is the 3rd largest city in South Carolina with a residential population of 86,000 and an average of 250,000 motorists use the roadways to travel through the city on a daily basis. North Charleston covers 62 square miles including 2 major Interstate highways. To accommodate the volume of traffic and collisions which occur from this increase of traffic, the North Charleston Police Department has supplimented the number of officers assigned to the Traffic Unit from eight officers in 2000, to nineteen in 2005. Currently the Traffic Unit has has one Captain, one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, two Corporals, and eight officers assigned between an evening and a day shift. Four of those officers are assigned to the Motor Squad.
In addition to enforcing traffic laws, officers also investigate traffic collisions and may also be utilized for any other special situation which requires traffic control. Examples would include major accidents, structure fires, explosions, crowd control, community events, and even high profile dignitary escorts.
Traffic Unit officers receive training in Radar/Lidar speed detection devices, Datamaster, Advanced D.U.I. detection techniques, various traffic collision reconstruction classes and other traffic related classes designed to provide the
