S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-6540 – Penalties; enforcement; violation not negligence; violation inadmissible in civil action

(A) A person who violates the provisions of this article, upon conviction, must be fined not more than twenty-five dollars, all or part of which may be suspended. No court costs, assessments, or surcharges may be assessed against the person convicted. No person may be fined more than fifty dollars for any one incident of one or more violations of the provisions of this article. No custodial arrest for a violation of this article may be made, except upon a warrant issued for failure to appear in court when summoned or for failure to pay an imposed fine. A conviction for violation of this article does not constitute a criminal offense. Notwithstanding Section 56-1-640, a conviction for a violation of this article must not be included in the offender's motor vehicle records maintained by the Department of Public Safety or in the criminal records maintained by SLED.
(B) A law enforcement officer must not stop a driver for a violation of this article in the absence of another violation of the motor vehicle laws except as follows:
1. (1) when the officer has probable cause for a violation of this article based on his clear and unobstructed view of a driver seventeen years of age or younger or an occupant of the motor vehicle seventeen years of age or younger who is not wearing a safety belt or is not secured in a child restraint system as required by Article 47; or
2. (2) when the stop is made in conjunction with a driver's license check or registration check conducted at a checkpoint established to stop all drivers on a certain road for a period of time.
(C) A citation for a violation of this article, except for a citation issued pursuant to a stop made under subsection (B)(1), must not be issued without citing the violation that initially caused the officer to effect the enforcement stop.
(D) A citation issued pursuant to a stop made under subsection (B)(1) may be issued without citing any other violation.
(E) A violation of this article does not constitute negligence per se or contributory negligence, and is not admissible as evidence in a civil action.
(F) No vehicle, driver, or occupant in a vehicle may be searched solely because of a violation of this article or a stop made under subsection (B)(1).
Nonuse of seatbelt as reducing amount of damages recoverable. 62 ALR5th 537.