Section56-1-770 of the South Carolina Code is titled Points reduced for completing defensive driving course. Here it states:

Any driver who has accumulated points under the provisions of this article shall have the number of his points reduced by four upon proving to the satisfaction of the Department of Motor Vehicles that he has completed the National Safety Council's "Defensive Driving Course" or its equivalent, if the course is completed after the points have been assessed. The course must be taught by an instructor accredited by the National Safety Council whose procedures for accreditation are set forth in "Manual of Rules and Procedures" published by the National Safety Council or equivalent accreditation procedures. The department shall establish procedures by which driver training schools may apply to the department for approval of a defensive driving course which will qualify those successfully completing the course for a reduction in points pursuant to this section. The department shall approve the National Safety Council's "Defensive Driving Course" or its equivalent when offered by driver training schools and taught by an instructor accredited by the National Safety Council or equivalent accreditation procedures. No person's points may be reduced more than one time in any three-year period by the method provided for in this section.

So in basic terms this portion of SC law allows for a driver to reduce points on their license by four (4) upon successful completion of an approved defensive driving course. Only one such reduction in a 3 year period is permitted under this state law though.

The SC Chapter of the National Safety Council notes that for point reduction after one of their defensive driving courses you must mail them your completion certificate in order for them to get your points reduced. If your daughter took her traffic school from a different authorized than she should contact them about where she sends the certificate so that the DMV can be informed and reduce her points.

Here is more specific information from the SC NSC about their courses and how to request the point reduction in case this who your daughter took her class with. They state that completion of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving 8-Hour Course can be used for up to a 4 point reduction in a driver's Motor Vehicle Record for individuals with a valid South Carolina Drivers License.

If the violation date is before the Defensive Driving Course completion date, credit of up to four points will be given. All violations occurring after the completion date of the course will not be accepted.

As you should be aware and as the SC law we mentioned earlier states, point reduction is good once every three (3) years. If an individual has one, two, or three points assessed against their Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) and the individual requests point reduction, the individual will be given however many points showing on their MVR at this time, and will not be eligible to receive point reduction again for three (3) years.

The Defensive Driving Course cannot be used to reinstate a point suspension that has terminated. Suspension candidates are notified by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS)and given a date in which they may be reinstated. After this date they are not eligible for point reduction.

When the South Carolina DPS issues a suspension notice and point reduction has been submitted, the individual should not drive until they are contacted by the Driver Service Department, or has received a renewal driver license.

The Defensive Driving Course is taught throughout South Carolina at the Technical College System locations. Individuals completing the Defensive Driving Course at any of these locations will automatically receive a point reduction unless they request otherwise. All Technical College point reduction rosters are submitted weekly to the South Carolina Highway Department. If time is critical in the point reduction process, the Completion Certificate should be hand carried to the Driver Service Window at 1630 Shop Road in Columbia, SC.

All individuals completing a Defensive Driving Course through any other organization or state may receive point reduction by mailing a copy of their National Safety Council Defensive Driving 8-Hour Completion Certificate (do not send the original) with a money order for $20.00 to:

National Safety Council
South Carolina Chapter
455 Saint Andrews Road
Building D, Suite 1
Columbia, SC 29210

Individuals requesting point reduction may also hand deliver their entire, original Completion Certificate to the Driver Service Window at 1630 Shop Road in Columbia, SC.

The National Safety Council notes that all questions regarding driver license status or violation information should contact the SC DMV Driver Service department at 803-896-5000 since they do not deal directly with people's driving records.

It would appear this information should help your daughter be able to send in a copy of her defensive driving course completion certificate into the correct place and get her points reduced on her MVR. If you or your daughter have more questions about the process or where to send a copy of her completion certificate than contact the National Safety Council directly. Their phone number is 800-733-6185.