Which agency is the only one allowed to collect cash bonds from violators?

The correct answer identifies the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) as the sole agency authorized to collect cash bonds from violators. This authority is established to ensure a standardized process for handling violations, thus maintaining order and accountability within the state's law enforcement system. The SCHP is specifically tasked with enforcing traffic laws and managing road safety, which includes the role of collecting bonds related to traffic violations.

The reason other options do not apply involves their specific functions and jurisdictions. Local sheriff's departments typically deal with a range of law enforcement matters, but they are not specifically designated to handle cash bonds across the state. State police, while they focus on law enforcement at a broader level within the state, do not have the mandated authority to collect cash bonds from violators. The court system, although involved in the adjudication of legal matters and collection of fines, does not directly handle cash bonds in terms of collection at the point of violation. The specialized function of the SCHP fulfills this role efficiently and directly in relation to traffic violations, reinforcing the structured approach to law enforcement in South Carolina.