S.C. Code Ann. § 56-19-510 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 19 / Article 4 / Section 56-19-510
SECTION 56-19-510. Owner affixing manufactured home to real property; Manufactured Home Affidavit for the Retirement of Title Certificate; recording and form of affidavit.
Status: in_force

(A) An owner of a manufactured home may affix the home to real property by: (1) installing the home in accordance with the required installation standards and removing the wheels, axles, and towing hitch; and (2) filing with the register of deeds or clerk of court, as appropriate, for the county in which the manufactured home is located the Manufactured Home Affidavit for the Retirement of Title Certificate in the form prescribed in this article together with proof of ownership as evidenced by a copy of the most recent deed of record or other instrument vesting title, and paying the filing fee required for affidavits by Section 8-21-310. (B) The register of deeds or clerk of court must record the affidavit as if it were a deed to real property with the homeowner being identified as grantor and give notification to the county assessor. (C) Upon the filing of the affidavit, the manufactured home is to be treated for all purposes except condemnation as real property and title to the manufactured home is thereby vested in the lawful owner of the real property to which it is affixed. A warning notice to those filing the affidavit must be included in the affidavit. (D) The Manufactured Home Affidavit for the Retirement of Title Certificate must be in the following form: (1) Name of Owner:_ (2) Description of Manufactured Home: (3) Check whichever is applicable: _____The above described manufactured home is not subject to a security lien. _____The above described manufactured home is subject to a security lien and a separate affidavit, as required by law, will be filed naming the secured parties. (4) Check whichever is applicable: _____The above described manufactured home is located in a jurisdiction with locally enforced building and safety codes adopted pursuant to Title 6, Chapter 9 and attached to this form is written evidence of compliance with the applicable codes as of the date the manufactured home was permanently affixed to the above described real property. Written evidence of compliance includes, but is not limited to, a copy of a certificate of occupancy, a statement from the code enforcement office, an inspection report, or any documentation of similar effect from the local code enforcement office having the appropriate jurisdiction. Only one document should be attached to this form. _____The above described manufactured home is not located in a jurisdiction with locally enforced building and safety codes adopted pursuant to Title 6, Chapter 9 applicable to manufactured homes. (5) Full legal description of the property to which the manufactured home is currently, or is to be, affixed using metes and bounds or reference to recorded plat by book and page. (A separate sheet identified as "Exhibit A" may be attached.) (6) Derivation: This being the identical or a portion of property conveyed or leased to the owner by deed or lease from ___________________________________________ and recorded ____________ in Book _____________ at page _________________. Tax map number ________________________ Tax billing address ______________________ (7) The above-described manufactured home is permanently affixed or is to be permanently affixed to the above-described real property and the title certificate is to be retired in accordance with applicable law. (8) Check if applicable: ______The owner of the manufactured home owns or has a leasehold estate of thirty-five or more years in the real property to which the manufactured home is affixed. (9) WARNING: the execution and filing of this affidavit transfers ownership of the manufactured home to the lawful owner of the real property to which it is affixed. The owner certifies that the above information provided by the owner is true and correct to the best information and belief of the owner. Before me, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared ______________________________, who, being duly sworn, deposed and said that (s)he saw ___________________________________, sign, seal, and deliver the foregoing Affidavit and that (s)he, together with ____________________________ witnessed the execution thereof.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-9-80 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 9 / Article 1 / Section 56-9-80
SECTION 56-9-80. General penalties for violations of chapter.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter, for which no penalty is otherwise provided, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-9-470 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 9 / Article 5 / Section 56-9-470
SECTION 56-9-470. Suspension to continue until judgment paid and financial responsibility proved; effect of discharge in bankruptcy.
Status: in_force

The license, registration and nonresident's operating privilege shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 56-9-460, remain suspended and shall not be renewed nor shall any license or registration be thereafter issued in the name of that person, including that person if not previously licensed, until every judgment is satisfied in full or to the extent provided in Section 56-9-480 and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility, subject to the exemptions stated in Sections 56-9-440 to 56-9-460 and 56-9-490. A discharge in bankruptcy following the rendering of any judgment shall not relieve the judgment debtor from any of the requirements of this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-1660 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 12 / Section 56-3-1660
SECTION 56-3-1660. Effect of article on rest of chapter.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this article shall not affect the registration and licensing of motor vehicles as required by other provisions of this chapter but shall be cumulative thereto.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-6520 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 48 / Section 56-5-6520
SECTION 56-5-6520. Mandatory use of seat belt.
Status: in_force

The driver and every occupant of a motor vehicle, when it is being operated on the public streets and highways of this State, must wear a fastened safety belt which complies with all provisions of federal law for its use. The driver is charged with the responsibility of requiring each occupant seventeen years of age or younger to wear a safety belt or be secured in a child restraint system as provided in Article 47 of this chapter. However, a driver is not responsible for an occupant seventeen years of age or younger who has a driver's license, special restricted license, or beginner's permit and who is not wearing a seat belt; such occupant is in violation of this article and must be fined in accordance with Section 56-5-6540.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3420 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 27 / Section 56-5-3420
SECTION 56-5-3420. Rights and duties of bicyclists generally.
Status: in_force

A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special provisions in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-6220 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 43 / Section 56-5-6220
SECTION 56-5-6220. Entry of guilty plea, forfeiture of bail posted, or entry of plea of nolo contendere to have same effect as conviction after trial.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the entry of any plea of guilty, the forfeiture of any bail posted or the entry of plea of nolo contendere for a violation of the traffic laws of this State or any political subdivision thereof shall have the same effect as a conviction after trial under the provisions of such traffic laws. Provided, however, that in any such case where bail is posted by the defendant, no forfeiture of such bail shall become effective until ten days following the date of arrest nor shall the defendant be required to plead prior to the elapse of such ten-day period. Provided, further that the provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit a defendant from voluntarily entering a plea or forfeiting bail within the ten-day period.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-20 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 56-3-20
SECTION 56-3-20. Definitions.
Status: reserved

For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined as follows: (1) Reserved. (2) Reserved. (3) Reserved. (4) Reserved. (5) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol), police vehicles, and the ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations designated or authorized by the department or the chief of police of an incorporated municipality. (6) "School bus" means every bus owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the transportation of children to or from school or privately owned and operated for the transportation of children to or from school. (7) "Truck tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not constructed so as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load drawn. (8) "Farm tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry. (9) "Road tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles and not constructed so as to carry a load on it either independently or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load drawn. (10) "Truck" means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. (11) "Special mobile equipment" includes every vehicle, with or without motive power, not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or pay-load property and incidentally operated or moved over the highways, including farm tractors, road construction and maintenance machinery, ditch-digging apparatus, well-boring apparatus, truck cranes or mobile shovel cranes, and similar vehicles; this enumeration is deemed partial and does not operate to exclude other vehicles which are within the general terms of this definition. (12) "Bus" means every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten passengers and used for the transportation of persons and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. (13) "Trailer" means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle. (14) "Semitrailer" means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle. (15) "Pole trailer" means every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes, or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections. (16) "Foreign vehicle" means every vehicle of a type required to be registered brought into this State from another state, territory, or country other than in the ordinary course of business by or through a manufacturer or dealer and not registered in this State. (17) "Implement of husbandry" means every vehicle which is designed for agricultural purposes and exclusively used by its owner in the conduct of his agricultural operations. (18) "Solid tire" means every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load. (19) "Gross weight" or "gross weight vehicle" means the weight of a vehicle without load plus the weight of any load on it. (20) "Load capacity" means the maximum weight of the pay load of the property intended to be transported by a vehicle or combination of vehicles, exclusive of the weight of the vehicle or vehicles. (21) "Owner" means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or, in the event (a) a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee or (b) a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor is deemed the owner for the purpose of this chapter. (22) Reserved. (23) "Dealer" or "motor vehicle dealer" means both "dealer" and "wholesaler" as defined in Chapter 15 of this title. (24) Reserved. (25) "Street" or "highway" means the entire width between boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part of it is open to the use of the public for vehicular travel. (26) "Odometer" means an instrument for measuring and recording the actual distance a motor vehicle travels while in operation; it does not include an auxiliary instrument designed to be reset by the operator of the motor vehicle for the purpose of recording the distance traveled on trips. (27) "Odometer reading" means actual cumulative distance traveled disclosed on the odometer. (28) "Odometer disclosure statement" means a statement, as prescribed by item (4) of Section 56-3-240, certified by the owner of the motor vehicle to the transferee or to the Department of Motor Vehicles as to the odometer reading. (29) Reserved. (30) Reserved. (31) Reserved. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, the amendments made by 2017 Act No. 34 and 2017 Act No. 89 were read together. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 34, SECTION 4, reserved (30), which related to the definition of "automotive three-wheel vehicle". 2017 Act No. 34, SECTION 5, reserved (31), which related to the definition of "motorcycle three-wheel vehicle". 2017 Act No. 89, SECTION 12, reserved (1) to (4), which had related to the definitions of "vehicle", "motor vehicle", "motorcycle", and "motor-driven cycle"; reserved (22), which had related to the definition of "nonresident"; reserved (24), which had been deleted; reserved (29), which had related to the definition of "moped"; and made a nonsubstantive change.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-765 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 5 / Section 56-5-765
SECTION 56-5-765. Investigations of traffic collisions involving a motor vehicle or motorcycle of a law enforcement agency.
Status: in_force

(A) When a motor vehicle or motorcycle of a law enforcement agency, except a motor vehicle or motorcycle of the Department of Public Safety, is involved in a traffic collision that: (1) results in an injury or a death, or (2) involves a privately-owned motor vehicle or motorcycle, regardless of whether another motor vehicle or motorcycle is involved, the State Highway Patrol must investigate the collision and must file a report with findings on whether the agency motor vehicle or motorcycle was operated properly within the guidelines of appropriate statutes and regulations. (B) When a motor vehicle or motorcycle of the Department of Public Safety is involved in a traffic collision that: (1) results in an injury or a death, or (2) involves a privately-owned motor vehicle or motorcycle, regardless of whether another motor vehicle or motorcycle is involved, the sheriff of the county in which the collision occurred must investigate the collision, regardless of whether the collision occurred within an incorporated jurisdiction, and must file a report with findings on whether the Department of Public Safety's motor vehicle or motorcycle was operated properly within the guidelines of appropriate statutes and regulations. (C) A law enforcement department or agency must not investigate a traffic collision in which a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, or an employee of that department or agency is involved that: (1) results in an injury or a death, or (2) involves a privately-owned motor vehicle or motorcycle, regardless of whether another motor vehicle or motorcycle is involved. (D) A law enforcement agency that has primary responsibility for an investigation involving a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, or an employee of another department or agency, but lacks the expertise to conduct a proper investigation, may request assistance from another agency that has the appropriate expertise, as long as the assisting agency or an employee of the assisting agency is not a subject of the investigation. A request made pursuant to this subsection shall result in a joint investigation conducted by both agencies. (E) A person who knowingly and wilfully violates the provisions of subsection (C) is subject to punishment as provided for in Section 8-1-80, even if the person's authority extends beyond a single election or judicial district. (F) An investigation of a traffic collision involving a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, or an employee of a law enforcement agency or department must include a field investigation to identify possible witnesses, including possible witnesses not involved in the traffic collision, but who may have witnessed the traffic collision from a vantage point other than the collision site. (G) For purposes of this section, "involved in a traffic collision" includes a law enforcement motor vehicle or motorcycle engaged in a pursuit when a traffic collision occurs.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2600 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 19 / Section 56-5-2600
SECTION 56-5-2600. Parking violations; grace period.
Status: in_force

A local governing authority that has issued a citation to a person who violates a provision that regulates the parking of vehicles shall allow the person thirty days to pay the original fine assessed before the local governing authority may increase the fine by any amount.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-3400 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 15 / Section 56-1-3400
SECTION 56-1-3400. False or fictitious information or fraud a violation.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall use a false or fictitious name or give a fictitious address in any application for an identification card or renewal thereof, or knowingly make a false statement or conceal a material fact or otherwise commit a fraud in any such application, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4870 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4870
SECTION 56-5-4870. Maintenance and adjustment of brakes.
Status: in_force

All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-10-552 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 10 / Article 5 / Section 56-10-552
SECTION 56-10-552. Uninsured Enforcement Fund; use of reinstatement fee.
Status: in_force

(A) For each two dollars of the yearly premium for uninsured motorist coverage paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 38-73-470, one dollar twenty cents must be placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167. The remaining eighty cents must be placed in a special fund, to be known as the "Uninsured Enforcement Fund", to be used by the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of enforcement and administration of Article 3, Chapter 10, Title 56. (B) Fifty percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-520 must be transferred by the Department of Public Safety and recorded to the Uninsured Enforcement Fund to be used by the Department of Public Safety as provided by subsection (A) of this section. The remaining fifty percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-520 must be retained in the Uninsured Motorist Fund to be used as provided in Sections 56-10-550, 38-77-151, and 38-77-154. Editor's Note 2023 Act No. 51, SECTION 40(B), provides as follows: "[SECTION 40.](B) SECTION 5 takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year following twelve months after approval by the Governor." Effect of Amendment 2023 Act No. 51, SECTION 5, made a nonsubstantive change in (A); and in (B), in the first sentence, substituted "Section 56-10-520" for "Section 56-10-510(1)", and in the second sentence, substituted "Section 56-10-520" for "Section 56-10-510".
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-15-340 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 15 / Article 3 / Section 56-15-340
SECTION 56-15-340. Records.
Status: in_force

(A) Every dealer or wholesaler shall keep complete records of each transaction under which a motor vehicle is transferred for a period of not less than four years from the date of the transaction. The records must show the true name and correct address of the person or persons from whom the motor vehicle was acquired and the date of the transaction; a correct description of the vehicle, when transferred; the true name and correct address of the person to whom the motor vehicle was transferred; and the date of the transaction. The description of the motor vehicle must include the vehicle identification number, make, model, type of body, and the odometer readings at the time the motor vehicle was transferred to and from the dealer or wholesaler. These records must be open at all reasonable times for inspection and copying by the Department of Motor Vehicles or any of its duly authorized agents. (B) The records kept by the dealer or wholesaler must be maintained in a reasonably organized and orderly fashion with all entries being legible to the ordinary person upon inspection. Any records which are illegible or incapable of accurate interpretation by either the recordkeeper or the department's inspector or agent are not in compliance with this section. (C) If any dealer or wholesaler fails to keep the required records or fails to make them available to the department or its duly authorized agents immediately upon a reasonable request, the dealer or wholesaler is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for up to thirty days. The failure to keep or to make available to the department or its duly authorized agents complete records on each separate motor vehicle constitutes a separate offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4640 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4640
SECTION 56-5-4640. Lights on parked vehicles.
Status: in_force

Whenever a vehicle is lawfully parked upon a street or highway during the hours between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise and in the event there is sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of five hundred feet upon such street or highway, no lights need be displayed upon such parked vehicle. Whenever a vehicle is parked or stopped upon a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto, whether attended or unattended, during the hours between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise and there is not sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of five hundred feet upon such highway, such vehicle so parked or stopped shall be equipped with one or more lamps meeting the following requirements: At least one lamp shall display a white or amber light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of the vehicle and the same lamp or at least one other lamp shall display a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear of the vehicle, and the location of such lamp or lamps shall always be such that at least one lamp or combination of lamps meeting the requirements of this section is installed as near as practicable to the side of the vehicle which is closest to passing traffic. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to a motor-driven cycle. Any lighted head lamps upon a parked vehicle shall be depressed or dimmed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4170 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 33 / Section 56-5-4170
SECTION 56-5-4170. Intermodal trailer, chassis, or container; tender; safety inspections; penalties and repairs; exceptions.
Status: in_force

(A) For purposes of enforcing this section, "vehicle" means intermodal trailer, chassis, or container. (B) A tender shall not tender or interchange a vehicle for use on any highway which is in violation of the requirements contained in the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). A motor carrier shall not certify or guarantee to a person tendering or interchanging a vehicle to a motor carrier that the vehicle complies with the FMCSR unless the tenderer of the vehicle provides the motor carrier operator with certification that the vehicle meets FMCSR requirements. Before an operator may accept a vehicle, the tenderer must allow the motor carrier operator adequate equipment, time, and facilities to conduct a walk-around pre-trip inspection of the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to meet federal safety requirements, the tenderer immediately must make any necessary repairs to the vehicle so that it complies with applicable safety standards or immediately make available a replacement vehicle which meets the safety requirements. (C) The Department of Public Safety State Transport Police, if requested by the State Ports Authority, may as a public safety service, enter upon, and perform courtesy inspections of vehicles for purposes of identifying and tagging vehicles which may require mechanical work before being tendered for use on public highways. (D) If a vehicle that is tendered is placed out of service as a result of a roadside inspection within five complete working days from the time the motor carrier is tendered, the vehicle as indicated on the equipment interchange agreement, then the operator must be reimbursed for all fines and penalties incurred pursuant to the out-of-service order, including reimbursement for all equipment repair expenses necessary to bring the vehicle into compliance with FMCSR, unless the fines, penalties, or repair expenses are due to actions or omissions of the motor carrier operator after the vehicle was tendered. Reimbursement must be made to the operator no later than thirty days after the date of conviction and must include payment for the following equipment repairs: (1) Brake Adjustments: push rod travel exceeds limits. (2) Brake Drum: (a) drum cracks; (b) lining thickness loose or missing; (c) lining saturated with oil. (3) Inoperative Brakes: (a) no movement of any components; (b) missing or broken (loose) components; (c) mismatch components. (4) Air Lines and Tubing: (a) bulge and swelling; (b) audible leak other than proper connection; (c) air lines broken, cracked, or crimped. (5) Reservoir Tank: any separation of original attachment points. (6) Frames: (a) any cracked, loose, sagging, or broken frame members which measured one and one-half inch in web or one inch or longer in bottom flange or any crack extending from web radius into bottom flange; (b) any condition which causes moving parts to come in contact with the frame. (7) Electrical. (8) Wheel Assembly: (a) low or no oil; (b) oil leakage on brake components. (9) Tire Separation: (a) tire separation from casing; (b) two inches of plies exposed. (10) Rim Cracks: (a) any circumferential crack except manufactured; (b) lock or side ring cracked, bent, broken, sprung, improperly seated, or mismatched. (11) Suspension: (a) spring assembly leaves broken, missing, or separated; (b) spring hanger, u-bolts, or axle positioning components cracked, broken, loose, or missing. (12) Chassis Locking Pins: any twist lock or fitting for securement which is sprung, broken, or improperly latched. (E) If the originating motor carrier interchanges the vehicle to another mode of transportation or warehouse in substantially the same condition as it was tendered originally to the motor carrier, the originating motor carrier is relieved of any further responsibility for the condition of the vehicle. (F) The Department of Public Safety shall develop and maintain a separate database on roadside vehicle inspection reports for power unit defects and for defects on any vehicle tendered to the motor carrier. The database may be used to identify and monitor those entities whose responsibility it is to provide any vehicle to motor carriers in roadworthy conditions as prescribed by the FMCSR. Roadside vehicle inspection reports noting defects on any vehicle where there is not ownership by the motor carrier must not be used or applied against the motor carrier when this information may affect the motor carrier's overall record of compliance with the FMCSR. (G) Nothing in this section prevents a tenderer who is a railroad or a rail intermodal carrier and a motor carrier operator from agreeing to a different allocation of responsibility for compliance of a vehicle with the requirements of this section when the vehicle is owned or has been in the possession of or under the control of a railroad or rail intermodal carrier. This subsection does not apply to Section 56-5-4170(E).
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2330 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 17 / Section 56-5-2330
SECTION 56-5-2330. Stop signs and yield signs.
Status: in_force

(a) Preferential right-of-way may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs as authorized by the Department of Transportation or local authorities. (b) Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering it. After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. (c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall in obedience to such sign slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the cross-walk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting road before entering it. After slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. If such driver is involved in a collision with a vehicle in the intersection or junction of roadways, after driving past a yield sign without stopping, the collision shall be deemed prima facie evidence of his failure to yield right-of-way.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-475 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-475
SECTION 56-1-475. Driver permitted to drive in State with valid out-of-state license after expiration of state period of suspension.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 56-1-400 of the 1976 Code, a person whose driver's license has been suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles who has moved his residence to another state and has obtained a valid driver's license in such state may lawfully operate a motor vehicle within this State after the expiration of the period of time for which his South Carolina driver's license was suspended.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-615 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 56-5-615
SECTION 56-5-615. Freeway defined.
Status: in_force

A "freeway" is a multilane divided highway with full control of access, and grade separated interchanges, of the type comprising the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, or other highways built essentially in conformance to the standards of them.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3450 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 27 / Section 56-5-3450
SECTION 56-5-3450. Clinging to vehicles prohibited.
Status: in_force

A person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle may not attach it or them or himself to a vehicle upon a roadway.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2941 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 23 / Section 56-5-2941
SECTION 56-5-2941. Ignition interlock device.
Status: in_force

(A)(1) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall require a person who is convicted of violating the provisions of Sections 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, 56-5-2945, 56-5-2947 except if the conviction was for Section 56-5-750, or a law of another state that prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or who is issued a temporary alcohol license pursuant to Section 56-1-286 or 56-5-2951, to have installed on any motor vehicle the person drives, except a moped or motorcycle, an ignition interlock device designed to prevent driving of the motor vehicle if the person has consumed alcoholic beverages. This requirement shall not apply to a person who submitted to a breath test pursuant to Section 56-5-2950 and had an alcohol concentration of .00 one-hundredths of one percent. (2) The department may waive the requirements of this section if the department determines that the person has a medical condition that makes the person incapable of properly operating the installed device. If the department grants a medical waiver, the department shall suspend the person's driver's license for the length of time that the person would have been required to hold an ignition interlock restricted license. The department may withdraw the waiver at any time that the department becomes aware that the person's medical condition has improved to the extent that the person has become capable of properly operating an installed device. (3) The department also shall require a person who has enrolled in the Ignition Interlock Device Program in lieu of the remainder of a driver's license suspension, denial of license to operate a vehicle as an habitual offender pursuant to Section 56-1-1090, or denial of the issuance of a driver's license or permit to have an ignition interlock device installed on any motor vehicle the person drives, except a moped or motorcycle. (4) The length of time that a device is required to be affixed to a motor vehicle is set forth in Section 56-1-286; 56-1-1090; 56-5-2945; 56-5-2951; 56-5-2990; or 56-5-2947, except if the conviction was for Section 56-5-750. (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require installation of an ignition interlock device until the suspension is upheld at a contested case hearing or the contested hearing is waived. (B) Notwithstanding the pleadings, for purposes of a second or a subsequent offense, the specified length of time that a device is required to be affixed to a motor vehicle is based on the Department of Motor Vehicle's records for offenses pursuant to Section 56-1-286; 56-1-1090; 56-5-2930; 56-5-2933; 56-5-2945; 56-5-2950; 56-5-2951; or 56-5-2947, except if the conviction was for Section 56-5-750. (C) If a resident of this State is convicted of violating a law of another state that prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and, as a result of the conviction, the person is subject to an ignition interlock device requirement in the other state, the person is subject to the requirements of this section for the length of time that would have been required for an offense committed in South Carolina, or for the length of time that is required by the other state, whichever is longer. (D) If a person from another state becomes a resident of South Carolina while subject to an ignition interlock device requirement in another state, the person only may obtain a South Carolina driver's license if the person enrolls in the South Carolina Ignition Interlock Device Program pursuant to this section. The person is subject to the requirements of this section for the length of time that would have been required for an offense committed in South Carolina, or for the length of time that is required by the other state, whichever is longer. (E) The person must be subject to an Ignition Interlock Device Point System managed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. A person accumulating a total of: (1) two points or more, but less than three points, must have the length of time that the device is required extended by two months; (2) three points or more, but less than four points, must have the length of time that the device is required extended by four months, shall submit to a substance abuse assessment pursuant to Section 56-5-2990, and shall successfully complete the plan of education and treatment, or both, as recommended by the certified substance abuse program. Should the person not complete the recommended plan, or not make progress toward completing the plan, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the person's ignition interlock restricted license until the plan is completed or progress is being made toward completing the plan; (3) four points or more must have the person's ignition interlock restricted license suspended for a period of six months, shall submit to a substance abuse assessment pursuant to Section 56-5-2990, and successfully shall complete the plan of education and treatment, or both, as recommended by the certified substance abuse program. Should the person not complete the recommended plan or not make progress toward completing the plan, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall leave the person's ignition interlock restricted license in suspended status, or, if the license has already been reinstated following the six-month suspension, shall resuspend the person's ignition interlock restricted license until the plan is completed or progress is being made toward completing the plan. The Office of Substance Use Services is responsible for notifying the Department of Motor Vehicles of a person's completion and compliance with education and treatment programs. Upon reinstatement of driving privileges following the six-month suspension, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall reset the person's point total to zero points, and the person shall complete the remaining period of time on the ignition interlock device. (F) The cost of the device must be borne by the person. However, unless a person is participating in the Ignition Interlock Device Program as an habitual offender pursuant to Section 56-1-1090(A), if the person is indigent and cannot afford the cost of the device, the person may submit an affidavit of indigency to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for a determination of indigency as it pertains to the cost of the device. The affidavit of indigency form must be made publicly accessible on the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' internet website. If the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services determines that the person is indigent as it pertains to the device, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services may authorize a device to be affixed to the motor vehicle and the cost of the initial installation and standard use of the device to be paid for by the Ignition Interlock Device Fund managed by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. Funds remitted to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for the Ignition Interlock Device Fund also may be used by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to support the Ignition Interlock Device Program. For purposes of this section, a person is indigent if the person is financially unable to afford the cost of the ignition interlock device. In making a determination whether a person is indigent, all factors concerning the person's financial conditions should be considered including, but not limited to, income, debts, assets, number of dependents claimed for tax purposes, living expenses, and family situation. A presumption that the person is indigent is created if the person's net family income is less than or equal to the poverty guidelines established and revised annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services published in the Federal Register. "Net income" means gross income minus deductions required by law. The determination of indigency is subject to periodic review at the discretion of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. (G) The ignition interlock service provider shall collect and remit monthly to the Ignition Interlock Device Fund a fee as determined by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services not to exceed thirty dollars per month for each month the person is required to drive a vehicle with a device. A service provider who fails to properly remit funds to the Ignition Interlock Device Fund may be decertified as a service provider by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. If a service provider is decertified for failing to remit funds to the Ignition Interlock Device Fund, the cost for removal and replacement of a device must be borne by the service provider. (H)(1) The person shall have the device inspected every sixty days to verify that the device is affixed to the motor vehicle and properly operating, and to allow for the preparation of an ignition interlock device inspection report by the service provider indicating the person's alcohol content at each attempt to start and running retest during each sixty-day period. Failure of the person to have the interlock device inspected every sixty days must result in one ignition interlock device point. (2) Only a service provider authorized by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to perform inspections on ignition interlock devices may conduct inspections. The service provider immediately shall report devices that fail inspection to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. The report must contain the person's name, identify the vehicle upon which the failed device is installed, and the reason for the failed inspection. (3) If the inspection report reflects that the person has failed to complete a running retest, the person must be assessed one ignition interlock device point. (4) If any inspection report or any photographic images collected by the device shows that the person has violated subsection (M), (O), or (P), the person must be assessed one and one-half ignition interlock device points. (5) The inspection report must indicate the person's alcohol content at each attempt to start and running retest during each sixty-day period. If the report reflects that the person violated a running retest by having an alcohol concentration of: (a) two one-hundredths of one percent or more but less than four one-hundredths of one percent, the person must be assessed one-half ignition interlock device point; (b) four one-hundredths of one percent or more but less than fifteen one-hundredths of one percent, the person must be assessed one ignition interlock device point; or (c) fifteen one-hundredths of one percent or more, the person must be assessed two ignition interlock device points. (6) A person may appeal less than four ignition interlock device points received to an administrative hearing officer with the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services through a process established by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. The administrative hearing officer's decision on appeal is final and no appeal from such decision is allowed. (I)(1) If a person's license is suspended due to the accumulation of four or more ignition interlock device points, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services must provide a notice of assessment of ignition interlock points which must advise the person of his right to request a contested case hearing before the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings. The notice of assessment of ignition interlock points also must advise the person that, if he does not request a contested case hearing within thirty days of the issuance of the notice of assessment of ignition interlock points, he waives his right to the administrative hearing and the person's driver's license is suspended pursuant to subsection (E). (2) The person may seek relief from the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' determination that a person's license is suspended due to the accumulation of four or more ignition interlock device points by filing a request for a contested case hearing with the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. The filing of the request for a contested case hearing will stay the driver's license suspension pending the outcome of the hearing. However, the filing of the request for a contested case hearing will not stay the requirements of the person having the ignition interlock device. (3) At the contested case hearing: (a) the assessment of driver's license suspension can be upheld; (b) the driver's license suspension can be overturned, or any or all of the contested ignition interlock points included in the device inspection report that results in the contested suspension can be overturned, and the penalties as specified pursuant to subsection (E) will then be imposed accordingly. (4) A contested case hearing must be held after the request for the hearing is received by the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings. Nothing in this section prohibits the introduction of evidence at the contested case hearing on the issue of the accuracy of the ignition interlock device. However, if the ignition interlock device is found to not be in working order due to failure of regular maintenance and upkeep by the person challenging the accumulation of ignition interlock points pursuant to the requirement of the ignition interlock program, such allegation cannot serve as a basis to overturn point accumulations. (5) A written order must be issued by the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings to all parties either reversing or upholding the assessment of ignition interlock points. (6) A contested case hearing is governed by the Administrative Procedures Act, and a person has a right to appeal the decision of the hearing officer pursuant to that act to the Administrative Law Court in accordance with its appellate rules. The filing of an appeal does not stay the ignition interlock requirement. (J) Five years from the date of the person's driver's license reinstatement and every five years thereafter, a fourth or subsequent offender whose license has been reinstated pursuant to Section 56-1-385, or a person with a lifetime ignition interlock requirement due to a conviction on or after October 1, 2014, may apply to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for removal of the ignition interlock device and the removal of the restriction from the person's driver's license. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services may, for good cause shown, notify the Department of Motor Vehicles that the person is eligible to have the restriction removed from the person's license. (K)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for a person who is subject to the provisions of this section to drive a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a properly operating, certified ignition interlock device. A person who violates this subsection: (a) for a first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year. The person must have the length of time that the ignition interlock device is required extended by six months; (b) for a second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three years. The person must have the length of time that the ignition interlock device is required extended by one year; and (c) for a third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten years. The person must have the length of time that the ignition interlock device is required extended by three years. (2) No portion of the minimum sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection may be suspended. (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a first or second offense punishable pursuant to this subsection may be tried in summary court. (4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent a person who is participating in the Ignition Interlock Device Program pursuant to Section 56-1-1090(A) and who drives a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a properly operating, certified ignition interlock device from being charged with a violation of Section 56-1-1100, or Section 56-1-1105. (L)(1) A person who is required in the course and scope of the person's employment to drive a motor vehicle owned by the person's employer may drive the employer's motor vehicle without installation of an ignition interlock device, provided that the person's use of the employer's motor vehicle is solely for the employer's business purposes. (2) This subsection does not apply to: (a) a person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, 56-5-2945, or a law of another state that prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, unless the person's driving privileges have been suspended for not less than one year or the person has had an ignition interlock device installed for not less than one year on each of the motor vehicles owned or operated, or both, by the person; (b) a person who is self-employed or to a person who is employed by a business owned in whole or in part by the person or a member of the person's household or immediate family unless during the defense of a criminal charge, the court finds that the vehicle's ownership by the business serves a legitimate business purpose and that titling and registration of the vehicle by the business was not done to circumvent the intent of this section; or (c) a person participating in the Ignition Interlock Device Program as an habitual offender pursuant to Section 56-1-1090(A). (3) Whenever the person operates the employer's vehicle pursuant to this subsection, the person shall have with the person a copy of the Department of Motor Vehicles' form specified by Section 56-1-400(B). (4) This subsection will be construed in parallel with the requirements of Section 56-1-400(B). A waiver issued pursuant to this subsection will be subject to the same review and revocation as described in Section 56-1-400(B). (M) It is unlawful for a person to tamper with or disable, or attempt to tamper with or disable, an ignition interlock device installed on a motor vehicle pursuant to this section. Obstructing or obscuring the camera lens of an ignition interlock device constitutes tampering. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. (N) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly rent, lease, or otherwise provide a person who is subject to this section with a motor vehicle without a properly operating, certified ignition interlock device. This subsection does not apply if the person began the lease contract period for the motor vehicle prior to the person's arrest for a first offense violation of Section 56-5-2930 or 56-5-2933 or prior to a person who is participating in the Ignition Interlock Device Program as an habitual offender pursuant to Section 56-1-1090(A) receiving his license with an ignition interlock restriction. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. (O) It is unlawful for a person who is subject to the provisions of this section to solicit or request another person, or for a person to solicit or request another person on behalf of a person who is subject to the provisions of this section, to engage an ignition interlock device to start a motor vehicle with a device installed pursuant to this section or to conduct a running retest while the vehicle is in operation. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. (P) It is unlawful for another person on behalf of a person subject to the provisions of this section to engage an ignition interlock device to start a motor vehicle with a device installed pursuant to this section or to conduct a running retest while that vehicle is in operation. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. (Q) Only ignition interlock devices certified by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services may be used to fulfill the requirements of this section. (1) The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall certify whether a device meets the accuracy requirements and specifications provided in guidelines or regulations adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as amended from time to time. Manufacturers of ignition interlock devices shall apply to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for certification of devices provided to South Carolina drivers who are subject to the ignition interlock restriction. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services may charge an initial annual fee on the manufacturer's application for certification of each device, and a subsequent fee for every year the manufacturer continues to provide the certified device to South Carolina drivers. This fee shall be remitted to the Ignition Interlock Device Fund for use by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services in support of the Ignition Interlock Device Program. (2) All devices certified to be used in South Carolina must be set to prohibit the starting of a motor vehicle when an alcohol concentration of two one-hundredths of one percent or more is measured and all running retests must record violations of an alcohol concentration of two one-hundredths of one percent or more, and must capture a photographic image of the driver as the driver is operating the ignition interlock device. The photographic images recorded by the ignition interlock device may be used by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to aid in the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' management of the Ignition Interlock Device Program; however, neither the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' employees, nor any other political subdivision of this State may be held liable for any injury caused by a driver or other person who operates a motor vehicle after the use or attempted use of an ignition interlock device. (3) The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall maintain a current list of certified ignition interlock devices and manufacturers. The list must be updated at least quarterly. If a particular certified device fails to continue to meet federal requirements, the device must be decertified, may not be used until it is compliant with federal requirements, and must be replaced with a device that meets federal requirements. The cost for removal and replacement must be borne by the manufacturer of the noncertified device. (4) Only ignition interlock installers certified by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services may install and service ignition interlock devices required pursuant to this section. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall maintain a current list of vendors that are certified to install the devices. (R) In addition to availability under the Freedom of Information Act, any Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' policy concerning ignition interlock devices must be made publicly accessible on the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services' internet website. The information regarding a person's participation in the Ignition Interlock Device Program recorded by the ignition interlock device is collected at the direction of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and is a record of the department. Information obtained by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and ignition interlock service providers regarding a person's participation in the Ignition Interlock Device Program is to be used for internal purposes only and is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. A person participating in the Ignition Interlock Device Program or the person's family member may request that the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services provide the person or family member with information obtained by the department and ignition interlock service providers. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services may release the information to the person or family member at the department's discretion. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and ignition interlock service providers must purge all photographic images collected by the device no later than twelve months from the date of the person's completion of the Ignition Interlock Device Program. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services may retain the images past twelve months if there are any pending appeals or contested case hearings involved with that person, and at their conclusion must purge the images. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and ignition interlock service providers must purge all personal information regarding a person's participation in the Ignition Interlock Device Program no later than twelve months from the date of the person's completion of the Ignition Interlock Device Program except for that information which is relevant for pending legal matters. (S) The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall develop policies including, but not limited to, the certification, use, maintenance, and operation of ignition interlock devices and the Ignition Interlock Device Fund. (T) This section shall apply retroactively to any person currently serving a suspension or denial of the issuance of a license or permit due to a suspension listed in subsection (A). Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18. Editor's Note 2023 Act No. 55, SECTION 10, provides as follows: "SECTION 10.A. Sections 56-5-2941(J), (Q)(1), and (R), as amended by this act, take effect upon approval by the Governor. "B. Except as otherwise provided, this act takes effect one year after the date approved by the Governor." Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 89, SECTION 34, in (A), inserted ", except a moped" twice, and made a nonsubstantive change. 2023 Act No. 55, SECTION 7, in (J), in the first sentence, inserted ", or a person with a lifetime ignition interlock requirement due to a conviction on or after October 1, 2014,"; in (Q), in (1), added the second through fourth sentences and redesignated the former second and third sentences as (2), and redesignated former (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively; and in (R), inserted the second sentence and made nonsubstantive changes. 2023 Act No. 55, SECTION 7, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-690 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 2 / Section 56-1-690
SECTION 56-1-690. Withdrawal from compact.
Status: in_force

Any party state may withdraw from the compact, but no withdrawal may take effect until six months after the executive heads of all other party states have received notice. Withdrawal does not affect the validity or applicability by the licensing authorities of states remaining party to the compact of any report of conviction occurring prior to the withdrawal.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-21-10 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 21 / Section 56-21-10
SECTION 56-21-10. Governing boards of state institutions may employ security personnel and make traffic regulations.
Status: in_force

The governing boards of all State institutions which provide for the operation and parking of vehicles upon the grounds, streets, drives and alleys or any other institutional property under its control are hereby authorized to employ security personnel and to promulgate such traffic regulations as may be deemed necessary. Such regulations may include the following: (1) Fixing the rate of speed; (2) Assigning parking spaces and designating parking areas and assessing charges therefor; (3) Prohibiting parking in certain areas; (4) Removing vehicles parked in violation of regulations at the expense of the violator; (5) Instituting a system of registration for vehicle identification; (6) Issuing parking and traffic tickets.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-850 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 3 / Section 56-1-850
SECTION 56-1-850. Other provisions for mandatory suspension, revocation, or cancellation unaffected.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in this article shall affect the action of the Department of Motor Vehicles in suspending, revoking, or canceling any driver's license when such action is mandatory under the provisions of any law of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-1973 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 18 / Section 56-3-1973
SECTION 56-3-1973. Printing of uniform parking violations tickets; distribution; cost; forwarding of audit copies.
Status: in_force

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall have the uniform parking violations ticket printed. The department may authorize a law enforcement agency to automate the issuance of uniform parking violations tickets. Law enforcement and security agencies shall order tickets from the department and shall record the identifying numbers of the tickets received by them. The cost of the tickets must be paid by the law enforcement or security agency. The audit copy and the department's record copy must be forwarded to the department within thirty days of the disposition of the case by final trial court action. The head of each law enforcement agency is responsible for forwarding the audit copies and for conducting an annual inventory on December thirty-first of all tickets received but not yet disposed of by final trial court action and forwarding the results of the inventory on a form prescribed by the department to the department within ten days of the completion of the inventory.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-1015 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 7 / Section 56-5-1015
SECTION 56-5-1015. Lane use control signals.
Status: in_force

When lane use control signals are placed over individual lanes the signals shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles as follows: (a) Green indication. Vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown. (b) Steady yellow indication. Vehicular traffic is thereby warned that a lane control change is being made. (c) Steady red indication. Vehicular traffic shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown. (d) Flashing yellow indication. Vehicular traffic may use the lane only for the purpose of approaching and making a left turn.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-463 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-463
SECTION 56-1-463. Inapplicability of penalty provision when suspension based on lack of notice of payment of fines.
Status: in_force

Section 56-1-460 specifically does not apply if and when the proposed suspension is based solely on lack of notice being given to the Department of Motor Vehicles when the person has in fact paid any fines or penalties due to the court.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-14-90 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 14 / Section 56-14-90
SECTION 56-14-90. Termination, cancellation, or failure to renew a manufacturer/dealer agreement; good cause; notice.
Status: in_force

(A) A manufacturer, directly or through any authorized officer, agent, or employee, may terminate, cancel, or fail to renew a manufacturer/dealer agreement with good cause and the provisions contained in Section 56-14-110 do not apply. (B) The manufacturer has the burden of showing good cause for terminating, canceling, or failing to renew a manufacturer/dealer agreement with a dealer. (C) For purposes of determining whether there is good cause for the proposed action, any of the following factors may be considered: (1) the extent of the affected dealer's penetration in the area of sales responsibility; (2) the nature and extent of the dealer's investment in its business; (3) the adequacy of the dealer's service facilities, equipment, parts, supplies, and personnel; (4) the effect of the proposed action on the community; (5) the extent and quality of the dealer's service under recreational vehicle warranties; (6) the dealer's failure to follow agreed upon procedures or standards related to the overall operation of the dealership; and (7) the dealer's performance under the terms of its manufacturer/dealer agreement. (D) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a manufacturer or distributor shall provide a dealer with at least ninety days prior written notice of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of the manufacturer/dealer agreement. (1) The notice must state all reasons for the proposed termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal and must further state that if, within thirty days following receipt of the notice, the dealer provides to the manufacturer a written notice of intent to cure all claimed deficiencies, the dealer will then have ninety days following receipt of the original notice to rectify the deficiencies. (2) If the deficiencies are rectified within ninety days, the manufacturer's notice is voided. If the dealer fails to provide the notice of intent to cure the deficiencies or fails to cure the deficiencies in the prescribed time period, the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal takes effect as provided in the original notice. (3) The notice period may be reduced to thirty days if the manufacturer's grounds for termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal are due to any of the following good cause factors: (a) a dealer or one of its owners being convicted of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony; (b) the abandonment or closing of the business operations of the dealer for ten consecutive business days unless the closing is due to an act of God, strike, labor difficulty, or other cause over which the dealer has no control; (c) a significant misrepresentation by the dealer materially affecting the business relationship; (d) a suspension or revocation of the dealer's license, or refusal to renew the dealer's license, by the department; or (e) a material violation of this chapter which is not cured within thirty days after the written notice by the manufacturer. (4) The notice provisions contained in this subsection do not apply if the reason for termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal is the dealer's insolvency, the occurrence of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or bankruptcy. Editor's Note 2017 Act No. 51,SECTIONS 6, 7, provide: "SECTION 6. The department is authorized to promulgate regulations for the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 14, Title 56. "SECTION 7. This act takes effect six months after approval by the Governor and applies to manufacturer/dealer agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2018."
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-23-50 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 23 / Section 56-23-50
SECTION 56-23-50. Denial, suspension, or revocation of license.
Status: in_force

A license shall be denied any person failing to meet and maintain the minimum standards and conditions of operation established by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 56-23-60. The Department shall also have the right to revoke or suspend any license where the Department finds that the licensee has failed to maintain the required minimum standards or conditions of operation or conducts the school in any way inimical to the public interest or safety on the highways.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-910 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 5 / Section 56-3-910
SECTION 56-3-910. Placement of fees and penalties in state highway account of South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank; exceptions; reports.
Status: in_force

All fees and penalties collected by the department under the provisions of this chapter must be placed in the state highway account of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank except for those fees and penalties which must be credited to a different account as otherwise provided for by law. Not later than September first of each year, the department must provide the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank a report for the previous fiscal year that lists the total amount of fees and penalties it collected pursuant to Sections 56-3-660 and 56-3-670 by vehicle classification and weight.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-19-840 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 19 / Article 7 / Section 56-19-840
SECTION 56-19-840. Unclaimed vehicles in garages and certain other places to be reported; loss of storage lien for failure to report.
Status: in_force

A proprietor, an owner, or an operator of any towing company, storage facility, garage, or repair shop or any person who repairs or furnishes any material for the repair of a vehicle, where a vehicle remains unclaimed for a period of thirty days, must report the vehicle as unclaimed to the Department of Motor Vehicles within five days after the expiration of the thirty-day period. The report must be on a form prescribed by the department. The form may be submitted before the thirty-day period expires. A vehicle is considered "unclaimed" when the owner of the vehicle has not reclaimed it within thirty days after notification pursuant to Sections 29-15-10 and 56-5-5630. A person who fails to report a vehicle as unclaimed in accordance with this section forfeits all claims, liens, or costs associated with the towing and storage.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-140 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 3 / Section 56-3-140
SECTION 56-3-140. Exemption of certain professional racing cars.
Status: in_force

Professional racing cars not operated under their own power but towed by another vehicle going to or from a race track need not be registered or licensed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-2-110 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 2 / Article 1 / Section 56-2-110
SECTION 56-2-110. Driver's license and registration card.
Status: in_force

A person operating a low speed vehicle must be at least sixteen years of age and shall hold a valid driver's license. The operator of a low speed vehicle being operated on a highway must have in his possession: (1) the registration card issued by the department or the registration card issued by the state in which the low speed vehicle is registered; and (2) his driver's license.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-15-600 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 56-15-600
SECTION 56-15-600. Wholesale motor vehicle auction license plates.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue to a licensed wholesale motor vehicle auction, upon application and payment of the required fee to the department, wholesale motor vehicle auction license plates. The license plates are exclusively for the use of transporting motor vehicles in the course of doing business as a wholesale motor vehicle auction and must not be attached permanently. The license plate expires twelve months from the month of issuance. The documentation evidencing transport in the ordinary course of doing business as a wholesale motor vehicle auction must be by form approved by the Department of Revenue. The form at all times must accompany the license plates. A person who does not use the license plate exclusively to transport motor vehicles in the course of doing business as a wholesale motor vehicle auction is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined five hundred dollars. (B) Wholesale motor vehicle auction license plates must not be issued by the department unless the wholesale motor vehicle auction furnishes proof in a form acceptable to the department that it has a wholesale motor vehicle auction license as required by this article and that at least twenty sales of motor vehicles have taken place through the wholesale motor vehicle auction in the twelve months preceding its application for a license. The sales requirement may be waived by the department if the wholesale motor vehicle auction has been licensed for less than one year. (C) A wholesale motor vehicle auction may be issued two license plates for the first twenty vehicles auctioned during the preceding year and one additional license plate for each fifty vehicles auctioned beyond the initial twenty during the preceding year but not to exceed seventy-five license plates. For good cause shown, the department in its discretion may issue additional license plates. If the wholesale motor vehicle auction has been licensed less than one year, the department shall issue a number of license plates based on an estimated number of sales for the coming year. The department may increase or decrease the number of license plates issued based on actual sales made. (D) The cost of each wholesale motor vehicle auction license plate issued is twenty dollars annually.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4510 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4510
SECTION 56-5-4510. Tail lamps required.
Status: in_force

Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted as herein required, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear; provided, that in the case of a train of vehicles only the tail lamp on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-430 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-430
SECTION 56-1-430. Appeal from conviction making suspension or revocation mandatory as supersedeas.
Status: in_force

Upon conviction of an offense making mandatory the suspension or revocation of the driver's license of the person so convicted, an appeal taken from such conviction shall act as a supersedeas so as to preclude for a period of six months from the date of conviction any such suspension or revocation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-245 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-245
SECTION 56-1-245. Conditions for waiver of license reinstatement fee.
Status: in_force

If a driver's license is suspended or revoked because the licensee is determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles to have no motor vehicle liability insurance, the department shall waive the reinstatement fee imposed pursuant to Section 56-1-390 if the licensee had motor vehicle liability coverage when his license was suspended or revoked. The director shall document his reasons for waiving the fee in the records of the department.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-10-620 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 10 / Article 7 / Section 56-10-620
SECTION 56-10-620. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Contractor" means designated agent or the party with which the Department of Motor Vehicles contracts pursuant to Section 56-10-640. (2) "Database" means the motorist insurance database described in Section 56-10-640. (3) "Department" means the Department of Motor Vehicles. (4) "Division" means the Department of Motor Vehicles. (5) "Program" means the motorist insurance database program created in Section 56-10-640.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-360 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 3 / Section 56-3-360
SECTION 56-3-360. Suspension of registration of vehicle reported stolen or converted.
Status: in_force

The Department of Motor Vehicles may suspend the registration of a vehicle whose theft or conversion is reported to it pursuant to Section 56-19-810 or Section 56-19-820.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-6560 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 48 / Section 56-5-6560
SECTION 56-5-6560. Collection of motor vehicle stop data regarding age, gender, and race of driver; development of database; reports.
Status: in_force

(A) Any time a motor vehicle is stopped by a state or local law enforcement officer without a citation being issued or an arrest being made, the officer who initiated the stop must complete a data collection form designed by the Department of Public Safety that must include information regarding the age, gender, and race or ethnicity of the driver of the vehicle. This information may be gathered and transmitted electronically under the supervision of the department which shall develop and maintain a database storing the information collected. The department must promulgate rules and regulations with regard to the collection and submission of the information gathered. (B) The Department of Public Safety shall develop and maintain a database for the information submitted to the department under subsection (A) and prepare a report to be posted on the department's website regarding motor vehicle stops using the collected information. (C) The General Assembly shall have the authority to withhold any state funds or federal pass-through funds from any state or local law enforcement agency that fails to comply with the requirements of this section. (D) This section must be reviewed by the Senate Transportation Committee and the House of Representatives Education and Public Works Committee during the 2010 Session of the General Assembly. The committees must make recommendations of appropriate changes, if any, to this section before the end of the 2010 Session.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-31-60 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 31 / Section 56-31-60
SECTION 56-31-60. Heavy equipment rental fees; definitions; applicability and exemptions; tax exemption.
Status: in_force

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Qualified heavy equipment property" means any construction, earthmoving, or industrial equipment that is mobile and rented by a qualified renter, including attachments for the equipment or other ancillary equipment or tools. Qualified heavy equipment property is mobile if it is not permanently affixed to real property and is moved amongst worksites. (2) "Qualified renter" means a renter: (i) whose primary business is renting out qualified heavy equipment property. Primary business means over fifty-one percent of the annual revenue of the business in any given year; and (ii) that is engaged in a line of business described in Code 532412 or 532310 of the North American Industry Classification System published by the U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 edition. (3) "Qualified rental" means qualified heavy equipment property rented for three hundred sixty-five days or less, qualified heavy equipment property rented pursuant to an open-ended contract, or qualified heavy equipment property rented via a contract without a specified time period. (4) "Rental price" means the amount of the charge for renting the qualified heavy equipment, excluding any separately stated charges that are not rental charges, including, but not limited to, separately stated charges for delivery and pickup fees, damage waivers, environmental fees, sales tax, or any other ancillary charge. (B)(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a person or company in the business of renting qualified heavy equipment property located in this State shall include on the rental invoice a two and one-half percent heavy equipment rental fee on the rental price for any item of qualified heavy equipment property rented to a customer by a qualified renter. The total amount of the heavy equipment rental fee collected shall be remitted to the state Department of Revenue on a quarterly basis. The Department of Revenue shall distribute the remitted fee to the local jurisdiction where the qualified heavy equipment was rented. The local jurisdiction shall distribute the received funds in the same manner as the personal property tax is distributed. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the heavy equipment rental fee shall not apply to the rental of heavy equipment property directly rented to the federal government, the State, or any political subdivision of the State. There are no other exemptions from this fee. (3) The heavy equipment rental fee shall be levied on all qualified rentals. (4) Qualified heavy equipment property subject to the heavy equipment rental fee is exempt from personal property tax. (5) The Department of Revenue may promulgate regulations relating to the administration and enforcement of this section. (C) The heavy equipment rental fee applies to all qualified rentals made from a rental location in South Carolina where the customer picks up the equipment, or all qualified rentals from a rental location in the State where the qualified heavy equipment property is delivered in the State. The heavy equipment rental fee does not apply to rentals made from a rental location in the State and delivered outside the State. (D) The heavy equipment rental fee is not subject to state or local sales tax.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-1340 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 9 / Section 56-3-1340
SECTION 56-3-1340. Suspension of driver's license does not automatically suspend registration or license plates.
Status: in_force

The suspension of a license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles to any person to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the State shall not serve to automatically suspend the registration or license plates.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-260 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-260
SECTION 56-1-260. Effect of cancellation of license.
Status: in_force

The cancellation of a driver's license is without prejudice, and application for a new license may be made at any time after such cancellation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-15-40 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 56-15-40
SECTION 56-15-40. Specific acts deemed unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices; Office of Administrator; appointment of personnel; enforcement; financial services company.
Status: in_force

(A) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Goods" does not include moveable displays, brochures, or promotional materials containing information subject to a manufacturer's or distributor's intellectual property rights; special tools as reasonably required by the manufacturer; or repair parts under a manufacturer's or distributor's warranty obligations. (2) "Financial services company" or "captive finance source" means any finance source that provides automotive-related loans, or purchases retail installment contracts or lease contracts for motor vehicles and is, directly or indirectly, owned, operated, or controlled, in whole or in part, by a manufacturer, a distributor, a wholesaler, a distributor branch or division, a factory branch or division, or a wholesale branch or division. (B) It shall be deemed a violation of Section 56-15-30(a) for any manufacturer, factory branch, factory representative, distributor, or wholesaler, distributor branch, distributor representative or motor vehicle dealer to engage in any action which is arbitrary, in bad faith, or unconscionable and which causes damage to any of the parties or to the public. (C) It shall be deemed a violation of Section 56-15-30(a) for a manufacturer, a distributor, a wholesaler, a distributor branch or division, a factory branch or division, or a wholesale branch or division, or an officer, agent or other representative, to require, coerce, or attempt to coerce, any motor vehicle dealer: (1) to order or accept delivery of any motor vehicle or vehicles, appliances, equipment, parts or accessories, or any other commodity or commodities which such motor vehicle dealer has not voluntarily ordered; (2) to order or accept delivery of any motor vehicle with special features, appliances, accessories, or equipment not included in the list price of said motor vehicles as publicly advertised by the manufacturer thereof; (3) to order for any person any parts, accessories, equipment, machinery, tools, appliances, or any commodity whatsoever; (4) to offer or promote service contracts, debt cancellation agreements, maintenance agreements, or other similar products approved, endorsed, sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source. This does not prohibit a manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source from offering voluntary incentives to the motor vehicle dealer; (5) to sell, assign, or transfer any retail installment sales contract or lease obtained by the motor vehicle dealer in connection with the sale or lease of a new motor vehicle manufactured by the manufacturer to a specified finance company, class of finance companies, leasing company, class of leasing companies, or to any other specified person. (D) It shall be deemed a violation of Section 56-15-30(a) for a manufacturer, a distributor, a wholesaler, a distributor branch or division, a factory branch or division, or a wholesale branch or division, or officer, agent or other representative thereof: (1) to refuse to deliver in reasonable quantities and within a reasonable time after receipt of dealer's order, to any motor vehicle dealer having a franchise or contractual arrangement for the retail sale of new motor vehicles sold or distributed by such manufacturer, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, any such motor vehicles as are covered by such franchise or contract specifically publicly advertised by such manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division to be available for immediate delivery; provided, however, the failure to deliver any motor vehicle shall not be considered a violation of this chapter if such failure be due to an act of God, work stoppage or delay due to a strike or labor difficulty, shortage of materials, freight embargo or other cause over which the manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler, or any agent thereof, shall have no control; (2) to coerce, or attempt to coerce, any motor vehicle dealer to enter into any agreement with such manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, or officer, agent or other representative thereof, or to do any other act prejudicial to such dealer by threatening to cancel any franchise or any contractual agreement existing between such manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, and such dealer; provided, however, that notice in good faith to any motor vehicle dealer of such dealer's violation of any terms or provisions of such franchise or contractual agreement shall not constitute a violation of this chapter; (3) to terminate or cancel the franchise or selling agreement of any such dealer without due cause. The nonrenewal of a franchise or selling agreement, without due cause, shall constitute an unfair termination or cancellation, regardless of the terms or provisions of such franchise or selling agreement. Such manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, or officer, agent or other representatives thereof shall notify a motor vehicle dealer in writing of the termination or cancellation of the franchise or selling agreement of such dealer at least ninety days before the effective date thereof, stating the specific grounds for such termination or cancellation, except that such notification may not be provided less than fifteen days before the effective date of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal with respect to any of the following: (a) insolvency of the new motor vehicle dealer, or filing of any petition by or against the new motor vehicle dealer under any bankruptcy or receivership law; (b) failure of the new motor vehicle dealer to conduct its customary sales and service operations during its customary business hours for seven consecutive business days, except for acts of God or circumstances beyond the direct control of the new motor vehicle dealer; (c) revocation of any license which the new motor vehicle dealer is required to have to operate a dealership; or (d) conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude, under the laws of this State or any other state, territory, or the District of Columbia; and such manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, or officer, agent or other representative thereof shall notify a motor vehicle dealer in writing by registered or certified mail with a return receipt requested at least ninety days before the contractual term of his franchise or selling agreement expires that the same will not be renewed, stating the specific grounds for such nonrenewal in those cases where there is no intention to renew, and in no event shall the contractual term of any such franchise or selling agreement expire, without the written consent of the motor vehicle dealer involved, prior to the expiration of at least ninety days following such written notice, or before the expiration of at least fifteen days following written notice of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal for any of the following: (a) insolvency of the new motor vehicle dealer, or filing of any petition by or against the new motor vehicle dealer under any bankruptcy or receivership law; (b) failure of the new motor vehicle dealer to conduct its customary sales and service operations during its customary business hours for seven consecutive business days, except for acts of God or circumstances beyond the direct control of the new motor vehicle dealer; (c) revocation of any license which the new motor vehicle dealer is required to have to operate a dealership; or (d) conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude, under the laws of this State or any other state, territory, or the District of Columbia. During a termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal requiring the ninety-day notification period, either party may in appropriate circumstances petition a court to modify such ninety-day stay or to extend it pending a final determination of such proceedings on the merits. The court shall have authority to grant preliminary and final injunctive relief. A dealer who receives notice of franchise termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal as provided herein shall continue to have the right to assign, sell, or transfer the franchise to a third party under the franchise and pursuant to Section 56-15-70 unless otherwise ordered by a court and until franchise termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal is effective; (4) to resort to or use any false or misleading advertisement in connection with his business as such manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, or officer, agent or other representative thereof; (5) to offer to sell or to sell any new motor vehicle to any motor vehicle dealer at a lower actual price therefor than the actual price offered to any other motor vehicle dealer for the same model vehicle similarly equipped or to utilize any device including, but not limited to, a sales promotion plan or a program which results in such lesser actual price; provided, however, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to sales to a motor vehicle dealer for resale to any unit of the United States Government, the State or any of its political subdivisions; and provided, further, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to sales to a motor vehicle dealer of any motor vehicle ultimately sold, donated or used by such dealer in a driver education program; and provided, further, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply so long as a manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler, or any agent thereof, offers to sell or sells new motor vehicles to all motor vehicle dealers at an equal price. This provision shall not apply to sales by manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler to the United States Government or any agency thereof; (6) to wilfully discriminate, either directly or indirectly, in price between different purchasers of a commodity of like grade or quality where the effect of such discrimination may be substantially to lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly or to injure or destroy the business of a competitor; (7) to offer to sell or to sell parts or accessories to any new motor vehicle dealer for use in his own business for the purpose of repairing or replacing the same on a comparable part or accessory, at a lower actual price therefor than the actual price charged to any other new motor vehicle dealer for similar parts or accessories for use in his own business; provided, however, in those cases where motor vehicle dealers operate and serve as wholesalers of parts and accessories to retail outlets or other dealers, whether or not such dealer is regularly designated as a wholesaler, nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent a manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler, or any agent thereof, from selling to such motor vehicle dealer who operates and services as a wholesaler of parts and accessories, such parts and accessories as may be ordered by such motor vehicle dealer for resale to retail outlets, at a lower actual price than the actual price charged a motor vehicle dealer who does not operate or serve as a wholesaler of parts and accessories; (8) to prevent or attempt to prevent by contract or otherwise, any motor vehicle dealer from changing the capital structure of his dealership or the means by or through which he finances the operation of his dealership, provided the dealer at all times meets any reasonable capital standards agreed to between the dealership and the manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler, and provided such change by the dealer does not result in a change in the executive management of the dealership; (9) to prevent or attempt to prevent by contract or otherwise, any motor vehicle dealer or any officer, partner or stockholder of any motor vehicle dealer from selling or transferring any part of the interest of any of them to any other person or persons or party or parties; provided, however, that no dealer, officer, partner or stockholder shall have the right to sell, transfer or assign the franchise or power of management or control thereunder without the consent of the manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler except that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If a manufacturer or distributor objects, then the objection must state the reasons for the denial of the request. A copy must be provided to the motor vehicle dealer by certified mail, return receipt requested, within forty-five days of the receipt of the dealer candidate's application and all documents reasonably required by the manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler; (10) to obtain money, goods, services, anything of value, or any other benefit from any other person with whom the motor vehicle dealer does business, on account of or in relation to the transactions between the dealer and such other person, unless such benefit is promptly accounted for and transmitted to the motor vehicle dealer; (11) to require a motor vehicle dealer to assent to a release, assignment, novation, waiver, or estoppel which would relieve any person from liability imposed by this chapter; (12) to allocate its products within this State in a manner that provides any of its franchised dealers an unfair, unreasonable, and inequitable supply of products and vehicles by series, product line, and model, based on each dealer's historical selling pattern as compared to other same line-make dealers. Additionally, a manufacturer or distributor may not establish a specific sales performance standard that does not take into account the actual vehicle allocation offered to the dealer by the manufacturer or distributor, as well as the dealer's inventory levels relevant to achieve any minimum performance standards to which the manufacturer or distributor holds the dealer accountable; provided, however, the failure to provide allocation of any products or vehicles, including by series, product line, or model, may not be considered a violation of this chapter if such failure is due to an act of God, natural disaster, force majeure, work stoppage or delay due to a strike or labor difficulty, shortage of materials, production limitation, freight embargo, or other cause over which the manufacturer, distributor, or wholesaler, or any agent thereof, has no control, including the dealer's refusal or declination to accept product allocation offered; or (13) to require, coerce, or attempt to coerce a dealer that is constructing, renovating, or substantially altering its dealership facility to purchase goods or services from a vendor selected, identified, or designated by a manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source if the dealer may obtain goods or services, that are of substantially similar material, quality, and design to those required by the manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source from a vendor selected by the dealer. Prior to selecting a vendor, the dealer must obtain approval from the manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source. Approval may not be unreasonably withheld. If the manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source claims that a vendor selected by the dealer cannot supply substantially similar goods or services, then the dealer may file a protest with the court of common pleas. The court shall conduct a hearing on the merits of the protest within ninety days following the filing of a response to the protest. The manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source shall bear the burden of proving that the goods or services chosen by the dealer are not of substantially similar material, quality, and design to those required by the manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source. Nothing in this item may be construed to allow a dealer to impair or eliminate a manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source's intellectual property or trademark rights and trade dress usage guidelines or impair other intellectual property interests owned or controlled by the manufacturer, distributor, affiliate, or captive finance source, including the design and use of signs. This section does not apply to any facility or premise improvement or alteration that is voluntarily agreed to by the new motor vehicle dealer and for which the dealer receives facilities-related compensation from the manufacturer or distributor for the facility improvement or alteration equivalent to at least a majority of the cost incurred by the dealer for the facility improvement or alteration. (E) It shall be deemed a violation of Section 56-15-30(a) for a motor vehicle dealer: (1) To require a purchaser of a new motor vehicle, as a condition of sale and delivery thereof, to also purchase special features, appliances, equipment, parts or accessories not desired or requested by the purchaser; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply as to special features, appliances, equipment, parts or accessories which are already installed on the car when received by the dealer; provided, further, that the motor vehicle dealer prior to the consummation of the purchase reveals to the purchaser the substance of this item. (2) To represent and sell as a new motor vehicle any motor vehicle which has been used and operated for demonstration purposes or which is otherwise a used motor vehicle. (3) To resort to or use any false or misleading advertisement in connection with his business as such motor vehicle dealer. (F) There is hereby created the Office of Administrator, within the Attorney General's office, and he shall appoint such personnel within his office for the purpose of regulating this chapter. The Administrator shall have the power to investigate, issue cease and desist orders and injunctive relief on any valid abuse connected with the sale, rental or leasing of a new or used motor vehicle; provided, however, this power shall only apply after reasonable attempts by the consumer have been made with the seller, dealer, manufacturer or lessor of the motor vehicle to alleviate the complaint. (G) A manufacturer or distributor may not use any financial services company, captive finance source, or leasing company owned or controlled by the manufacturer or distributor to accomplish what would otherwise be illegal conduct on the part of the manufacturer or distributor pursuant to subsection (C)(4) or (5). Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, subsections (E) to (G), which were inadvertently deleted from this section by 2021 Act No. 31, SECTION 4, were restored. Editor's Note 2021 Act No. 31, SECTION 14, provides as follows: "SECTION 14. This act takes effect ninety days after approval by the Governor and applies to all current and future franchises and other agreements in existence between any franchisee located in this State and a franchisor as of the effective date of this act." Effect of Amendment 2021 Act No. 31, SECTION 4, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4550 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4550
SECTION 56-5-4550. Characteristics and mounting of rear reflectors.
Status: in_force

Every such reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than twenty inches nor more than sixty inches measured as set forth in Section 56-5-4480 and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred feet to fifty feet from such vehicle except that visibility from the greater distance is herein required of reflectors on certain types of vehicles.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-19-320 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 19 / Article 3 / Section 56-19-320
SECTION 56-19-320. Certificate as prima facie evidence of facts.
Status: in_force

A certificate of title issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles is prima facie evidence of the facts appearing on it.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4680 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4680
SECTION 56-5-4680. Auxiliary passing lamps.
Status: in_force

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one auxiliary passing lamp mounted on the front at a height not less than twenty-four inches nor more than forty-two inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands, and every such auxiliary passing lamp shall meet the requirements and limitations set forth in this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-110 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-110
SECTION 56-1-110. Imputed liability of person signing application for damages caused by uninsured minor.
Status: in_force

Any negligence or wilful misconduct of a minor when driving a motor vehicle upon a highway must be imputed to the person who has signed the application of such minor for a beginner's permit, instruction permit, or driver's license, which person is jointly and severally liable with such minor for any damage caused by such negligence or wilful misconduct, except that if such minor is protected by a policy of liability insurance in the form and in the amounts as required under Chapter 9 of this title and Sections 38-77-140 through 38-77-310, then such parent or guardian or other responsible adult is not subject to the liability otherwise imposed under this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-7-30 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 7 / Section 56-7-30
SECTION 56-7-30. Printing and ordering traffic tickets; forwarding to court and Department of Motor Vehicles within three business days of issuance to offender; forwarding of disposition information; electronic tickets.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Public Safety shall have the traffic tickets printed. Law enforcement agencies shall order tickets from the Department of Public Safety and shall record the identifying numbers of the tickets received by them. The cost of the tickets must be paid by the law enforcement agency. The court's copy must be forwarded by the law enforcement agency to the appropriate court and electronically to the Department of Motor Vehicles within three business days of issuance to the offender. After final trial court action or nolle prosequi, disposition information must be forwarded electronically to the Department of Motor Vehicles by the appropriate court within five business days of the trial date. (B) A law enforcement agency that issues uniform traffic tickets in an electronic format as provided in Section 56-7-10 may generate a printed copy of this ticket by using an in-car data terminal or hand held device. A copy of the ticket must be given to the offender. The court's copy must be forwarded by the law enforcement agency to the appropriate court, in a format as prescribed by the South Carolina Judicial Department, and electronically to the Department of Motor Vehicles within three business days of issuance to the offender. Data transmissions to the Department of Motor Vehicles must be made pursuant to the Department of Motor Vehicles' and the South Carolina Judicial Department's electronic systems specifications.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4770 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4770
SECTION 56-5-4770. Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
Status: in_force

Except as hereinafter provided in this article the head lamps, the auxiliary driving lamps or the auxiliary passing lamps, or combinations thereof, on motor vehicles other than motorcycles or motor-driven cycles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations and may be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations: (1) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least three hundred and fifty feet ahead for all conditions of loading; (2) There shall be a lowermost distribution of light or composite beam so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred feet ahead, and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high-intensity portion of the beam shall be directed so as to strike the eyes of an approaching driver; and (3) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, registered in this State after January 1, 1949 which has multiple-beam road-lighting equipment shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the head lamps is in use and shall not otherwise be lighted. Such indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-1974 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 18 / Section 56-3-1974
SECTION 56-3-1974. Penalty for unaccounted or unforwarded tickets; jurisdiction over tickets.
Status: in_force

A person who wilfully and intentionally violates the provisions of Section 56-3-1973 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than fifteen hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, for each ticket unaccounted for or for each failure to timely forward the issuing agency's copy or department's record copy or audit copy of a ticket. If the failure to account for a ticket or the failure to timely forward the issuing agency's copy or the department's record or audit copy of the ticket is inadvertent or unintentional, the misuse is triable in magistrate's court and, upon conviction, the person must be fined not more than one hundred dollars. The service of the uniform parking violations ticket vests all traffic, recorder's, and magistrate's courts with jurisdiction to hear and dispose of the charge for which the ticket was issued and served.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-19-410 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 19 / Article 3 / Section 56-19-410
SECTION 56-19-410. Procedures for involuntary transfer or repossession; surrender of old certificate; effect of surrender and issuance of new certificate.
Status: in_force

A person holding a certificate whose interest in the vehicle has been extinguished or transferred other than by voluntary transfer shall mail or deliver the certificate to the Department of Motor Vehicles upon request of the Department. The delivery of the certificate pursuant to the request of the Department does not affect the rights of the person surrendering the certificate, and the action of the Department in issuing a new certificate of title as provided in Section 56-19-400 is not conclusive upon the rights of an owner or lienholder named in the old certificate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-5950 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 41 / Section 56-5-5950
SECTION 56-5-5950. Penalties for abandoning vehicle.
Status: in_force

A person who abandons a vehicle either on public or private property shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, and shall pay all costs of having such abandoned vehicle removed, stored, and sold as provided for in Section 56-5-5850. All such vehicles shall be removed and disposed of in accordance with Section 56-5-5850.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3515 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 27 / Section 56-5-3515
SECTION 56-5-3515. Authorized police patrol bicycles; operating as emergency vehicles.
Status: in_force

(A) An authorized police patrol bicycle used as a part of a police bicycle patrol may exercise the privileges of an emergency vehicle provided in Section 56-5-760. (B) An authorized police patrol bicycle may be equipped with a siren or the officer may utilize a whistle in the performance of his duties, or both. (C) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 56-5-760(C), an authorized police patrol bicycle acting as an emergency vehicle is entitled to the exemptions of an authorized emergency vehicle if it makes use of an audible signal meeting the requirements of Section 56-5-4970 or visual signals meeting the requirements of Section 56-5-4700.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-14-60 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 14 / Section 56-14-60
SECTION 56-14-60. Records of transfers; organization; penalties.
Status: in_force

(A) Each recreational vehicle dealer must maintain complete records of each transaction under which a recreational vehicle is transferred for a period of not less than four years from the date of the transaction. The records must include the name and address of the person or persons from whom the recreational vehicle was acquired and the date of the transaction; a description of the vehicle, when transferred; the name and address of the person to whom the recreational vehicle was transferred; and the date of the transaction. The description of the recreational vehicle must include the vehicle identification number, make, model, type, and, if a motor home, the odometer readings at the time the recreational vehicle was transferred to and from the dealer. Upon reasonable notice, these records must be made available to the department for inspection. (B) The records must be maintained in a reasonably organized fashion. Any records which are illegible or incapable of being accurately interpreted by either the record keeper or the department are not in compliance with this section. (C) A dealer who fails to keep or make available to the department required records upon reasonable request, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. The failure to keep or make available records on each separate recreational vehicle constitutes an offense. Editor's Note 2017 Act No. 51,SECTIONS 6, 7, provide: "SECTION 6. The department is authorized to promulgate regulations for the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 14, Title 56. "SECTION 7. This act takes effect six months after approval by the Governor and applies to manufacturer/dealer agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2018."
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-11-490 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 11 / Article 5 / Section 56-11-490
SECTION 56-11-490. Lien on vehicle for excise tax, penalty, and interest; legal costs.
Status: in_force

The excise tax and penalties and interest imposed under this chapter constitutes a first preferred lien upon any motor vehicle in which fuel taxable under this chapter is used, the lien attaching at the time the vehicle is operating in this State through the use of the fuel. The lien must not be removed until the excise tax, penalties and interest, and legal costs are paid or the property subject to the lien is sold in payment thereof, and the lien is paramount to all private liens or encumbrances of whatever character and to the rights of any conditional vendor or any other holder of the legal title in or to any such motor vehicle.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2942 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 23 / Section 56-5-2942
SECTION 56-5-2942. Vehicle immobilization after conviction for subsequent violation of Sections 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945; immobilized defined; identity of immobilized vehicle; surrendering of license plates and registration; release of vehicle; hearing; penalties; fees.
Status: in_force

(A) A person who is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945 must have all motor vehicles owned by or registered to the person immobilized if the person is a resident of this State, unless the vehicle has been confiscated pursuant to Section 56-5-6240 or the person is a holder of a valid ignition interlock restricted license. (B) For purposes of this section, "immobilized" and "immobilization" mean suspension and surrender of the registration and motor vehicle license plate. (C) Upon receipt of a conviction by the department from the court for a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945, the department shall determine all vehicles registered to the person, both solely and jointly, and suspend all vehicles registered to the person, unless the person is a holder of a valid ignition interlock restricted license. (D) Upon notification by a court in this State or another state of a conviction for a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945, the department shall require the person, unless the person is a holder of a valid ignition interlock restricted license, to surrender all license plates and vehicle registrations subject to immobilization pursuant to this section. The immobilization is for a period of thirty days to take place during the driver's license suspension pursuant to a conviction for a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945. The department shall maintain a record of all vehicles immobilized pursuant to this section. (E) An immobilized motor vehicle must be released to the holder of a bona fide lien on the motor vehicle when possession of the motor vehicle is requested, as provided by law, by the lienholder for the purpose of foreclosing on and satisfying the lien. (F) An immobilized motor vehicle may be released by the department without legal or physical restraints to a person who has not been convicted of a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945, if that person is a registered owner of the motor vehicle or a member of the household of a registered owner. The vehicle must be released if an affidavit is submitted by that person to the department stating that: (1) the person regularly drives the motor vehicle subject to immobilization; (2) the immobilized motor vehicle is necessary to the person's employment, transportation to an educational facility, or for the performance of essential household duties; (3) no other motor vehicle is available for the person's use; (4) the person will not authorize the use of the motor vehicle by any other person known by the person to have been convicted of a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945; or (5) the person will report immediately to a local law enforcement agency any unauthorized use of the motor vehicle by a person known by the person to have been convicted of a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945. (G) The department may issue a determination permitting or denying the release of the vehicle based on the affidavit submitted pursuant to subsection (F). A person may seek relief from a department determination immobilizing a motor vehicle or denying the release of the motor vehicle by filing a request for a contested case hearing with the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act and the rules of procedure for the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings. (H) A person who drives an immobilized motor vehicle except as provided in subsections (E) and (F) is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days. (I) A person who fails to surrender registrations and license plates pursuant to this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days. (J) A fee of fifty dollars must be paid to the department for each motor vehicle that was suspended before any of the suspended registrations and license plates may be registered or before the motor vehicle may be released pursuant to subsection (F). This fee must be placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167. (K) For purposes of this article, a conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to Section 56-5-2933 is considered a prior offense of Section 56-5-2930.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4730 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4730
SECTION 56-5-4730. Signal lamps and signal devices.
Status: in_force

Any motor vehicle may be equipped, and when required under this chapter shall be equipped, with the following signal lamps and devices: (1) A stop lamp on the rear which shall emit a red or yellow light and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake and which may but need not be incorporated with a tail lamp; and (2) A lamp or lamps or mechanical signal device capable of clearly indicating any intention to turn either to the right or to the left and which shall be visible both from the front and rear. A stop lamp shall be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of one hundred feet to the rear both during normal sunlight and at nighttime and a signal lamp or lamps indicating intention to turn shall be visible and understandable during daytime and nighttime from a distance of one hundred feet both to the front and rear. When a vehicle is equipped with a stop lamp or other signal lamps, such lamp or lamps shall at all times be maintained in good working condition. No stop lamp or signal lamp shall project a glaring or dazzling light. All mechanical signal devices shall be self-illuminated when in use at the times specified in Section 56-5-4450. When a vehicle is so constructed or loaded that a hand-and-arm signal would not be visible both to the front and rear of such vehicle, such vehicle shall be equipped with such signal devices as are described in this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-15-80 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 56-15-80
SECTION 56-15-80. Agreements to which chapter applies.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all written or oral agreements between a manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor with a motor vehicle dealer including, but not limited to, the franchise offering, the franchise agreement, sales of goods, services or advertising, leases or mortgages of real or personal property, promises to pay, security interests, pledges, insurance contracts, advertising contracts, construction or installation contracts, servicing contracts, and all other such agreements in which the manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor has any direct or indirect interest.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2930 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 23 / Section 56-5-2930
SECTION 56-5-2930. Operating motor vehicle while under influence of alcohol or drugs; penalties; enrollment in Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program; prosecution.
Status: in_force

(A) It is unlawful for a person to drive a motor vehicle within this State while under the influence of alcohol to the extent that the person's faculties to drive a motor vehicle are materially and appreciably impaired, under the influence of any other drug or a combination of other drugs or substances which cause impairment to the extent that the person's faculties to drive a motor vehicle are materially and appreciably impaired, or under the combined influence of alcohol and any other drug or drugs or substances which cause impairment to the extent that the person's faculties to drive a motor vehicle are materially and appreciably impaired. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of the offense of driving under the influence and, upon conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bail must be punished as follows: (1) for a first offense, by a fine of four hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than forty-eight hours nor more than thirty days. However, in lieu of the forty-eight hour minimum imprisonment, the court may provide for forty-eight hours of public service employment. The minimum forty-eight hour imprisonment or public service employment must be served at a time when the person is not working and does not interfere with his regular employment under terms and conditions the court considers proper. However, the court may not compel an offender to perform public service employment in lieu of the minimum forty-eight hour sentence. If the person's alcohol concentration is at least ten one-hundredths of one percent but less than sixteen one-hundredths of one percent, then the person must be punished by a fine of five hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than seventy-two hours nor more than thirty days. However, in lieu of the seventy-two hour minimum imprisonment, the court may provide for seventy-two hours of public service employment. The minimum seventy-two hour imprisonment or public service employment must be served at a time when the person is not working and does not interfere with his regular employment under terms and conditions as the court considers proper. However, the court may not compel an offender to perform public service employment in lieu of the minimum sentence. If the person's alcohol concentration is sixteen one-hundredths of one percent or more, then the person must be punished by a fine of one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days. However, in lieu of the thirty-day minimum imprisonment, the court may provide for thirty days of public service employment. The minimum thirty days imprisonment or public service employment must be served at a time when the person is not working and does not interfere with his regular employment under terms and conditions as the court considers proper. However, the court may not compel an offender to perform public service employment instead of the thirty-day minimum sentence. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 22-3-540, 22-3-545, and 22-3-550, a first offense charged for this item may be tried in magistrates court; (2) for a second offense, by a fine of not less than two thousand one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand one hundred dollars, and imprisonment for not less than five days nor more than one year. However, the fine imposed by this item must not be suspended in an amount less than one thousand one hundred dollars. If the person's alcohol concentration is at least ten one-hundredths of one percent but less than sixteen one-hundredths of one percent, then the person must be punished by a fine of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand five hundred dollars and imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than two years. However, the fine imposed by this item must not be suspended in an amount less than one thousand one hundred dollars. If the person's alcohol concentration is sixteen one-hundredths of one percent or more, then the person must be punished by a fine of not less than three thousand five hundred dollars nor more than six thousand five hundred dollars and imprisonment for not less than ninety days nor more than three years. However, the fine imposed by this item must not be suspended in an amount less than one thousand one hundred dollars; (3) for a third offense, by a fine of not less than three thousand eight hundred dollars nor more than six thousand three hundred dollars, and imprisonment for not less than sixty days nor more than three years. If the person's alcohol concentration is at least ten one-hundredths of one percent but less than sixteen one-hundredths of one percent, then the person must be punished by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars nor more than seven thousand five hundred dollars and imprisonment for not less than ninety days nor more than four years. If the person's alcohol concentration is sixteen one-hundredths of one percent or more, then the person must be punished by a fine of not less than seven thousand five hundred dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars and imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than five years; or (4) for a fourth or subsequent offense, by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years. If the person's alcohol concentration is at least ten one-hundredths of one percent but less than sixteen one-hundredths of one percent, then the person must be punished by imprisonment for not less than two years nor more than six years. If the person's alcohol concentration is sixteen one-hundredths of one percent or more, then the person must be punished by imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than seven years. (B) No part of the minimum sentences provided in this section may be suspended. Instead of public service employment the court may invoke another sentence provided in this section. For a second or subsequent offense of this section, the service of the minimum sentence is mandatory. However, the judge may provide for the sentence to be served upon terms and conditions as he considers proper including, but not limited to, weekend service or nighttime service in any fashion he considers necessary. (C) The fine for a first offense must not be suspended. The court is prohibited from suspending a monetary fine below that of the next preceding minimum monetary fine. (D) For the purposes of this section, a conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bail for the violation of a law or ordinance of this or another state or a municipality of this or another state that prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or narcotics, including, but not limited to, this section, or prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle with an unlawful alcohol concentration, including, but not limited to, Section 56-5-2933, constitutes a prior offense of this section. Only those violations which occurred within a period of ten years including and immediately preceding the date of the last violation constitute prior violations within the meaning of this section. (E) Upon imposition of a sentence of public service, the defendant may apply to the court to be allowed to perform his public service in his county of residence if he has been sentenced to public service in a county where he does not reside. (F) One hundred dollars of each fine imposed pursuant to this section must be placed by the Comptroller General into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Public Safety for the Highway Patrol. (G) Two hundred dollars of the fine imposed pursuant to subsection (A)(3) must be placed by the Comptroller General into a special restricted account to be used by the State Law Enforcement Division to offset the costs of administration of the breath testing devices, breath testing site video program, and toxicology laboratory. (H) A person convicted of violating this section, whether for a first offense or subsequent offense, must enroll in and successfully complete an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program certified by the Office of Substance Use Services. An assessment of the extent and nature of the alcohol and drug abuse problem of the applicant must be prepared and a plan of education or treatment, or both, must be developed for the applicant. The Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program shall determine if the applicant successfully has completed the services. The applicant must attend the first Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program available after the date of enrollment. The Office of Substance Use Services shall determine the cost of services provided by each certified Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. Each applicant shall bear the cost of services recommended in the applicant's plan of education or treatment. The cost may not exceed five hundred dollars for education services, two thousand dollars for treatment services, and two thousand five hundred dollars in total for all services. An applicant may not be denied services due to an inability to pay. Inability to pay for services may not be used as a factor in determining if the applicant has successfully completed services. An applicant who is unable to pay for services shall perform fifty hours of community service as arranged by the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program, which may use the completion of this community service as a factor in determining if the applicant successfully has completed services. The court must be notified whether an offender failed to enroll in a certified program within thirty days or failed to participate in the plan of education or treatment. The court may hold the individual in contempt of court if the individual cannot show cause as to why no enrollment occurred within the mandated thirty days or why no progress has been made on the plan of education or treatment. (I) A person charged for a violation of this section may be prosecuted pursuant to Section 56-5-2933 if the original testing of the person's breath or collection of other bodily fluids was performed within two hours of the time of arrest and reasonable suspicion existed to justify the traffic stop. A person may not be prosecuted for both a violation of this section and a violation of Section 56-5-2933 for the same incident. A person who violates the provisions of this section is entitled to a jury trial and is afforded the right to challenge certain factors including the following: (1) whether or not the person was lawfully arrested or detained; (2) the period of time between arrest and testing; (3) whether or not the person was given a written copy of and verbally informed of the rights enumerated in Section 56-5-2950; (4) whether the person consented to taking a test pursuant to Section 56-5-2950, and whether the: (a) reported alcohol concentration at the time of testing was eight one-hundredths of one percent or more; (b) individual who administered the test or took samples was qualified pursuant to Section 56-5-2950; (c) tests administered and samples obtained were conducted pursuant to Section 56-5-2950 and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 56-5-2951(O) and Section 56-5-2953(F); and (d) machine was working properly. (J) Nothing contained in this section prohibits the introduction of: (1) the results of any additional tests of the person's breath or other bodily fluids; (2) any evidence that may corroborate or question the validity of the breath or bodily fluid test result including, but not limited to: (a) evidence of field sobriety tests; (b) evidence of the amount of alcohol consumed by the person; and (c) evidence of the person's driving; (3) a video recording of the person's conduct at the incident site and breath testing site taken pursuant to Section 56-5-2953 which is subject to redaction under the South Carolina Rules of Evidence; or (4) any other evidence of the state of a person's faculties to drive a motor vehicle which would call into question the results of a breath or bodily fluid test. At trial, a person charged with a violation of this section is allowed to present evidence relating to the factors enumerated above and the totality of the evidence produced at trial may be used by the jury to determine guilt or innocence. A person charged with a violation of this section must be given notice of intent to prosecute under the provisions of this section at least thirty calendar days before his trial date. (K) For the purpose of this section, any offense carrying a penalty of imprisonment of ninety days or less may be tried in magistrates court. (L) In cases in which enhanced penalties for higher levels of alcohol concentration may be applicable, upon the determination of guilt, the finder of fact shall determine the alcohol concentration and the judge shall apply the appropriate penalty. In cases involving jury trials, upon the return of a guilty verdict by the jury, the judge shall instruct the jury to make a finding of fact as to the following: "We the jury find the alcohol concentration of the defendant to be (1) at least eight one-hundredths of one percent but less than ten one-hundredths of one percent; (2) at least ten one-hundredths of one percent but less than sixteen one-hundredths of one percent; or (3) sixteen one hundredths of one percent or more." Based on the jury's finding of fact, the judge shall apply the appropriate penalty. If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict as to the finding of fact, then the judge shall sentence the defendant based on the nonenhanced penalties. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4560 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4560
SECTION 56-5-4560. Stop lamps required on motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

From and after July 1, 1949 it shall be unlawful for any person to sell any new motor vehicle, including any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, in this State or for any person to drive such vehicle on the highways unless it is equipped with a stop lamp meeting the requirements of Section 56-5-4730.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4480 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4480
SECTION 56-5-4480. Visibility distance and mounted height of lamps.
Status: in_force

Whenever a requirement is herein declared as to the distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which such lamps or devices shall render objects visible, such provisions shall apply during the times stated in Section 56-5-4450 in respect to a vehicle without load when upon a straight, level, unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a different time or condition is expressly stated. Whenever a requirement is herein declared as to the mounted height of lamps or devices, it shall mean from the center of such lamp or device to the level ground upon which the vehicle stands when such vehicle is without load.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-345 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-345
SECTION 56-1-345. Fees charged for Freedom of Information Act request.
Status: in_force

The Department of Motor Vehicles may charge and collect fees in accordance with Section 30-4-30 of the Freedom of Information Act for providing copies of registration, title, and driver's license information records maintained by the department.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-37-40 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 37 / Section 56-37-40
SECTION 56-37-40. Dealer Sanction Review Board created; membership; contesting sanctions.
Status: in_force

(A) There is created a Dealer Sanction Review Board that consists of the executive director of the department or his designee, a department employee with expertise in dealer licensing regardless of dealer license type, two nonfranchise automobile dealers, and three franchise automobile dealers. All dealers serving on the board must have been in business no less than ten years and be in good standing with the department. The department is responsible for ensuring the board is seated at the beginning of each fiscal year. Unless the board decides otherwise or a board member no longer qualifies to remain on the board, individuals on the board serve for three fiscal years and may serve a maximum of nine consecutive years. The department in conjunction with the board should take efforts to ensure that dealers represent all regions of the State and the sizes of dealerships owned. The two statewide dealer associations shall choose their members. The chairperson shall be elected and rotated between dealer members serving on the board. (B) Dealers licensed pursuant to this title may contest sanctions provided for in this chapter by written request to the department no later than thirty days after receiving formal notice of the sanctions being levied. (1) All notices of sanctions are deemed received no later than thirty days after mailing by the department. (2) No later than sixty days after receiving the written request from the dealer, the board must determine if the sanctions and corresponding points must be posted to the dealer's record as maintained by the department. (3) No contested sanctions and corresponding points may be posted until the board has made a determination. (4) The board's decision is considered final unless a dealer files a protest in administrative law court within twenty days of being provided written notice. (5) The board may decide to decrease the number of points levied for a sanction, but the board may not increase the number of points levied for a sanction beyond those specified in this chapter. (C) If a dealer licensed under this title does not contest sanctions within the time period prescribed in subsection (B), the assessed points are effective and will be posted to the dealer's record maintained by the department. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, "chapter" was substituted for "article" to correct a scrivener's error. Editor's Note 2023 Act No. 51, SECTION 40(D), provides as follows: "[SECTION 40.](D) SECTIONS 15 through 28 take effect on January 1, 2024. Any dealership applying for or renewing licenses, or operating on a currently issued license on or after January 1, 2024, is subject to the provisions of SECTIONS 15 through 28."
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3890 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 31 / Section 56-5-3890
SECTION 56-5-3890. Unlawful use of a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; penalties; limitation on law enforcement officers; department to maintain statistical information; preemption of local ordinances.
Status: repealed

(A) For purposes of this section "mobile electronic device" means a cellular telephone, portable computer, GPS receiver, electronic game, or any substantially similar stand-alone electronic device used to communicate, display, or record digital content. "Mobile electronic device" does not include a citizens band radio, amateur radio, ham radio, commercial two-way radio or its functional equivalent, subscription-based emergency communication device, or prescribed medical device. (B) While operating a motor vehicle on any public highway of this State, a person shall not: (1) hold or support, with any part of the body, a mobile electronic device. This provision does not prohibit the use of an earpiece or device worn on a wrist to conduct voice-based communication; (2) read, compose, or transmit any text including, but not limited to, a text message, email, application interaction, or website information on a mobile electronic device; (3) watch motion including, but not limited to, a video, movie, game, or video call on a mobile electronic device. (C) This section does not apply to a motor vehicle operator who is: (1) lawfully parked or stopped; (2) initiating a voice-based communication that is automatically converted by the device and sent as text, provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator; (3) reporting an accident, emergency, or safety hazard to a public safety official; (4) transmitting or receiving data as part of a digital dispatch system while performing occupational duties or while conducting network performance testing or testing required by the Federal Communications Commission; (5) a first responder while performing official duties; (6) using a mobile electronic device for the purpose of: (a) navigation, listening to audio-based content, or obtaining traffic and road condition information in a manner that does not require the operator to type, provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator; (b) using a mobile electronic device to initiate or end a cellular call in a manner that does not require the operator to type, provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator; or (c) unlocking the device for a purpose listed in subitems (a) or (b), provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator; or (7) using equipment or services installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle. (D)(1) A person who is adjudicated to be in violation of this section is guilty of distracted driving and, upon conviction: (a) for a first offense, must be fined one hundred dollars, no part of which may be suspended; (b) for a second or subsequent offense, must be fined two hundred dollars, no part of which may be suspended, and must have two points assessed against his motor vehicle operating record. (2) Only those offenses which occurred within three years, including and immediately preceding the date of the last offense, shall constitute prior offenses within the meaning of this subsection. (3) The Department of Public Safety must receive twenty-five percent of the fines imposed for violations of this section. Funds provided to the department pursuant to this section must be used to educate the public on the dangers of distracted driving and the provisions of this act. (E) A law enforcement officer shall not: (1) stop a person for a violation of this section except when the officer has reasonable suspicion that a violation has occurred based on the officer's clear and unobstructed view of a person who is unlawfully using a wireless electronic communication device while operating a motor vehicle on the public streets and highways of this State; (2) seize, search, view, or require the forfeiture of a mobile electronic device because of a violation of this section; (3) search or request to search a motor vehicle, operator, or passenger in a motor vehicle, solely because of a violation of this section; or (4) make a custodial arrest solely because of a violation of this section, except upon a warrant issued for failure to appear in court when summoned or for failure to pay an imposed fine. (F) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain and provide citation information pursuant to this section to the Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety shall maintain statistical information regarding citations issued pursuant to this section. (G) This section preempts ordinances, regulations, and resolutions adopted by political subdivisions regarding persons using mobile electronic devices while operating motor vehicles on the public highways of this State. (H) The provisions of this section are not subject to the provisions contained in Section 17-13-10 and Section 17-13-20, both of which are related to what is commonly referred to as "citizens arrest." Editor's Note 2025 Act No. 40, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be referred to and cited as the 'South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act.'" 2025 Act No. 40, SECTION 4, provides as follows: "SECTION 4. At every interstate highway ingress, the Department of Transportation shall erect a sign advising motorists of this act." 2025 Act No. 40, SECTION 5, provides as follows: "SECTION 5. During the first one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this act, law enforcement officers shall only issue warnings for violations of Section 56-5-3890, as amended by this act." 2025 Act No. 40, SECTION 6, provides as follows: "SECTION 6. At the end of each fiscal year, the Department of Public Safety shall report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee the age, gender, and race of every driver issued a citation, as well as every instance that a citation is not issued following a traffic stop made pursuant to this act. The data must be reported at least by statewide totals for local law enforcement agencies, state law enforcement agencies, and state university law enforcement agencies. The statewide total for local law enforcement agencies shall combine the data collected by county and the municipal law enforcement agencies." 2025 Act No. 40, SECTION 7, provides as follows: "SECTION 7. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 40, SECTION 2, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-31-10 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 31 / Section 56-31-10
SECTION 56-31-10. Application of chapter.
Status: in_force

This chapter applies to the rental of a private passenger automobile or rental vehicle from a location in this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-16010 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 151 / Section 56-3-16010
SECTION 56-3-16010. Catawba Nation special license plates.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "Catawba Nation" special license plates. Each special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period that expires twenty-four months from the month the special license plate is issued. (B) The Catawba Nation shall submit to the department for approval the design, emblem, seal, logo, or other symbols it desires to be used for this special license plate. The department may issue this special license plate six months following approval of its design. (C) This special license plate is exempt from the provisions contained in Section 56-3-8100. (D) The biennial fee for each special license plate is forty dollars plus the regular motor vehicle license fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3, Title 56. The forty-dollar fee must be distributed to the Catawba Nation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-2230 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 14 / Section 56-1-2230
SECTION 56-1-2230. Failure to report and employing disqualified employee; fines.
Status: in_force

(A) An employer, medical review officer, or breath alcohol technician who knowingly fails to make a report to the Department of Motor Vehicles as required by this article is subject to a fine of up to five hundred dollars. (B) An employer who employs a person in a safety sensitive function when the employer knows the employee is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle pursuant to Section 56-1-2110(G) is subject to a fine of up to two thousand dollars. (C) The penalties provided by this section do not apply to the State, a state agency, or a political subdivision. (D) Any person or entity is immune from liability for the good faith performance of any duty imposed by this article. (E) Fines collected pursuant to this section must be credited to the Department of Public Safety's Transport Police Division.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-11440 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 114 / Section 56-3-11440
SECTION 56-3-11440. Exemptions; penalties.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this article do not affect the registration and licensing of motor vehicles or motorcycles as required by other provisions of this chapter, but are cumulative to those other provisions. Any person violating the provisions of this article or any person who (a) fraudulently gives false or fictitious information in any application for a special license plate, as authorized in this article, (b) conceals a material fact, or (c) otherwise commits fraud in the application or in the use of any special license plate issued is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3190 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 25 / Section 56-5-3190
SECTION 56-5-3190. Only blind or incapacitated person may raise certain canes.
Status: in_force

It is unlawful for any person, unless totally or partially blind or otherwise incapacitated, while on any public street or highway to carry in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-1720 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 9 / Section 56-1-1720
SECTION 56-1-1720. Licensing requirement; minimum age; violations and penalties.
Status: in_force

(A) To operate a moped on public highways, a person must possess a valid driver's license issued under Article 1 of this chapter or a valid moped operator's license issued under this article. The department may issue a moped operator's license to a person who is fifteen years of age or older. (B) A person younger than sixteen years of age with a moped operator's license may operate a moped: (1) alone during daylight hours only; and (2) during nighttime hours when accompanied by a licensed driver twenty-one years of age or older who has had at least one year of driving experience. The accompanying driver must be a passenger or within a safe viewing distance of the operator when the operator is operating a moped. (C) A person sixteen years of age or older with a moped license may drive a moped alone any time. (D) A person who operates a moped in violation of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction of a first offense, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars and, upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 89, SECTION 7, amended the section, revising the form of licensure a person must possess to operate a moped, and deleting the provision that prohibits the Department from issuing a beginner's permit or a special restricted license to certain persons convicted of a moped violation for a certain period of time.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-7910 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 78 / Section 56-3-7910
SECTION 56-3-7910. H. L. Hunley submarine license plates.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger motor vehicles as defined in Section 56-3-630 registered in their names, which may have imprinted on the plate an emblem, a seal, logo, or other symbol of the "H. L. Hunley" submarine. The Hunley Commission shall submit to the department for its approval the emblem, seal, logo, or other symbol it desires to be used for this special license plate. The Hunley Commission may request a change in the emblem, seal, logo, or other symbol not more than once every five years. The fee for this special license plate is one hundred dollars every two years in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title. This special license plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates. The special license plates must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month they are issued. (B) The fees collected pursuant to this section must be distributed to the Fund to Save the Hunley created by the Hunley Commission or another nonprofit fund designated by the commission for the continued curation of the Hunley submarine. Any such fund must be administered by the Hunley Commission and may be used only for efforts to raise, restore, and preserve the Hunley submarine. Any funds collected must be deposited in an appropriate nonprofit account designated by the Hunley Commission. The distribution of these funds is sixty dollars to the Hunley Commission and forty dollars placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167. (C) The department shall reserve the first twelve license plates for use by the Hunley Commission. (D) Before the department produces and distributes a license plate authorized under this section, it must receive at least four hundred prepaid applications for the special license plate or a deposit of four thousand dollars from the individual or organization seeking issuance of the license plate. If a deposit of four thousand dollars is made by an individual or organization pursuant to this subsection, the department must refund the four thousand dollars once an equivalent amount of license plate fees is collected for that individual's or organization's license plate. If the equivalent amount is not collected within four years of the first issuance of the license plate, then the department must retain the deposit.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-10910 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 109 / Section 56-3-10910
SECTION 56-3-10910. Tree My Dog special license plates; fees.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger carrying motor vehicles, as defined in Section 56-3-630, or motorcycles, as defined in Section 56-3-20, registered in their names which must have imprinted on the plate "Tree My Dog". This special license plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates. This special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month it is issued. (B) The requirements for production, collection, and distribution of fees for this license plate are those set forth in Section 56-3-8100. The fees collected pursuant to this section above the cost of producing the license plates must be distributed to the South Carolina State Coon Hunters Association Youth Fund.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-15-140 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 56-15-140
SECTION 56-15-140. Venue.
Status: in_force

In an action brought pursuant to this article, venue is in the state courts of South Carolina. A provision of a franchise or other agreement with contrary provisions is void and unenforceable. Editor's Note 2021 Act No. 31, SECTION 14, provides as follows: "SECTION 14. This act takes effect ninety days after approval by the Governor and applies to all current and future franchises and other agreements in existence between any franchisee located in this State and a franchisor as of the effective date of this act." Effect of Amendment 2021 Act No. 31, SECTION 12, in the first sentence, substituted "state courts" for "State".
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-2430 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 27 / Section 56-3-2430
SECTION 56-3-2430. Authority to administer oaths and acknowledge signatures.
Status: in_force

Officers and employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles engaged in the work of administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter are, for the purpose of such work of administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter, authorized to administer oaths and acknowledge signatures and shall do so without fee.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-210 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 3 / Section 56-3-210
SECTION 56-3-210. Time period for procuring registration and license; temporary license plates; transfer of license plates.
Status: reserved

(A)(1) The department is authorized to administer a program for and regulate the issuance of temporary license plates for items required to be registered in this State and items that are purchased in this State that may be registered in a foreign jurisdiction. (2) The department, pursuant to this section and with input from temporary license plate distributors, shall establish the design and layout of all temporary license plates to be issued within the State. Temporary license plates shall be of a material specified by the department so as to resist deterioration or fading from exposure to the elements during the period for which display is required. (3) Temporary license plates must be six inches wide and at least eleven inches in length. Temporary motorcycle and moped license plates must be four inches wide and seven inches in length. (4) Each temporary license plate must contain a vehicle's identifying information as determined by the department including, but not limited to, the date of expiration, the name of the issuing entity or standard identifier as determined by the department and a unique identifying license plate text assigned by the department. The temporary license plate text must be linked to the vehicle record and the vehicle's owner in the department's vehicle database. In order to operate on the highways of this State, an item must display either a valid temporary license plate issued pursuant to this title or a valid metal license plate, and, when applicable, a decal that the owner intends to transfer pursuant to Section 56-3-1290. (5) Licensed motor vehicle dealers, leasing companies, the department, and other entities shall not obtain or procure a temporary license plate from any entity other than a registered temporary license plate distributor. (B)(1) Only statewide motor vehicle dealer associations in which at least thirty percent and no fewer than two hundred members are licensed South Carolina motor vehicle dealers may be temporary license plate distributors. Except as otherwise provided in this section, only temporary license plate distributors may sell or distribute temporary license plates. (2) If a temporary license plate distributor is unable to provide temporary license plates for the department in a timely manner, the department may solicit for and select a different temporary license plate distributor. The department's solicitation and selection of a different temporary license plate distributor is subject to the provisions of the State Consolidated Procurement Code. (3) If the only temporary license plate distributors in this State do not respond to a solicitation as provided for in item (2) then this subsection is of no force or effect. (C)(1) The department is authorized to administer an electronic system for county auditors' offices, licensed motor vehicle dealers, leasing companies, and other entities authorized by the department to use in issuing temporary license plates. The department may contract with third parties to provide service connection between the issuing entities and the department, or may provide the service directly to participating entities. Licensed dealers, leasing companies, and other entities participating in the electronic registration and titling program that fail to comply with the program's requirements may be removed from the program by the department. (2) Third parties contracted pursuant to this section are authorized to produce temporary license plates and temporary vehicle registration transactions on behalf of the department. The department shall develop program terms, conditions, standards, and specifications required for certification. Third parties requesting certification must agree to the terms, conditions, standards, and specifications in order to participate. (D) The department, with input from temporary license plate distributors, shall develop program specifications that define the requirements of the temporary license plate program governing the issuance of temporary license plates by all authorized entities. The design, specifications, and method of distribution of all temporary plates shall be the same. (E) Issuing entities may utilize no more than the upper fifty percent free space on their temporary license plates for dealer or company identification. Traceable temporary license plates from issuing entities that do not utilize the plate for dealer or company identification must include an identifier selected by the department. Third-party providers that produce temporary license plates must not charge an additional fee to issuing entities that chose to issue traceable temporary license plates that include the identifier selected by the department. The lower fifty percent of all temporary license plates is reserved to display the temporary license plate number and other information required by the department pursuant to Section 56-3-210(A)(4). (F) Except as provided for in this chapter, a dealer or leasing company may not use a temporary license plate for any other purpose, which includes, but is not limited to, vehicle demonstration, employee use, or transporting vehicles from one location to another location. A dealer or leasing company may not place a temporary license plate on a vehicle until the vehicle is sold to a purchaser and until the temporary license plate number and other identifying information has been recorded in the electronic database and printed on the lower fifty percent of the temporary license plate. A dealer that issues or allows a temporary license plate to be issued in violation of this section also may have the dealer violation points, as determined by the department, assessed. A nondealer issuing entity that violates this section may have its issuing privileges suspended by the department. The department shall develop a process for tracking fraudulently issued or sold temporary plates. (G) Any person or entity authorized by this chapter to issue a temporary license plate shall maintain records as required by the department. Records maintained pursuant to this subsection shall be open to inspection by the department or its agents during reasonable business hours. Records must include the inventory control number of each temporary license plate, the vehicle identification number, issuance date, and expiration date. (H) Licensed motor vehicle dealers, leasing companies, and other entities may provide temporary license plates only for items that are purchased from that dealer company or entity. (I) The total fee for the temporary license plates the department or counties issue pursuant to this chapter shall be calculated based on: (1) the five-dollar cost of the plate, which must be placed in a special restricted account to be used solely by the department for the costs associated with the production and issuance of new license plates; and (2) an additional five dollars which must be disbursed to the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank's state highway account pursuant to Section 56-3-910. (J)(1) The total fee for the temporary license plates issued pursuant to this chapter by licensed dealers, leasing companies, and other entities must be calculated based on: (a) the actual cost of the license plate plus issuing and printing, as well as standard shipping and handling costs; and (b) an additional five dollars which must be remitted to the department. The department shall disburse two dollars and fifty cents of each additional five dollars remitted to the State Highway Fund, as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167. The remaining two dollars and fifty cents of each additional five dollars remitted shall be disbursed to the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank's state highway account pursuant to Section 56-3-910. (2) Dealers, leasing companies, and other entities shall not charge any fees for traceable temporary license plates in excess of the fees provided for in this subsection. (K) The bill of sale, title, lease contract, temporary registration card issued in conjunction with a temporary license plate or copy of one of these documents must be maintained in the vehicle at all times to verify the vehicle's date of purchase or lease. The bill of sale, title, lease contract, or copy of one these documents must contain a description of the vehicle, the name and address of both the seller and the purchaser of the vehicle, and its date of sale or lease. (L) All temporary license plates must be valid for no more than forty-five days and must be affixed at all times to the rear of the item in an unobscured and secure manner. (M) Only one temporary license plate may be issued to a purchaser of an item. The temporary license plate must be used only on the item for which it was issued and must not be transferred, loaned, or assigned to any other person or item. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, in (J)(1)(b), the reference to "Section 57-11-167" was changed to "Section 57-11-20" to correct a scrivener's error. Editor's Note 2018 Act No. 208, SECTION 2, provides as follows: "SECTION 2. All entities authorized to issue temporary license plates pursuant to Section 56-3-210 must comply with all program specifications within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this act [May 15, 2019]." 2023 Act No. 51, SECTION 40(C)(1), provides as follows: "[SECTION 40.](C)(1) SECTIONS 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 30, 31, 32, and 33 take effect eight months after the approval by the Governor, provided that necessary solicitations are awarded in a timely manner in accordance with the State Consolidated Procurement Code." Effect of Amendment 2018 Act No. 208, SECTION 1, rewrote the section. 2023 Act No. 51, SECTION 8, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-970 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 7 / Section 56-5-970
SECTION 56-5-970. Traffic-control signal legend.
Status: in_force

Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors, green, red, and yellow, shall be used except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend. Such lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows: (A) Green indication: (1) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited. (2) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. (3) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, as provided in Section 56-5-990, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. (B) Steady yellow indication: (1) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter. (2) Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 56-5-990, are advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway. (C) Steady red indication: (1) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in item (3). (2) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow, and unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by such arrow is shown except as provided in items (3) and (5). (3) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street after stopping as required by item (1) or (2). Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. (4) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 56-5-3110, pedestrians facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal alone shall not enter the roadway. (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a driver of a motorcycle or moped, or a bicycle rider, approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic-control device, the driver may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only if the driver or rider, as the case may be: (a) comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for one hundred twenty seconds; and (b) exercises due care as provided by law, otherwise treats the traffic control device as a stop sign, and determines it is safe to proceed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-630 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 5 / Section 56-3-630
SECTION 56-3-630. Vehicles classified as passenger motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall classify as a private passenger motor vehicle every motor vehicle which is designed, used, and maintained for the transportation of ten or fewer persons and trucks having an empty weight of nine thousand pounds or less and a gross weight of eleven thousand pounds or less, except a motorcycle, motorcycle three-wheel vehicle, or moped. The department shall classify a three-wheel vehicle by the manufacturer's certificate of origin for the vehicles initial registration. For subsequent registration, the department shall classify the three-wheel vehicle by its title document. This section does not relieve or negate any applicable fees required under Section 56-3-660. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 89, SECTION 15, in the first sentence, substituted "moped" for "motor-driven cycle", and in the second sentence, substituted "manufacturer's certificate" for "manufacturers statement".
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-15-520 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 56-15-520
SECTION 56-15-520. Transfer of title at wholesale motor vehicle auction; content of reassignment of title or bill of sale.
Status: in_force

When a transfer of title is made as a result of a transaction at a wholesale motor vehicle auction, the reassignment of title or bill of sale must note the name and address of the wholesale motor vehicle auction. However, the wholesale motor vehicle auction is not deemed to be the owner, seller, transferor, or assignor of title of a motor vehicle by reason of its name appearing on a reassignment of title or bill of sale or by reason of its payment of a guarantee of payment to a seller, receipt of payment from a purchaser, or the reservation of a lien or security interest for the purpose of securing payment from a purchaser.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-14-25 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 14 / Section 56-14-25
SECTION 56-14-25. Applicability to park model trailers.
Status: in_force

This chapter does not apply to park model trailers built to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard A119.5. Editor's Note 2017 Act No. 51,SECTIONS 6, 7, provide: "SECTION 6. The department is authorized to promulgate regulations for the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 14, Title 56. "SECTION 7. This act takes effect six months after approval by the Governor and applies to manufacturer/dealer agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2018."
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-27-30 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 27 / Section 56-27-30
SECTION 56-27-30. Term of license; renewal; fee.
Status: in_force

A license issued under the provisions of this chapter is effective for a period of one year from the date of issuance and is renewable on an annual basis. The annual and renewal fee for the license is contained in Section 57-3-130. All persons issued licenses under the provisions of this chapter are required to carry the license on their persons at all times when engaged in the profession of housemoving on the roads and highways of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4460 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4460
SECTION 56-5-4460. Time when motorcycle lights must be turned on.
Status: in_force

(1) Any person who operates a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle on public streets or highways shall, while so engaged, have the headlights of such motorcycle or motor-driven cycle turned on except for those vehicles exempted by Section 56-5-4470. (2) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars or be imprisoned for not more than ten days.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-3920 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 39 / Section 56-3-3920
SECTION 56-3-3920. Transfer of plate; unauthorized use.
Status: in_force

A special license plate issued pursuant to this article may be transferred to another vehicle of the same weight class owned by the same person upon application being made therefor and approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is unlawful for any person to whom such a commemorative license plate has been issued knowingly to permit the plate to be displayed on any vehicle except the one authorized by the department.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-3600 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 3 / Article 36 / Section 56-3-3600
SECTION 56-3-3600. South Carolina Nurses license plates; fee; special fund for South Carolina Nurses Foundation.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue South Carolina Nurses special license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles registered in their names. The fee for each special license plate is forty-six dollars every two years in addition to the regular motor vehicle license fee set forth in Article 5. Each special license plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates. Each special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month the special license plate is issued. (B) Of the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167, an amount equal to the expenses of the Department of Motor Vehicles in producing and administering this special license plate. The remaining funds collected from the special motor vehicle license fee must be distributed to the South Carolina Nurses Foundation to endow scholarships for all of the state's registered nursing programs. (C) Before the department produces and distributes the South Carolina Nurses special license plates pursuant to this section, it must receive: (1) four hundred or more prepaid applications for the special license plate or a deposit of four thousand dollars from the individual or organization seeking issuance of the license plate. If a deposit of four thousand dollars is made by an individual or organization pursuant to this section, the department shall refund the four thousand dollars once an equivalent amount of license plate fees is collected for that organization's license plate. If the equivalent amount is not collected within four years of the first issuance of the respective license plate, the department shall retain the deposit; (2) a plan to market the sale of the special license plate which must be approved by the department. (D) If the department receives less than three hundred biennial applications and renewals for a particular special license plate, it may not produce additional special license plates in that series. The department shall continue to issue special license plates of that series until the existing inventory is exhausted.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-27-50 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 27 / Section 56-27-50
SECTION 56-27-50. Violations; penalties.
Status: in_force

Any person violating the provisions of this chapter is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction must be fined: (a) Not less than one hundred dollars for a first offense; (b) Not less than five hundred dollars for a second offense; (c) Not less than one thousand dollars for a third or subsequent offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-31-20 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 31 / Section 56-31-20
SECTION 56-31-20. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Rental company" means a person in the business of providing private passenger automobiles or rental vehicles to the public under the terms of a rental agreement. (2) "Renter" means a person obtaining the use of a private passenger automobile or rental vehicle from a rental company under the terms of a rental agreement. (3) "Rental agreement" means a written agreement setting forth the terms and conditions governing the use of a private passenger automobile or rental vehicle provided by a rental company. (4) "Damage" means a loss or damage to a rented vehicle or rental vehicle including the loss of use and costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, and loss of use. (5) "Private passenger automobile" or "vehicle" means a private passenger motor vehicle including passenger vans and minivans that are intended primarily for the transport of persons. (6) "Rental vehicle" means a truck under 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight and used in the transportation of personal property that is rented without a driver, and is not used by the customer for business purposes, or a trailer with a gross weight of not more than 6,000 pounds.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-1340 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 56-5-1340
SECTION 56-5-1340. Accident reports without prejudice and confidential; use; permissible disclosures.
Status: in_force

All accident reports made by persons involved in accidents shall be without prejudice to the individual so reporting and shall be for the confidential use of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety, or other State agencies having use for the records for accident prevention purposes. The Department of Motor Vehicles may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when such identity is not otherwise known or when such person denies his presence at such accident and may upon request disclose to any person who has suffered injury to his person or property any information contained on any report regarding the existence of insurance. No such report shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident, except that the Department of Motor Vehicles shall furnish, upon demand of any person who has, or claims to have, made such a report or upon demand of any court, a certificate showing that a specified accident report has or has not been made to the Department of Motor Vehicles solely to prove a compliance or a failure to comply with the requirement that such a report be made to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-420 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 56-5-420
SECTION 56-5-420. Police officer defined.
Status: in_force

Every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of vehicular and traffic laws is a "police officer."
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-1110 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 5 / Section 56-1-1110
SECTION 56-1-1110. Article does not affect existing laws.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article shall be construed as affecting any existing law of this State or any existing ordinance of any political subdivision of the State relating to the operation of motor vehicles, the licensing of persons to operate motor vehicles or providing penalties for the violation thereof.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4710 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 5 / Article 35 / Section 56-5-4710
SECTION 56-5-4710. Use of mounted oscillating, rotating, or flashing red light by wreckers.
Status: in_force

Wreckers may use a mounted oscillating, rotating or flashing red light only at the scene of accidents.
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-440 — SC Code / Title 56 / Chapter 1 / Article 1 / Section 56-1-440
SECTION 56-1-440. Penalties for driving without license; summary court jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

(A) A person who drives a motor vehicle on a public highway of this State without a driver's license in violation of Section 56-1-20 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction of a first offense, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days and, upon conviction of a second offense, be fined five hundred dollars or imprisoned for forty-five days, or both, and for a third and subsequent offense must be imprisoned for not less than forty-five days nor more than six months. However, a charge of driving a motor vehicle without a driver's license must be dismissed if the person provides proof of being a licensed driver at the time of the violation to the court on or before the date this matter is set to be disposed of by the court. (B) The summary courts are vested with jurisdiction to hear and dispose of cases involving a violation of this section.