reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5650. Claims of and awards to persons damaged by sale of vehicle.

For a period not in excess of two years after the payment of any sum into the general fund of any county or municipality on account of the sale of any abandoned motor vehicle, governing bodies of the respective counties or municipalities shall hear and determine claims of any persons claiming to be damaged by the sale of any such vehicle and shall make awards to owners or lienholders as their interests may appear, but in no event shall the awards be in excess of the net amount received by the county or municipality from the sale of the vehicle. The decision of the county or municipal governing body in connection with any such claim shall be final.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.15; 1972 (57) 2459.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5810. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article and Article 39:
(a) "Officer" means any state, county, or municipal law enforcement officer, including county and municipal code enforcement and sanitation officers.
(b) "Abandoned vehicle" means a vehicle required to be registered in this State if operated on a public highway in this State that is left unattended on a highway for more than forty-eight hours, or a vehicle that has remained on private or other public property for a period of more than seven days without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property.
(c) "Derelict vehicle" means a vehicle required to be registered in this State if operated on a public highway in this State:
(1) whose certificate of registration has expired and the registered owner no longer resides at the address listed on the last certificate of registration on record with the Department of Motor Vehicles; or
(2) whose motor or other major parts have been removed so as either to render the vehicle inoperable or the operation of which would violate Section 56-5-4410; or
(3) whose manufacturer's serial plates, motor vehicle identification numbers, license number plates, and any other means of identification have been removed so as to nullify efforts to locate or identify the registered owner; or
(4) whose registered owner of record disclaims ownership or releases his rights thereto; or
(5) which is more than eight years old and does not bear a current registration.
(d) "Demolisher" means any person, firm, or corporation whose business is to convert a vehicle into processed scrap or scrap metal or otherwise to wreck or dismantle such a vehicle.
(e) "Colored tag" means any type of notice affixed to an abandoned or derelict vehicle advising the owner or the person in possession that it has been declared an abandoned or derelict vehicle and will be treated as such. The tag shall be of sufficient size to be easily discernable and shall contain such information as the Department of Public Safety deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.
(f) "Demolisher" means any person whose business is to convert a vehicle into processed scrap or scrap metal for recycling purposes or otherwise to wreck or dismantle vehicles.
(g) "Salvage yard" means a business or a person who holds a license issued by the State required of all retailers, possesses ten or more derelict vehicles, and regularly engages in buying or selling used vehicle parts.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.22; 1974 (58) 2103; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1462; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 200; 2008 Act No. 308, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 12, 2008).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5820. Abandoned and derelict vehicles as hazard to health and welfare.

Abandoned and derelict vehicles constitute a hazard to the health and welfare of the people in the State in that such vehicles can harbor noxious diseases, furnish shelter and breeding places for vermin, and present physical dangers to the safety and well-being of children and other citizens. It is, therefore, in the public interest that the present accumulation of abandoned and derelict vehicles be eliminated and that the future abandonment of such vehicles be prevented.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.21; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 201.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5840. Abandoned and derelict vehicles subject to removal and disposal.

All abandoned and derelict vehicles shall be subject to removal from public or private property and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this article.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.24; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 202.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5850. Tagging and removal of unattended vehicles; disposition.

(A) When any vehicle is left unattended on a highway or on other public or private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property, an officer may place a colored tag on the vehicle which is notice to the owner, the person in possession of the vehicle, or any lienholder that it may be considered to be derelict or abandoned and is subject to forfeiture to the State.
(B) The colored tag serves as the only legal notice that the vehicle will be moved to a designated place to be sold if the vehicle is not removed by the owner or person in control of the vehicle. The vehicle must be removed within the following times from the date the tag is placed on the vehicle:
(1) forty-eight hours if it is located on a highway, or
(2) seven days if it is located on other public or private property.
(C) A vehicle that has had at least two colored tags previously placed on it is an abandoned vehicle for purposes of this article and may be removed immediately by a law enforcement agency to a designated place to be sold.
(D) Abandoned or derelict vehicles must be disposed of pursuant to Sections 29-15-10 and 56-5-5635.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.25; 1974 (58) 2103; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1464; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 203; 2004 Act No. 269, Section 8; 2009 Act No. 26, Section 8, eff June 2, 2009.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5870. Contract for collection of vehicles and related services; collecting areas.

The Department of Public Safety, or any county or municipality may contract with any federal, other state, county, or municipal authority or private enterprise for tagging, collection, storage, transportation, or any other services necessary to prepare derelict or abandoned vehicles for recycling or other methods of disposal. Publicly-owned properties, when available, shall be provided as temporary collecting areas for the motor vehicles defined herein.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.27; 1974 (58) 2103; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1466; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 204.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5880. Right of entry on property to enforce article; criminal or civil liability arising out of enforcement.

All officers, employees, and agents of any person under contract with the Department of Public Safety, county, or municipality, are authorized to go on private property for the purposes of enforcing this article. No agent or employee of any federal, state, county, or municipal government or other political subdivision, no person or occupant of the premises from which any derelict or abandoned motor vehicle shall be removed, nor any person or firm contracting for the removal of or disposition of any such motor vehicle shall be held criminally or civilly liable in any way arising out of or caused by carrying out or enforcing any provisions of this article unless such person is guilty of willfulness, wantonness, or recklessness.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.28; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 205.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5890. Property may not be willfully damaged.

In removing the abandoned and derelict vehicles, the enforcing agency will do so without wilfully harming or damaging the property on which the vehicles are located.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.29; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 206.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5900. Lienholders and owners of stolen vehicles not subject to penalties and charges.

No lienholder shall be subject to any penalty imposed by law in this State for abandonment unless the vehicle is abandoned by the lienholder or his agent or servant. No owner of a vehicle which has been stolen and thereafter abandoned shall be liable for any charges or penalties imposed herein. A vehicle shall be deemed to be stolen when the owner notifies a law enforcement officer of this or another state, and such report is accepted and carried on the records of the agency receiving the report as a stolen vehicle.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.30; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 207.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5910. Unlawful to tamper with, remove or destroy colored tags.

It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper with, remove or destroy any colored tag placed on any vehicle in compliance with this article and any person found guilty of this provision shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.31; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 208.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5920. Article not applicable to certain vehicles.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to vehicles housed or protected from the elements, those classified as antiques and registered pursuant to Sections 56-3-2210 and 56-3-2220, those exempted from registration pursuant to Section 56-3-120, those vehicles reported as stolen in accordance with Section 56-5-5900, unless any such vehicle presents an immediate safety or health hazard or constitutes a nuisance.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.32; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 209.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5940. Seizure, sale or disposal of vehicle in violation of article constitutes conversion.

(a) Seizure, sale, or disposal of an abandoned or derelict motor vehicle in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this article shall constitute conversion for which the owner shall have redress in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) Any person or unit of government upon whose property or in whose possession is found an abandoned or derelict vehicle may apply to the sheriff or chief of police of the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is located to implement the procedures outlined in this article, and the sheriff or chief of police shall tag the vehicle and dispose of the vehicle pursuant to this chapter.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.34; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 210.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-5950. Penalties for abandoning vehicle.

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.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-490.35; 1974 (58) 2103; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 212.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6110. Parties to a crime.

Every person who commits, attempts to commit, conspires to commit or aids or abets in the commission of any act declared herein to be a crime, whether individually or in connection with one or more other persons or as a principal, agent or accessory, shall be guilty of such offense and every person who falsely, fraudulently, forcibly or wilfully induces, causes, coerces, requires, permits or directs another to violate any provisions of this chapter is likewise guilty of such offense.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-682; 1952 Code Section 46-682; 1949 (46) 466.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6120. Offenses by persons owning or controlling vehicles.

It is unlawful for the owner or any other person employing or otherwise directing the driver of any vehicle to require or knowingly to permit the operation of such vehicle upon a highway in any manner contrary to law.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-683; 1952 Code Section 46-683; 1949 (46) 466.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6130. Parents and guardians shall not permit children and wards to violate chapter.

The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-684; 1952 Code Section 46-684; 1949 (46) 466.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6150. Trial jurisdiction of municipal courts.

All municipal courts of the State may try and determine criminal cases involving violations of this chapter occurring within the respective limits of such municipalities when the penalty prescribed by this chapter for such violations does not exceed thirty days' imprisonment nor one hundred dollars' fine and may have trial jurisdiction over such criminal cases the same as magistrates.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-685; 1952 Code Section 46-685; 1949 (46) 466.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6160. Evidence of conviction inadmissible in civil action.

No evidence of conviction of any person for any violation of this chapter shall be admissible in any court in any civil action.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-686; 1952 Code Section 46-686; 1949 (46) 466.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6170. Enforcement.

The Department of Public Safety shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter with respect to State highways, and law enforcement officers generally shall also enforce this chapter within their respective jurisdictions. No police officer in investigating a traffic accident shall necessarily deem the fact that an accident has occurred as giving rise to the presumption that a violation of a law has occurred. Arrests and criminal prosecution for violation of this chapter shall be based upon evidence of a violation of the law.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-687; 1952 Code Section 46-687; 1949 (46) 466.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6190. General penalty for violations of chapter.

It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter unless such violation is by this chapter or other law of this State declared to be a felony.
Every person convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter for which another penalty is not provided shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-689; 1952 Code Section 46-689; 1949 (46) 466.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6200. Disposition of fines and forfeitures.

All fines collected as penalties for violation of this chapter and bond or bail forfeitures shall be paid over by the magistrate or person collecting them to the county treasurer of the county in which such fines and bond or bail forfeitures are collected, except that when such fines or bond or bail forfeitures are collected by municipal police officers and municipal courts the amounts so collected shall be paid over to the city treasurer of the municipality.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-690; 1952 Code Section 46-690; 1950 (46) 2313.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6210. Officers shall receive no part of fines or forfeitures.

No municipal police officer, rural policeman, magistrate's constable, sheriff, deputy sheriff, highway patrolman or other police officer shall receive as compensation any portion of any fine imposed or bond or bail forfeiture for violations of the highway traffic laws of the State.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-691; 1952 Code Section 46-691; 1950 (46) 2313.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › 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.

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.
HISTORY: 1976 Act No. 482.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6230. Notification of Department of Motor Vehicles upon payment of fine or forfeiture of bond.

Any magistrate's court, municipal court, or other court of competent jurisdiction must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles when any person charged with a traffic violation in such court, upon conviction, or other plea has paid the fine therefor, or forfeited the bond previously posted.
HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 478, Section 2; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 213.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6250. Determination of prior convictions; sentence.

When an arrest is made under the provisions of this chapter, the arresting officer must make every effort to determine prior convictions under this chapter. In no instance is sentence to be imposed on a defendant until the court is satisfied prior convictions are properly considered as a part of the sentence.
HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 532, Section 27.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6310. Application of chapter to private roads upon owner's consent.

The provisions of Chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 10 of Title 56 shall be applicable to private roads if the owner, including any corporation or homeowners' association holding title to community roads and excluding those only holding easements over such roads, shall file a written consent stating that the undersigned is the owner of the private roads shown on an attached plat and consents to the application of the provisions of this chapter for purposes of highway safety on such private roads. When the road is owned by two abutting owners, both shall consent to the application of this chapter. In the event there are more than two owners of the road, the provisions of this chapter shall apply when a majority of those owners of the total front footage abutting such road shall consent thereto. The consent shall be executed with the same formalities as a deed and with the plat shall be filed with the clerk of court or register of deeds for the county in which the private road is located and with the sheriff of such county. No derivation clause shall be required. Such filing shall not constitute a dedication to the public of such roads nor shall it constitute permission by the owner for the public to use such roads. The written consent shall become effective thirty days from the date it is filed with the clerk of court or register of deeds.
HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 518 Section 1; 2005 Act No. 68, Section 5, eff May 23, 2005.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6320. Termination of consent.

The consent may be terminated by filing a notice of termination with the clerk of court or register of deeds and the sheriff in the same manner as is provided in Section 56-5-6310 for the consent of the owners. The same percentage of owners shall be required for termination as is required for consent; provided, however, that the heirs, successors or assigns of owners may exercise such right of termination. The termination shall be executed with the same formalities as a deed and shall make reference to the recordation of the original consent and plat. Termination of consent shall become effective thirty days from the date it is filed with the clerk of court or register of deeds.
HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 518 Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6340. Establishment of speed limits and traffic control signs.

The speed limits and location of traffic control signs on private roads subjected to the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic pursuant to Section 56-5-6310 shall be established as follows:
(a) The owner of the private roads or both owners, or a majority of the owners, as the case may be, shall submit proposed speed limits and proposed locations for traffic control signs to the sheriff of the county in which the roads are situate and shall obtain the sheriff's written approval of such speed limits and traffic control signs. Such approval shall be filed with the clerk of court or register of deeds and the affected roads then posted by signs identical or similar to those used on public roads.
(b) After filing with the clerk or register such speed limits and traffic control signs shall become effective as soon as they are posted on signs and thereafter may be enforced by the State Highway Patrol, officers of the sheriff's department and state constables appointed by the Governor, in addition to any other persons having authority to take out warrants or make arrests.
HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 518 Section 4.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6350. Application of article to certain private roads.

Nothing contained in this article shall affect the application of this chapter to private roads in any county which complied with any laws in effect prior to the effective date of this article but such roads shall be governed by the provisions of this article as it applies to termination.
HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 518 Section 5.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6420. Transportation of children in the front seat of a motor vehicle.

If a motor vehicle lacks a rear passenger seat or if all of its rear seating positions are occupied by children under eight years of age, a child under eight years of age may be transported in the front seat of the motor vehicle if the child is secured properly in an appropriate child passenger safety restraint system or belt-positioning booster seat as described in Section 56-5-6410(1), (2), or (3).
HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 2 Section 1; 1988 Act No. 532, Section 17; 2017 Act No. 78 (H.3864), Section 2, eff May 19, 2017.
Effect of Amendment
2017 Act No. 78, Section 2, rewrote the section, providing that a child under eight years of age may be transported in the front seat of a motor vehicle under certain circumstances.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6440. Persons and vehicles excepted from article.

The provisions of this article do not apply to:
(1) Taxi drivers.
(2) Drivers of emergency vehicles when operating in an emergency situation.
(3) Church, day care and school bus drivers.
(4) Public transportation operators.
(5) Commercial vehicles.
HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 2 Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6450. Penalty for violation of article; waiver of fine.

A person who violates the provisions of this article, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred fifty dollars. The court shall waive the fine against a person who, before, or upon the appearance date on the summons, supplies the court with evidence of acquisition, purchase, or rental of a child restraint system meeting the requirements of this article.
HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 2 Section 1; 2005 Act No. 147, Section 1, eff 6 months after approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 9, 2005); 2006 Act No. 273, Section 1, eff May 9, 2006.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6460. Violation of article does not constitute negligence.

A violation of this article shall not constitute negligence, per se, contributory negligence nor be admissible as evidence in any trial of any civil action.
HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 2 Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6470. Enforcement after June 30, 1984.

After June 30, 1984, any person violating the provisions of Article 47 of Chapter 5 of Title 56 may be, when apprehended, issued a summons, to appear in court for the violation, but no person shall at any time be placed under arrest or taken into custody for such a violation, other than upon a warrant issued for failure to appear in court in accordance with the summons or upon failure to pay a fine duly imposed by a court upon conviction.
HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 2 Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6510. Definitions.

As used in this article:
(1) "Motor vehicle" means a passenger car, truck, van, or recreational vehicle required to be equipped with safety belts by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 (49 CFR 571.208), manufactured after July, 1966.
(2) "Driver" means a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.
HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 148, Section 47(A).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6520. Mandatory use of seat belt.

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.
HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 148, Section 47(A); 2001 Act No. 65, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6525. Limits on use of checkpoints or roadblocks to enforce this article.

(A) The Department of Public Safety or any other law enforcement agency must not use a "Click It or Ticket" campaign or a similar endeavor of systematic checkpoints or roadblocks as a law enforcement tool where the principal purpose is to detect and issue a ticket to a violator of the provisions of this article on either a primary or secondary basis.
(B) A person must not be issued a citation at any checkpoint established to stop all drivers on a certain road for a period of time for removing their seatbelts in order to retrieve documentation that must be produced at the checkpoint.
HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 65, Section 3; 2005 Act No. 147, Section 2, eff 6 months after approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 9, 2005).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6530. Exceptions.

The provisions of this article do not apply to:
(1) a driver or occupant who possesses a written verification from a physician that he is unable to wear a safety belt for physical or medical reasons;
(2) medical or rescue personnel attending to injured or sick individuals in an emergency vehicle when operating in an emergency situation as well as the injured or sick individuals;
(3) school, church, or day care buses;
(4) public transportation vehicles except taxis;
(5) occupants of vehicles in parades;
(6) United States mail carriers;
(7) an occupant for which no safety belt is available because all belts are being used by other occupants;
(8) a driver or occupants in a vehicle not originally equipped with safety belts.
HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 148, Section 47(A); 2001 Act No. 65, Section 4; 2005 Act No. 147, Section 3, eff 6 months after approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 9, 2005).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6560. Collection of motor vehicle stop data regarding age, gender, and race of driver; development of database; reports.

(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.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 147, Section 5, eff 6 months after approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 9, 2005), except requirements relating to the Department of Public Safety take effect July 1, 2006, and requirements relating to local law enforcement take effect July 1, 2007.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways › Section 56-5-6565. Safety belt education programs.

(A) The Department of Public Safety shall develop and implement education programs designed to create awareness of the state's safety belt laws and to increase safety belt use in rural and ethnically diverse areas throughout the State. The Department of Public Safety, when securing consultant, contractor, and subcontractor services for developing and implementing programs related to safety belt laws, shall select providers that have experience working with the communities the provider is procured to target. The Department of Public Safety shall confer with members of the targeted communities for input on the development of effective safety education programs and on the identification of providers that have the appropriate experience with the targeted communities.
(B) The Department of Transportation may develop additional programs to promote safety belt use or may coordinate with the Department of Public Safety to fund and carry out the programs jointly. If there is coordination between the two departments, the Department of Public Safety has final authority on all issues including, but not limited to, program content and dissemination, allocation of funds, and procurement procedures.
(C) The Department of Public Safety may use available federal funds or private sector contributions to meet the requirements of subsection (A). The General Assembly may provide funds to supplement federal or private sector funds used by the Department of Public Safety or the Department of Transportation to develop and implement the programs described in subsection (A). The General Assembly shall provide the Department of Public Safety the funds necessary to meet the requirements of subsection (A), if federal or private sector funds are unavailable.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 147, Section 6, eff 6 months after approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 9, 2005).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › Section 56-7-12. Verification of insurance coverage upon issuance of traffic ticket; form; penalty.

(A) When the operator or owner of an individual private passenger automobile as defined in Section 38-77-30(5.5) is issued a traffic ticket for a moving violation by a law enforcement officer, he may be furnished a written request form to be completed by him and his insurance company or the agent issuing the policy to verify liability insurance coverage. The form must be prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Safety.
(B) The completed and verified form must be returned by the operator or owner to the local law enforcement agency issuing the traffic ticket within fifteen days from the date he receives it. Failure to return the form verified in the proper manner is prima facie evidence that the vehicle was uninsured.
(C) The director or his designee of the department shall waive the reinstatement fee or per diem fine, or both, imposed upon the owner or operator of the motor vehicle pursuant to this section for his failure to complete and return the insurance verification form if he has liability insurance coverage when determined to be uninsured by the department. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall document its reasons for waiving the fees or fines in the records of the department.
(D) No person knowingly may furnish or aid another in the submission of false or misleading information in the completed and verified form. A person who knowingly furnishes or aids another in submitting false or misleading information regarding the verification of liability insurance is subject to the penalties in Section 56-10-260.
(E) This section applies only to owners and operators of motor vehicles registered under the laws of South Carolina.
(F) Motor vehicles determined to be uninsured under this section are subject to Sections 56-10-240 and 56-10-245.
(G) The operator of the motor vehicle shall present the written request form for verification of liability insurance coverage to the owner of the vehicle. Failure by the operator to give the form to the owner is prima facie evidence that the operator knowingly furnished false and misleading information to the department.
However, the form must have the following sentence on its face in bold type, all capitals, and large print: "THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WHO IS ISSUED THIS FORM SHALL COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORM TO THE ISSUING AGENCY WITHIN FIFTEEN DAYS OR IS SUBJECT TO A TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR REINSTATEMENT FEE AND FIVE DOLLAR A DAY FINE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA LAW. IF YOU ARE NOT THE OWNER OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE, YOU SHALL PRESENT THIS FORM TO THE OWNER OR YOU ARE SUBJECT TO FINE AND IMPRISONMENT." The officer shall read aloud this sentence to the owner or operator of the motor vehicle upon furnishing the written request form to verify liability insurance coverage.
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 113, Section 2; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 215.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › Section 56-7-15. Use of uniform traffic ticket for offense committed in officer's presence; domestic violence arrests and incident report.

(A) The uniform traffic ticket, established pursuant to the provisions of Section 56-7-10, may be used by law enforcement officers to arrest a person for an offense that has been freshly committed or is committed in the presence of a law enforcement officer if the punishment is within the jurisdiction of magistrates court and municipal court. A law enforcement agency processing an arrest made pursuant to this section must furnish the information to the State Law Enforcement Division as required in Chapter 3, Title 23.
(B) An officer who effects an arrest, by use of a uniform traffic ticket, for a violation of Chapter 25, Title 16 or Section 16-13-110 shall complete and file an incident report immediately following the issuance of the uniform traffic ticket.
(C) The issuance of a uniform traffic ticket alleging the violation of Section 56-5-2770 is not subject to the provisions of this section.
HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 601, Section 1; 2003 Act No. 92, Section 5; 2005 Act No. 166, Section 15, eff January 1, 2006; 2013 Act No. 78, Section 2, eff June 13, 2013; 2014 Act No. 274 (H.5014), Section 5, eff June 9, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › Section 56-7-20. Unique identifying numbers on tickets; colors and number of copies; electronic tickets.

Each ticket shall have a unique identifying number. Each printed copy must be labeled at the bottom with the purpose of the copy. A handwritten traffic ticket must consist of four copies, one of which must be blue and must be given to the vehicle operator who is the alleged traffic violator; one of which must be yellow and must be dispatched to the Department of Motor Vehicles for its records and for audit purposes; one of which must be white and must be dispatched to the police agency of which the arresting officer is a part; and one of which must be green and must be retained by the trial officer for his records. An electronic traffic ticket must consist of at least one printed copy that must be given to the vehicle operator who is the alleged traffic violator and as many as three additional printed copies if needed to communicate with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the police agency, and the trial officer. Tickets may be collected electronically, but must be transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles electronically. Data transmissions to the Department of Motor Vehicles must be made pursuant to the Department of Motor Vehicles' electronic specifications.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-872; 1967 (55) 203; 1980 Act No. 353, Section 2; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1469; 2005 Act No. 68, Section 2, eff May 23, 2005; 2009 Act No. 1, Section 1, eff April 7, 2009; 2016 Act No. 185 (H.3685), Section 1, eff January 1, 2017.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › 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.

(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.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-873; 1967 (55) 203; 1980 Act No. 353, Section 3; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1470; 2005 Act No. 68, Section 3, eff May 23, 2005; 2016 Act No. 185 (H.3685), Section 2, eff January 1, 2017.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › Section 56-7-40. Penalty for failure to account for ticket, use of nonuniform ticket, or failure to forward ticket.

Any person intentionally violating the provisions of Section 56-7-10 or 56-7-30 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than fifteen hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, for each ticket unaccounted for, or each use of a nonuniform ticket, or each failure to timely electronically forward the Department of Motor Vehicles a copy of the ticket. If the failure to account for a ticket, or the use of a nonuniform ticket, or the failure to timely forward the Department of Motor Vehicles a copy of the ticket is inadvertent or unintentional, such misuse shall be triable in magistrates court and, upon conviction, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-874; 1967 (55) 203; 1980 Act No. 353, Section 4; 2016 Act No. 185 (H.3685), Section 3, eff January 1, 2017.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › Section 56-7-50. Nonapplicability to certain agencies.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources or to any of its agents.
HISTORY: 1985 Act No. 158, Section 2; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1471.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › Section 56-7-70. Law enforcement officer identification upon stopping a driver.

When a law enforcement officer stops a driver for a violation of the motor vehicle laws, he shall present his law enforcement badge or other appropriate identification to the driver immediately upon approaching him and before questioning.
HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 598, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 7 - Traffic Tickets › Section 56-7-80. County or municipal uniform ordinance summons.

(A) Counties and municipalities are authorized to adopt by ordinance and use an ordinance summons as provided herein for the enforcement of county and municipal ordinances. Upon adoption of the ordinance summons, any county or municipal law enforcement officer or code enforcement officer is authorized to use an ordinance summons. Any county or municipality adopting the ordinance summons is responsible for the printing, distributing, monitoring, and auditing of the ordinance summons to be used by that entity.
(B) The uniform ordinance summons may not be used to perform a custodial arrest. No county or municipal ordinance which regulates the use of motor vehicles on the public roads of this State may be enforced using an ordinance summons.
(C) An ordinance summons must cite only one violation per summons and must contain at least the following information:
(1) the name and address of the person or entity charged;
(2) the name and title of the issuing officer;
(3) the time, date, and location of the hearing;
(4) a description of the ordinance the person or entity is charged with violating;
(5) the procedure to post bond; and
(6) any other notice or warning otherwise required by law.
The ordinance summonses must be consecutively and discretely numbered. The ordinance summonses must be audited as part of the annual independent audit required in Section 4-9-150 for counties and in Section 5-7-240 for municipalities, and a separate copy of each audit must be furnished to the chief administrative officer of the county or municipality, as appropriate.
(D) Service of a uniform ordinance summons vests all magistrates' and municipal courts with jurisdiction to hear and dispose of the charge for which the ordinance summons was issued and served.
(E) Any law enforcement officer or code enforcement officer who serves an ordinance summons must allow the person served to proceed without first having to post bond or to appear before a magistrate or municipal judge. Acceptance of an ordinance summons constitutes a person's recognizance to comply with the terms of the summons.
(F) Any person who fails to appear before the court as required by an ordinance summons, without first having posted such bond as may be required or without having been granted a continuance by the court, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Any law enforcement agency processing an arrest made pursuant to this subsection must furnish such information to the State Law Enforcement Division as required by Chapter 3 of Title 23.
(G) This statute does not prohibit a county or municipality from enforcing ordinances by means otherwise authorized by law.
HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 328, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 9 - Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act › Section 56-9-30. Chapter inapplicable to certain motor vehicles.

This chapter does not apply with respect to any motor vehicle owned by the United States, this State, or any political subdivision of this State or any municipality therein, nor, except for Section 56-9-590, does it apply with respect to any motor vehicle which is subject to other laws of this State which require their owners to carry insurance or to place security in a manner which would make those owners carry insurance or place security in addition to the amounts required by this chapter.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-704; 1952 (47) 1853; 1977 Act No. 80 Section 2; 1987 Act No. 155, Section 16.