reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1850 to 56-3-1880. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-1850, titled Special license plate authorized for recipients of Medal of Honor; no fee, had the following history: 1979 Act No. 37; 1993 Act No. 176, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1373; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 157. Repealed by 2021 Act No. 38, Section 2, eff May 6, 2022.
HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-1855, titled Special parking privileges for Medal of Honor recipients, had the following history: 1983 Act No. 74. Repealed by 2021 Act No. 38, Section 2, eff May 6, 2022.
HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-1860, titled Design of plates, had the following history: 1979 Act No. 37. Repealed by 2021 Act No. 38, Section 2, eff May 6, 2022.
HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-1870, titled Transfer to another vehicle of same owner; prohibition on display on unauthorized car, had the following history: 1979 Act No. 37; 1993 Act No. 176, Section 1. Repealed by 2021 Act No. 38, Section 2, eff May 6, 2022.
HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-1880, titled Cumulative nature of article; penalties, had the following history: 1979 Act No. 37. Repealed by 2021 Act No. 38, Section 2, eff May 6, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1920. Identification placards for hearing impaired licensed drivers; fees.

(A) An identification placard must be issued to a hearing impaired licensed driver upon application. The application is to be on a form prescribed by the department and may be made in person or by mail. The application must include an original certificate from a licensed physician, as defined in Section 40-47-5, that the applicant has a permanent, uncorrectable hearing loss of forty decibels or more in one or both ears. No licensed applicant may be denied a placard if the completed application includes an original certificate from a licensed physician. The placard shall expire on the licensee's birth date of the fifth calendar year after the calendar year in which a hearing impaired driver is issued a license.
(B) The placard must be rectangular in shape, approximately the same size as an average motor vehicle sun visor, as determined by the department, to enable it to be attached to a sun visor in a motor vehicle. The department shall determine the shape, size preferred, and manner in which a hearing impaired motorcycle operator is to carry or display the placard. The placard must contain the heading "Hearing Impaired Driver" in boldface type and the name, signature, and driver's license number of the hearing impaired person along with an explanation of appropriate use if the hearing impaired driver is stopped by a law enforcement officer while driving.
(C) A fee not to exceed five dollars may be charged to each applicant issued a placard in accordance with this section. These fees 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.
HISTORY: 2012 Act No. 147, Section 3.B, eff April 23, 2012; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), Section 32, eff July 1, 2016.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1950. Definitions.

As used in this article:
(1) "Handicapped" means a person as defined in Section 56-3-1910.
(2) "Access aisle" means a designated space for maneuvering a wheelchair or other mobility device when entering or exiting a vehicle, and that is immediately adjacent to a properly designated parking space for handicapped persons, on public or private property. Access aisles must be marked so as to discourage parking in them.
HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 462 Section 1; 1979 Act No. 97 Section 1; 1983 Act No. 72 Section 1; 1986 Act No. 530, Section 2; 1992 Act No. 266, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1375; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 246A; 2009 Act No. 24, Section 2, eff six months after approval (approved June 2, 2009).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1965. Free parking in metered or timed parking places for handicapped persons.

Those municipalities having marked parking spaces shall provide appropriately designated space or spaces reserved for the parking of handicapped persons. A person who is handicapped as defined in this article must be allowed to park in metered or timed parking places without being subject to parking fees or fines. This section does not apply to areas or during times in which the stopping, parking, or standing of all vehicles is prohibited or to areas which are reserved for special types of vehicles. A vehicle must display a distinguishing license plate which must be issued by the department, or a distinguishing placard which must be issued by the department, pursuant to Section 56-3-1960 when parked in metered or timed parking places.
HISTORY: 1980 Act No. 467; 2009 Act No. 24, Section 4, eff six months after approval (approved June 2, 2009).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1970. Unlawful acts; penalties; summary court jurisdiction.

(A) It is unlawful to park any vehicle in a parking place clearly designated for handicapped persons unless the vehicle bears the distinguishing license plate or placard provided in Section 56-3-1960.
(B) It is unlawful for any person who is not handicapped or who is not transporting a handicapped person to exercise the parking privileges granted handicapped persons pursuant to Sections 56-3-1910, 56-3-1960, and 56-3-1965.
(C) A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days for each offense.
(D) The summary courts are vested with jurisdiction to hear and dispose of cases involving a violation of this section.
HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 462 Section 3; 1983 Act No. 72 Section 2; 1986 Act No. 530, Section 2; 1988 Act No. 429, Section 1; 1992 Act No. 421, Section 3; 2009 Act No. 24, Section 6, eff six months after approval (approved June 2, 2009); 2010 Act No. 273, Section 14.B, eff June 2, 2010.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1971. Uniform parking violations tickets; who may issue; form and contents.

All law enforcement officers issuing tickets on public and private property and state law enforcement division licensed security officers of shopping centers and business and commercial establishments, which provide parking spaces designated for handicapped persons, are authorized to issue a uniform parking violations ticket to the vehicle for violations of the prescribed use of the parking spaces. The uniform parking violations ticket shall provide a means for tracking violators by tag number and recording the violations with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The procedures governing the issuance, form, and content of the uniform parking violations ticket must be prescribed by the department and approved by the Attorney General within thirty days of submission by the department.
HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 421, Section 4; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1377; 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, Section 36Q; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 158.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1973. Printing of uniform parking violations tickets; distribution; cost; forwarding of audit copies.

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.
HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 421, Section 4; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1379; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 160.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1974. Penalty for unaccounted or unforwarded tickets; jurisdiction over tickets.

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.
HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 421, Section 4; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1380; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 161.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-1975. Identification of handicapped parking spaces; access aisles.

Each handicapped parking place must be clearly identified as a handicapped parking place. The handicapped parking place includes all access aisles. If the handicapped parking place is on public property, the marker must be maintained by the political subdivision having jurisdiction over the public property or the street or highway where the handicapped parking place is located. If the handicapped parking place is on private property, the marker must be maintained by the owner of the property.
HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 429, Section 2; 2009 Act No. 24, Section 7, eff six months after approval (approved June 2, 2009).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2010. Special and personalized license plates; International Symbol of Access decals.

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall provide, upon proper application being made, special personalized motor vehicle license plates to the owner of a private passenger motor vehicle and motorcycles. The personalized plates must be of the design and bear the letters and numerals the department prescribes. However, there may be no duplication of registration plates, except South Carolina members of the United States Congress or members of the South Carolina General Assembly may purchase a maximum of the original and two duplicate registration plates. The department, in its discretion, may refuse the issue of letter combinations which may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency and may not assign to a person not holding the relevant office letters or numerals denoting the holder to have a public office.
(B) Private passenger motor vehicles must be assigned a biennial registration which expires on a staggered monthly basis. Where a current vehicle license plate currently is displayed, the owner of the vehicle may make application for personalized license plates two months in advance of the current registration expiration. A sticker reflecting the month of expiration of registration must be issued and affixed in the space provided on the license plate assigned to the vehicle. A personalized license plate issued to a motorcycle must be assigned a biennial registration which expires on a staggered monthly basis. Every personalized license plate issued to members of the General Assembly and members of licensed state or federal commissions and boards expires on January thirty-first each year. Every vehicle registration must be renewed biennially upon application by the owner and by payment of the fee required by law to take effect the first day of the month following the expiration of the registration to be renewed.
(C) If a person who qualifies for the special license plate issued under this section also qualifies for the handicapped license plate issued pursuant to Section 56-3-1910, then the license plate issued pursuant to this section also shall include a decal with the International Symbol of Access used on license plates issued pursuant to Section 56-3-1910. The decal only can be used if space is available to place the decal on the license plate without covering any identifying numbers or letters on the license plate.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-95.51; 1971 (57) 224; 1977 Act No. 219 Pt II Section 15; 1987 Act No. 170, Part II, Section 43A; 1993 Act No. 164, Part II, Section 22DD; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1381; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 162; 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 13F.1, eff July 1, 2008; 2009 Act No. 24, Section 5, eff six months after approval (approved June 2, 2009).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2020. Amount and disposition of fee.

The fee for the issue of special personalized motor vehicle license plates is thirty dollars biennially in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title. This revenue must be deposited to the state general fund. The fee is due and payable upon application. The Department of Motor Vehicles may not refund the fee if the personalized plate has been manufactured.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-95.52; 1971 (57) 224; 1976 Act No. 738 Section 2; 1987 Act No. 170, Part II, Section 43B; 1993 Act No. 164, Part II, Section 22EE; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1382.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2030. Special personalized plates may not be issued to certain applicants.

Special personalized plates may not be issued to any applicant whose operator's or chauffeur's license has been suspended or revoked within two years from the date of application or to any applicant whose driving record indicates a disregard of traffic violations or unsafe driving practices within two years from the date of application.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-95.53; 1971 (57) 224; 1987 Act No. 170, Part II, Section 43C; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 163.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2060 to 56-3-2090. Repealed.

HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-2060, titled Special license plates authorized for members of foreign consulates; fee, had the following history: 1977 Act No. 72 Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1383. Repealed by 2022 Act No. 216, Section 8, eff May 6, 2022.
HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-2070, titled Design of plates; duration, had the following history: 1977 Act No. 72 Section 2. Repealed by 2022 Act No. 216, Section 8, eff May 6, 2022.
HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-2080, titled Transfer to another vehicle of same owner; display on unauthorized car; return on cessation of membership of consulate, had the following history: 1977 Act No. 72 Section 3. Repealed by 2022 Act No. 216, Section 8, eff May 6, 2022.
HISTORY: Former Section 56-3-2090, titled Cumulative effect of article; penalties, had the following history: 1977 Act No. 72 Section 4. Repealed by 2022 Act No. 216, Section 8, eff May 6, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2110. Carriers transporting house trailers may purchase special license plates.

Any common carrier engaged in the transportation of house trailers by the haulaway method and which has registered according to the laws of this State with the Public Service Commission, whether engaged in interstate or intrastate operations, or both, may purchase license plates for the transportation of house trailers.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-96; 1958 (50) 1927.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2120. Fees.

The carrier shall pay twelve dollars and fifty cents for the first such license plate and six dollars each for additional plates and the highway safety fee authorized by Section 56-3-810.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-96.1; 1958 (50) 1927.
Editor's Note
Section 56-3-810, which authorized a highway safety fee, was repealed by 1980 Act No. 506, Section 13, effective October 1, 1980.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2130. Display, transferability, and use.

The plate shall be displayed on the rear end of the house trailer being towed and be transferable from one house trailer to another, but shall be used only on a house trailer that is in the custody of the common carrier. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall have a special plate made for this purpose or it may authorize the use of dealers' plates in lieu thereof.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-96.2; 1958 (50) 1927.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2140. Reciprocal recognition of plates from other states.

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall honor similar plates from other states, if such states honor the South Carolina plates for house trailers authorized by this article.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-96.3; 1958 (50) 1927.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2150. Issuance of special plates; fees.

The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue special motor vehicle license plates to former members of the South Carolina Delegation of the United States Congress, retired judicial officers elected by the General Assembly or confirmed by the United States Senate, respectively, members of municipal and county councils, county coroners, and mayors of this State for private passenger motor vehicles owned by them. The department also may issue special motor vehicle license plates to former members of the General Assembly for private passenger motor vehicles and vehicles classified as private passenger motor vehicles in Section 56-3-630 owned by them. The biennial fee for these special license plates is the same as the fee provided in Section 56-3-2020, and only one plate may be issued to former members of the South Carolina Delegation of the United States Congress, retired judicial officers elected by the General Assembly or confirmed by the United States Senate, respectively, a councilman or a mayor. A coroner and a former member of the General Assembly may be issued two license plates. These license plates must be issued or revalidated biennially for the regular registration and licensing period. A person who has been investigated by state or local authorities resulting in a resignation or convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or another crime punishable by imprisonment for at least one year may not apply for special motor vehicle license plates issued pursuant to this section. A person convicted of an offense contained in this section subsequent to issuance of a special motor vehicle license plate shall surrender the special license plate to the Department of Motor Vehicles within three days of the date of the conviction.
HISTORY: 1987 Act No. 170, Part II, Section 44; 1990 Act No. 591, Section 2; 1993 Act No. 164, Part II, Section 22FF; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1384; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 164; 2002 Act No. 349, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 177, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on February 7, 2008); 2012 Act No. 272, Section 15, eff December 26, 2012; 2018 Act No. 255 (H.4973), Section 1, eff June 28, 2018.
Effect of Amendment
2018 Act No. 255, Section 1, in the second sentence, deleted "who are eligible to receive retirement benefits under the General Assembly Retirement System" following "former members of the General Assembly"; in the third sentence, substituted "or a mayor" for ", a mayor, or a member of the General Assembly who is receiving retirement benefits" at the end; in the fourth sentence, inserted "and a former member of the General Assembly" following "A coroner"; and added the sixth and seventh sentences, providing that a person who resigns from office as a result of an investigation or conviction of certain crimes may not apply for or maintain a special license plate.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2160. Design and size of plates; biennial validation.

The special plates must be of the same size as regular motor vehicle license plates, but must be of a distinctive design and bear letters and numerals the Department of Motor Vehicles prescribes. The plates must be issued or revalidated biennially for the regular registration and licensing period.
HISTORY: 1987 Act No. 170, Part II, Section 44; 1993 Act No. 164, Part II, Section 22GG; 2002 Act No. 349, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 177, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on February 7, 2008).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2170. Transfer and return of plates.

The 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 to and approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is unlawful for a person to whom this plate has been issued to knowingly permit it to be displayed on a vehicle except the one authorized by the department. If a holder of this plate ceases to be a member of the municipal or county council or ceases to be county coroner, or mayor he immediately shall return the plate to the department.
HISTORY: 1987 Act No. 170, Part II, Section 44; 1990 Act No. 591, Section 3; 2008 Act No. 177, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on February 7, 2008).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2180. Other registration and licensing provisions unaffected; penalties for violations.

The provisions of this article do not affect the registration and licensing of motor vehicles as required by other provisions of this chapter but are cumulative to them. A person violating the provisions of this article or a person who fraudulently gives false or fictitious information in any application for a special license plate, as authorized in this article, conceals a material fact, or otherwise commits a fraud in any application or in the use of a 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.
HISTORY: 1987 Act No. 170, Part II, Section 44; 2008 Act No. 177, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on February 7, 2008).
ARTICLE 23
Special License Plates; Antique Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2210. Department of Motor Vehicles may classify certain motor vehicles as antique.

Every motor vehicle as herein defined which is over twenty-five years old, is owned solely as a collector's item and is used for participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar uses, but in no event used for general transportation, may be classified by the Department of Motor Vehicles as an antique motor vehicle.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-100.11; 1966 (54) 2389; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1385; 2003 Act No. 52, Section 4.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2220. Issuance of special license plates for antique motor vehicles authorized; duration; fee.

Upon receipt of an application on a form prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, it may issue appropriate designated license plates to owners of antique motor vehicles. Such license plate shall be valid so long as title to such vehicle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the certificate of registration and license plate of any such vehicle shall be ten dollars.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-100.12; 1966 (54) 2389.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2230. Department of Motor Vehicles may classify certain motorcycles as antique.

(a) Every motorcycle over twenty-five years old, which is owned solely as a collector's item and is used for participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades and similar uses, but is not used for general transportation, may be classified by the Department of Motor Vehicles as an antique motorcycle.
(b) Upon receipt of an application on a form prescribed by the Department, it may issue appropriately designated license plates to owners of antique motorcycles. An antique motorcycle license plate shall be valid as long as title to the motorcycle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the certificate of registration and license plate of any such motorcycle shall be ten dollars.
HISTORY: 1976 Act No. 565 Sections 1, 2; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1386.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2250. Sample and souvenir license plates; application for personalized special organizational souvenir license plate; penalties.

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may provide, upon request, a sample motor vehicle license plate. The license plate shall be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates. The fee for issuance of such license plate shall be ten dollars. The department may retain the ten dollar fee to recoup its cost for producing the license plate.
(B)(1) The department is authorized to produce, upon request, souvenir license plates for any special organizational license plate produced pursuant to Section 56-3-8000 or Section 56-3-8100 or any other special organizational license plate authorized by law. In order for a special organizational license plate to be available as a souvenir license plate, the sponsoring organization, if there is one, must agree to make the license plate available as a souvenir license plate.
(2) The fee for the special organizational souvenir license plate is twenty dollars. Ten dollars of this fee shall be retained by the department as specified in subsection (A), and the additional ten dollars shall be distributed to the sponsoring organization.
(C) The department shall determine the method to designate the sample and souvenir license plates described in this section.
(D)(1) An individual may apply for a personalized special organizational souvenir license plate with a license plate text to be selected by the applicant in a letter and numeral plate text format the department prescribes. The department, in its discretion, may refuse the issuance of letter or number combinations which may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency.
(2) In order for a special organizational license plate to be available as a personalized souvenir license plate, the sponsoring organization, if there is one, must agree to make the license plate available as a souvenir license plate.
(3) The fee for the license plate contained in this subsection is thirty dollars. Twenty dollars of this fee shall be retained by the department to defray the expenses of the department. Ten dollars of this fee shall be distributed to the organization described in subsection (B).
(E) These sample or souvenir license plates may be displayed only on the front of private passenger motor vehicles as defined in Section 56-3-630 or as otherwise allowed by law in the owner's home state and shall not be displayed on the back of any vehicle registered or required to be registered in this State or as otherwise allowed by law in the owner's home state.
(F) Any person displaying a license plate in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days for each violation.
HISTORY: 1976 Act No. 738 Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1387; 2016 Act No. 186 (H.3927), Section 2, eff May 25, 2017.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2325. Fine and forfeiture for misuse of dealer plates.

A person who misuses a dealer license plate issued pursuant to this article must be fined three hundred dollars or forfeit the dealer license plate, or both.
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 164, Part II, Section 105A.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2330. Manufacturer license plates.

(A) Upon application and payment of the required fee, the Department of Motor Vehicles may issue not more than five hundred manufacturer license plates to a motor vehicle manufacturer. The license plates must be used exclusively on motor vehicles, including motorcycles, owned or in the possession of a manufacturer. Manufacturer license plates must not be used to operate wreckers in use by the manufacturer nor to operate vehicles leased or rented to the public by the manufacturer.
(B) A motor vehicle manufacturer shall apply for manufacturer license plates on a form prescribed by the department and shall provide proof the applicant is a bona fide motor vehicle manufacturer. The cost of each manufacturer plate issued is two hundred dollars, of which one hundred sixty dollars must be remitted by the department to the county in which the principal facility of the manufacturer is located. Forty dollars of the 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. Each plate is valid for two years.
(C) Vehicles with manufacturer plates, not to exceed one licensed vehicle for each household, may be operated by persons authorized by the manufacturer on vehicles of that manufacturer's brand on state streets and highways for testing, distribution, evaluation, and promotion of vehicles. Vehicles with manufacturer plates may be used no more than twenty consecutive days in connection with civic events and sporting events.
(D) A manufacturer who violates the provisions regarding use of motor vehicles is subject to the imposition of any administrative penalty permitted by law.
(E) For the purpose of this section only, "motor vehicle manufacturer" is defined as a person in the business of manufacturing or assembling new and unused vehicles in this State.
HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Section 70A; 2006 Act No. 261, Section 1, eff April 8, 2006; 2010 Act No. 188, Section 1, eff May 28, 2010; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), Section 33, eff July 1, 2016.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2332. Issuance of standard license plate to manufacturer for vehicles used in employee benefit program or for testing and promotional purposes; registration fee.

(A) Upon application and payment of the required fee, the Department of Motor Vehicles may issue a standard license plate to a manufacturer for vehicles it has manufactured and which are used in a benefit program for the manufacturer's employees or used by the manufacturer for testing, distribution, evaluation, and promotion.
(B) The annual registration fee provided for by this section is derived by computing the average price of the vehicle manufacturer's fleet times the property tax rates times the average millage for all purposes statewide for the preceding calendar year.
(C) The plates issued in connection with an employee benefit program may be used only on vehicles provided for the applicant's employees. In the application, the manufacturer shall notify the department in which county the employee assigned the vehicle resides. Twenty dollars of the fee must be credited to the general fund of the State and the remainder must be remitted to the county noted on the application. Amounts received by a county pursuant to this subsection must be credited to the accounts of taxing entities in the county as if it were a county property tax and are instead of state sales or use taxes. If the employee resides outside this State, the fee must be credited to the general fund of the State.
(D) The plates issued in connection with testing, distribution, evaluation, and promotion, not to exceed fifty plates, may be used only for those purposes. Twenty dollars of the fee must be credited to the general fund of the State and the remainder must be remitted to the county in which the principal facility of the manufacturer is located. Amounts received by a county pursuant to this subsection must be credited to the accounts of taxing entities in the county as if it were a county property tax and are instead of state sales or use taxes. The department may require the documentation it determines necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this subsection.
(E) Before December thirty-first of each odd-numbered year, the manufacturer shall review the average price of its fleet and submit the cost to the Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue shall determine the annual registration fee pursuant to subsection (B) and then notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of the adjusted fee amount, which is effective for the next two years.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 155, Part II, Section 32C; 2000 Act No. 278, Section 1; 2000 Act No. 387, Part II, Section 20A; 2016 Act No. 214 (S.1111), Section 1, eff June 3, 2016.
Editor's Note
2016 Act No. 214, Section 2, provides as follows:
"SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 56-3-2332(B), for 2017 and 2018, the annual registration fee for license plates issued pursuant to Section 56-3-2332 is seven hundred eighty-nine dollars."
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2345. Antique dealer license plates.

(A) Upon application being made and the required fee being paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the department may issue antique dealer license plates to a licensed motor vehicle dealer. The license plates, notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, may be used exclusively on antique motor vehicles owned by, assigned, or loaned for test driving purposes to the dealer when operated on the highways of this State by the dealer, its corporate officers, its employees, or a prospective purchaser of the antique motor vehicle. The use by a prospective purchaser is limited to seven days, and the dealer shall provide the prospective purchaser with a dated demonstration certificate. The certificate must be approved by the department. Antique dealer plates must not be used to operate wreckers or service vehicles in use by the dealer nor to operate vehicles owned by the dealer that are leased or rented by the public. No antique dealer plates may be issued by the department unless the dealer furnishes proof in a form acceptable to the department that he has a retail business license as required by Chapter 36 of Title 12 and has made at least five sales of antique motor vehicles in the twelve months preceding his application for a dealer plate. The sales requirement may be waived by the department if the dealer has been licensed for less than one year. For purposes of this section, the transfer of ownership of an antique motor vehicle between the same individual or corporation more than one time is considered as only one sale. Multiple transfer of antique motor vehicles between licensed dealers for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements for antique motor vehicle dealer plates is prohibited.
(B) For good cause shown, the department may issue extra plates. If a dealer 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 plates issued based on actual sales made.
(C) The cost of each plate is twenty dollars.
(D) For purposes of this section, "antique motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle which is over thirty years old.
HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 385, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2360. Notice of change of address; cancellation of registration and license plates.

Registrants licensed under this article shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of any change of address of his principal place of business within thirty days after such change is made, and the Department may cancel the registration and all license plates issued upon failure to give such notice.
HISTORY: 1982 Act No. 371, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2370. Transfer of transporter license plates.

Transporter license plates issued under this article may be transferred from vehicle to vehicle, but shall be used only for the limited purposes as provided in Section 56-3-2350.
HISTORY: 1982 Act No. 371, Section 2; 2018 Act No. 255 (H.4973), Section 3, eff June 28, 2018.
Effect of Amendment
2018 Act No. 255, Section 3, substituted "purposes as provided in Section 56-3-2350" for "operation of vehicles in connection with the manufacture or construction of cabs or bodies or with the foreclosure or repossession of vehicles owned or controlled by the registrant" at the end.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2380. Denial of application; suspension or revocation of registration; refusal to renew registration.

The Department of Motor Vehicles may deny the application of any person for registration under this article and may suspend or revoke a registration or refuse to issue a renewal thereof if it is determined that the applicant or registrant has:
(a) Made a material misrepresentation in his application;
(b) Used or permitted the use of plates contrary to law;
(c) Been found guilty of fraud or fraudulent practices;
(d) Failed to comply with any of the regulations of the department for the enforcement of this article.
HISTORY: 1982 Act No. 371, Section 2; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 167.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2420. Powers of State Highway Patrol.

Commissioned and uniformed personnel of the South Carolina Highway Patrol when on duty may:
(1) Upon reasonable belief that any vehicle is being operated in violation of any provision of this chapter require the driver thereof to stop and exhibit the registration card issued for the vehicle and submit to an inspection of such vehicle and the license plates;
(2) Inspect any vehicle of a type required to be registered and licensed hereunder in any public garage or repair shop or in any place where such vehicles are held for sale or wrecking, for the purpose of locating stolen vehicles and investigating the ownership and registration and license thereof; and
(3) Investigate reported thefts of vehicles.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-112; 1952 Code Section 46-112; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2430. Authority to administer oaths and acknowledge signatures.

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.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-116; 1952 Code Section 46-116; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2440. Department of Motor Vehicles shall keep certain records.

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall keep such records of all transactions relating to the enforcement and administration of this chapter as the Department shall determine to be necessary and appropriate for fiscal, statistical and administrative purposes. Suitable and appropriate records of every vehicle registered shall be kept by the Department in cross-reference books or on cards, as follows:
(1) Numerically, under the descriptive registration and license number assigned to the vehicle;
(2) Alphabetically, under the name of the owner;
(3) Numerically, under the motor or serial number, if available and otherwise under any other identifying number of the vehicle; and
(4) In any other manner the Department may deem desirable.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-117; 1952 Code Section 46-117; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2450. Certified copies of Department of Motor Vehicle records; use as evidence.

The Department of Motor Vehicles and such officers and employees of the Department as the Department may designate may prepare and deliver upon request a certified copy of any record of the Department relating to the registration and licensing of any vehicle, and every such certified copy shall be admissible in any proceeding in any court in like manner as the original thereof.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-118; 1952 Code Section 46-118; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2460. Affidavit as to registration records of Department of Motor Vehicles as evidence of ownership.

In any case tried in any court of competent jurisdiction in this State in which the ownership of any motor vehicle is in issue an affidavit by a duly authorized officer or agent of the Department of Motor Vehicles showing what the registration records of the Department show or fail to show relative to the ownership of the motor vehicle in question shall be admissible in evidence on the sole issue of ownership of the motor vehicle.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-119; 1952 Code Section 46-119; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2470. Publication of registration and license lists; obtaining copies of lists.

The Department of Motor Vehicles may compile and publish annually or at shorter intervals a list of all registered and licensed vehicles. The list shall show vehicles registered and licensed serially according to registration and license numbers and also may contain the names and addresses of the recorded owners and a brief description of each vehicle, including the serial or other identifying number. The Department may furnish without charge therefor a copy of the registration and license list and any supplements thereto to any police department in this State requesting it, and the Department may also sell copies of the list to any person requesting it upon payment to the Department of a uniform amount as determined by the Department.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-120; 1952 Code Section 46-120; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2480. Destruction of obsolete records.

The Department of Motor Vehicles may destroy any records accumulated by it in connection with the administration of this chapter which have been maintained on file for three years or more and which may be deemed by the Department to be obsolete and of no further service in connection with the administration of this chapter or other use by the Department.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-121; 1952 Code Section 46-121; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2490. Unlawful to conceal motor vehicle whose serial number has been altered or removed.

Whoever knowingly conceals any motor vehicle from which the manufacturer's serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered or destroyed for the purpose of concealing or misrepresenting the identity of the motor vehicle shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-113; 1952 Code Section 46-113; 1949 (46) 342; 1957 (50) 595.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2510. Department of Motor Vehicles may assign new identifying numbers; special plate or number affixed to vehicle.

The Department of Motor Vehicles may assign a distinguishing number to a motor vehicle whenever the motor or serial number thereon is destroyed, replaced or obliterated and may issue or assign to the owner a special plate or number which shall be affixed to the vehicle or stamped on the vehicle in a place to be determined by the Department. Such motor vehicle shall be registered and licensed under such distinguishing number in lieu of the former motor number or serial number.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-115; 1952 Code Section 46-115; 1949 (46) 342.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Licensing › Section 56-3-2520. Penalties.

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. Unless another penalty is by the laws of this State provided every person convicted of a misdemeanor for violation of any provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than thirty days.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-122; 1952 Code Section 46-122; 1949 (46) 342.