COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces that Gov. Jim Hodges has signed legislation (H.3933) that further tightens driver’s license restrictions for teen-agers and first-time drivers and places restrictions on children riding in the back of pick-up trucks. In 1998, the Legislature passed the Graduated Licensing law, which created a tiered system for obtaining full driving privileges.

The major changes to the driver’s license law include increased training requirements for teen-agers, extension of the time for holding a beginner’s permit, restricting the number of passengers under 21 riding in vehicles driven by a teen-ager and placing more driving restrictions on teen-agers with accidents or traffic offenses on their records.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds on a national level,” said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. “Teen-agers as a group are more willing to take risks, less likely to use safety belts and frequently underestimate the dangers associated with hazardous driving situations such as bad weather.”

The Division of Motor Vehicles will begin enforcing the new law for driver’s license applicants Wednesday, March 6. The Highway Patrol will issue warning tickets until April 1, allowing drivers time to be educated on the new law.

New drivers who begin the process of applying for a driver’s license on March 6 will be required to follow the provisions of the new law throughout the licensing process. Those who began the licensing process before March 6 will follow the provisions of the old law throughout the licensing process. The new law has additional stipulations throughout each step of the licensing process, which is broken down by age and length of driving time.

House Bill 3933 also adds Section 56-5-3900, which makes it unlawful to transport a person under 15 years of age in the open bed or open cargo area of a pickup truck or trailer, except under certain circumstances. The fine for a violation of this section is $25.

This new law only applies to those who obtain a beginner’s permit beginning March 6. Those people will follow all the provisions of the new law throughout the stages of the licensing process. The old law is still in effect for those issued a beginner’s permit before March 6. These people will follow the guidelines of the old law throughout the licensing process.

• Now may drive from 6 a.m. to midnight if accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 with at least one year driving experience and who is riding in the front seat. Now may drive from midnight to 6 a.m. accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian (new law permits restricted night driving; old law did not allow for night driving with beginner’s permit).
• Now must not operate a motor scooter, motorcycle or light motor-driven cycle any other time than daylight hours unless supervised by a parent or guardian (old law didn’t address night driving).
• Extends time that you must hold beginner’s permit from 90 days to 180.

• Extends time that you must hold beginner’s permit from 90 days to 180.
• Must have completed at least 40 hours of driving practice, including at least 10 hours of night driving, supervised by licensed parent or guardian (completely new Conditional License restriction).
• May not transport more than two passengers under 21 unless accompanied by an adult over 21 except when transporting family members or students to and from school (completely new Conditional License restriction).
• If convicted of a traffic offense or involved in an at-fault accident, the removal of restrictions on your licenses is postponed for 12 months from the date of the traffic offense or at-fault accident or until driver is 17 years old (old law said you must attend a hearing to determine if the restrictions will be extended if you had a point-assessable traffic offense or if you were involved in an at-fault accident).
• May obtain full driving privileges at 16 only if you’ve not had any traffic violations or at-fault accidents (old law said you may obtain full driving privileges after holding conditional license for one year with no point-assessable violations or at fault accidents).

• Now must have held your beginner’s permit for 180 days instead of 90;
• Now must submit a certificate of completion for a driver’s education course (completely new for Special Restricted);
• Now must submit a certificate of satisfactory school attendance (completely new for Special Restricted);
• Now must complete at least 40 hours of driving practice, including at least 10 hours of driving during darkness, supervised by licensed parent or guardian (completely new for Special Restricted);
• Now may not transport more than two passengers under 21 unless accompanied by an adult over 21 except when transporting family members or students to and from school (completely new for Special Restricted).
• If convicted of a traffic offense or involved in an at-fault accident, the removal of restrictions on your licenses is postponed for 12 months from the date of the traffic offense or at-fault accident or until driver is 17 years old (old law said if convicted of a point-assessable traffic offense or involved in an at-fault accident, the removal of the restrictions is postponed for six months of violation-free driving).
• Now may obtain full driving privileges at 16 after holding a conditional license for one year free of any traffic violations or at-fault accidents (old law said you could get license before 17 if you did not have any point-assessable violations or at-fault accidents)

Any person who has never held a beginner’s permit or driver’s license must hold a beginner’s permit for at least 180 days before being eligible for a driver’s license (old law said you must hold beginner’s permit 90 days).

Comparison of old and new drivers license laws

Young Driver Fact Sheet The National Perspective