FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2002
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN (803) 896-8755

DMV MANDATED TO INCREASE TITLING FEES

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety today announced that effective August 1 the Division of Motor Vehicles will increase the fee for title work. House Bill 3485, signed into law by Gov. Jim Hodges on July 20, amended Section 56-19-420 of the South Carolina Code of Laws and increased the fee to obtain a vehicle title from $5 to $10.

This fee applies to the issuance of a certificate of title or the issuance of a duplicate certificate of title. The law mandates that $5 of the fee be placed in a special earmarked account with the first one million dollars going to the Department of Education to support adult education programs and the remainder going to the Department of Public Safety to support the Highway Patrol Division programs. The current $5 fee collected will continue to go to the state’s General Fund to be used at the discretion of the General Assembly.

This fee increase is expected to generate about $5.9 million yearly for the Highway Patrol. The revenue will allow the Highway Patrol to hire a new class of 80 trooper trainees this January and will be used to hire, retain and equip troopers.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Criminal Justice Academy, Division of Motor Vehicles, Highway Patrol, Office of Highway Safety, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services and Office of Justice Programs. DPS has more than 2,600 employees in offices statewide. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.

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