South Carolina § 50-23-11 - Dealer demonstration numbers; unauthorized use; penalties.

§ 50-23-11. Dealer demonstration numbers; unauthorized use; penalties.

(A) Dealer demonstration numbers are limited to watercraft that are:

(1) held for sale by the dealership or assigned to the dealership, including customer watercraft in for service and watercraft being ferried by the dealership;

(2) being operated for limited demonstration rides by prospective buyers;

(3) being operated for purposes of buyer demonstration by owners, employees, or corporate officers of the dealership;

(4) being tested for service by the dealership;

(5) being temporarily operated by an established customer whose boat is being repaired; and

(6) valid from the date of issue until December thirty-first inclusive of each year.

(B) The demonstration numbers must not be permanently attached to the vessel but must be on board at all times. Marine dealers who sell watercraft are allowed nine demonstration numbers. Marine dealers who only service watercraft or outboard motors are allowed one demonstration number.

If a dealer allows the operation of a watercraft with demonstration numbers, the dealer shall execute a form identifying the date and time, the specific watercraft, the dealer's permit number, the demonstration number, the purpose for which the watercraft is being operated and if for a prospective sale, the form must include the name of the prospective buyer, the date, the specific watercraft, the dealer's permit number, and the demonstration number. The form and the dealer demonstration number must be on board during operation but need not be attached. Operations with dealer demonstration numbers are limited to seventy-two consecutive hours. This form is not required of owners, employees, or corporate officers who carry dealer identification and who are authorized to use demonstration numbers as provided herein.

(C) All owners, employees, or corporate officers authorized to demonstrate dealer watercraft using demonstration numbers must be listed on the dealer permit application form. The list must be updated as employees are added or deleted within thirty days of a change. Owners, employees, or officers not listed may not use demonstration numbers.

(D) It is unlawful to misuse dealer demonstration numbers or allow dealer demonstration numbers to be misused. A person convicted of misusing or allowing the misuse of dealer demonstration numbers is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, for a first offense must be fined not more than five hundred dollars. For a second offense within three years of the first conviction, the offender must be fined at least two hundred dollars but not more than five hundred dollars. The dealer demonstration numbers are suspended for one year and must be surrendered to the department.

(E) The fee for a dealer demonstration number is thirty dollars and the fee must accompany the application for each demonstration number. Demonstration numbers expire on December thirty-first of each year or on the same date the marine dealer permit under which they were issued is voided, surrendered, or revoked. All revenue from each demonstration number must be used to support the Marine Investigations section of the department.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 344, SECTION 5, eff six months after approval (approved June 11, 2008); 2018 Act No. 223 (H.4715), SECTION 1, eff January 1, 2020.

Effect of Amendment

2018 Act No. 223, SECTION 1, added (E), providing the fee for a dealer demonstration number.