South Carolina § 56-1-15 - Administration of driver's license examination; random testing of driver's license applicants; contractor's failure to conform to licensing laws.

§ 56-1-15. Administration of driver's license examination; random testing of driver's license applicants; contractor's failure to conform to licensing laws.

(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles must enter into contracts with persons, corporations, or governmental subdivisions, including public schools, in localities throughout the State to administer the portion of the driver's license examination that tests the driver's license applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs that regulate, warn, and direct traffic, and his knowledge of the traffic laws of the State, and the actual demonstration of his ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of the type of motor vehicle for which the license is sought as contained in Section 56-1-130(A). The department must supervise the provision of services contained in this subsection. The department must supply driver education instructors appropriate testing materials to administer the examinations contained in this section. A person or corporation administering an examination pursuant to this section may charge a fee in excess of the fee charged by the department for the examination.

(B) The department must require all persons obtaining an initial driver's license, and who are required to complete a driver's education course as defined in Section 56-1-175 or 56-1-180, to take the work zone safety program course as established in Section 56-1-219.

(C) The department must randomly test driver's license applicants who successfully complete the driver's license examination pursuant to subsection (A) to ensure that the driver's license instructors are properly certifying that their students have successfully completed a driver's license examination.

(D) If through testing or other review procedures, the department determines that a contractor is not conforming to the law and regulations applicable to licensing, it may:

(1) suspend the authority of a particular individual or entity operating under the contract to administer the tests;

(2) suspend the contract;

(3) cancel the contract.

(E) The department must test randomly a driver's license applicant only at the time the applicant is seeking his initial driver's license at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 51, SECTION 5; 2024 Act No. 182 (H.5023), SECTION 2, eff May 20, 2024.

Effect of Amendment

2024 Act No. 182, SECTION 2, inserted (B) and redesignated former (B) to (D) as (C) to (E), respectively; and in (C), substituted "examination" for "examinations".